Help For Hurricane Victims

A hearty congratulation to the students involved in Jobs for Illinois Graduates in the Freeport school district who raised $500 toward the American Red Cross' Hurricanes of 2008 relief operation by passing our disaster relief canisters around at Freeport's homecoming activities the weekend of September 19.

Wow.

While, for the Red Cross these days, the need for cash is clear given the massive damage in the Gulf Coast region, we here at the Northwest Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross in Freeport were particularly touched by the students' humanitarian efforts. Their work proved to me that together, we can make a difference, even when some of us are still very young.

In the spirit of making even more of a difference for hurricane victims, I challenge other youth groups in the region to step up and help the American Red Cross in this time of national disaster, like JILG did.

Hurricane season is still upon us and the need to re-fill the coffers is indeed dire. To date, American Red Cross has received $23 million in donations for Hurricanes of 2008. We are trying to raise $200 million and we need every penny.

Our local volunteers are still working in high heat and humidity in the Gulf states in the aftermath of Gustav and Ike, and the conditions in those states boggle the mind, according to Northwest Illinois Chapter Volunteer Jean Burton who is in Baytown, Texas.

As I've said before, the time is now. People who can spare a few dollars will find our canisters sprinkled throughout the surrounding region at grocery stores, beauty shops, restaurants and even the Freeport/Stephenson County Convention & Visitors Bureau. Those who prefer to send a check can bring it by our offices at 224 W. Galena Avenue, or put it in the mail to us and we'll do the rest.

National headquarters is allowing our chapter to keep nine cents of every dollar donated, and that money will go toward future disaster relief in Stephenson, Jo Daviess and Carroll counties.

Thank you everyone for helping us raise more than $6,500 so far! You are all truly heroes.

Diana Roemer

Executive Director

Northwest Illinois Chapter

American Red Cross

Freeport, Illinois

Race For Scholarships

On Saturday, August 30, the 4th Annual Bob Miller Memorial 5K race to benefit Scholarships for Eastland and Aquin students took place in Shannon during their Homecoming Celebration. Thank you to all who participated, either running or walking, you made it a huge success! We are able to contribute around $2,000 for students in the Aquin and Eastland school districts. Also, the event would not have taken place without the help of our sponsors: The Bob Miller family; Scot Miller-Garst seed Co.; Farm Service of Lanark/Shannon; Curt Dambman - Dampman Service; First State Bank Shannon/Polo/Lake Carroll; Eastland Feed & Grain; and FHN. Also, a special thank you to the Shannon EMT crew for being a part of the race in case of medical emergency.

Next, to all of the people that volunteered: making food, registration, setting up the course, providing help at the water stations, timers and results. I apologize if I have inadvertently left out anyone, but want you to know I appreciate everything you did to help.

Finally, to the Miller family, thank you for allowing us to affix Bob's name to an event that we hope will continue to grow every year.

Sincerely,

Amy Snyder

Race Coordinator

Shannon, IL

Capitol Fax

Rich Miller's commentary on State Government

The polling results I've seen from both sides of the debate say more of you will vote for a state constitutional convention this November than say you won't.

The numbers still aren't there yet. The question on the fall ballot must either be supported by 60 percent or by at least half of all those voting in the election itself. Still, it's getting there.

I'm one of those who supports a constitutional convention. And after 18 years of covering Illinois politics, I am not only convinced that a convention is necessary, I also believe I have a duty to tell you why.

Last week, I explained to you how our current state constitution has allowed legislative leaders and the governor to seize infinitely more power than the constitution's framers ever dreamt, and how that power grab is destroying our system of government.

This week, I'd like to toss around a few ideas that a convention might address to break at least some of that stranglehold.

Before I do, always keep in mind that once a convention is called, you have the right to elect all the delegates. When those delegates finish their task, you have the right to vote up or down on all proposed changes. Voters have the final word on everything.

One of the biggest Statehouse problems is that legislative leaders can serve as long as they can get themselves reelected. I started to notice many moons ago that with every new session I covered, I gained a bit more respect and influence. That happens for pretty much everyone who sticks around. And it's even more true for leaders, like the House speaker and Senate president, because they have so much institutional power to begin with.

Limiting a leader to ten years of controlling the gavel would allow the Statehouse a fresh start on a regular basis.

But there is still the almost incomprehensible institutional power which the leaders already own. A new face every decade won't change that fact.

One of the most refreshing reform suggestions I've heard is to require nonpartisan, computerized legislative redistricting.

Our legislative district maps look like they were drawn by crazy people. They're all over the place, weaving this way and that for miles on end.

In reality, they are carefully constructed by the powers that be every ten years to protect their favored incumbents.

Voters don't choose their politicians, politicians actually choose their voters. As a result, only a small handful of incumbents ever have to face a serious opponent, all courtesy of their leaders who carefully draw the district maps.

Iowa's legislative districts look more like squares. Iowa requires the use of a computer program which completely disregards party and power favoritism. Illinois has far more minority voters than Iowa, which would require more complicated district outlines to make sure a federal judge doesn't kill it off, but this can be done here. The result? Lots more competition and far less reliance on all-powerful leaders.

Our campaign finance laws allow unlimited contributions by legislative leaders to their favored candidates. The leaders control most of the money raised in this state, so there's no way those laws will ever change because the leaders also completely control the lawmaking process. A constitutional convention could curtail that fundraising power or eliminate it altogether.

Leaders appoint all committee chairmen, all members of those committees and all bills sent to those committees. This ensures that the chairmen and members always do their leaders' bidding. Stop that, and you take away a huge amount of power.

Some people favor recall and term limits for all legislators. I'm an agnostic on recall and I'm pretty sure that term limits for legislators in general (not leaders, just legislators) would be a bad idea, but that can all be up for debate if there is a constitutional convention. Others want to give citizens a right to pass laws on their own through ballot initiatives. That could be chaotic, but certainly interesting.

Nothing is guaranteed in life, of course. None of these reforms may come to pass even with a constitutional convention. But none of it will ever happen without one. So, once again, please vote "Yes" this November.

Next week, we'll take a look at what can be done to rein in the governor's excessive powers.

Rich Miller also publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and thecapitolfaxblog.com.

Capitol Report

By Jim Sacia

State Representative, 89th District

It's interesting to say the least. You recall from my last several columns, the good work the House has accomplished to solidify a jobs and infrastructure (capital) bill and finding the dollars we need to keep open our state parks and historic sites and to fund desperately needed human service programs in our communities that the Governor had put on the budget chopping block. Senate President Emil Jones insisted he would not bring the Senate back into session to finish the job, and then abruptly changed his mind. Enter Governor Blagojevich, who just minutes after Jones' announcement ordered both chambers back to work on Monday, September 22nd.

It was a sight to behold. Speaker Madigan called us to order, shared a rumor that the Senate would act on bills the Governor vetoed and the House had already overridden, and also that they would address the reinstatement of funding for our parks, historic sites and social programs cut by the Governor. If I hadn't been there, I never would have believed what happened next. Almost as if on cue, Senate President Emil Jones entered the House chamber, walked straight to the podium and greeted the Speaker with a smile, and the Speaker smiled back. The scene brought great jubilation to me and my House colleagues. Could the infighting finally be over? Could we finally get down to doing some good work for the 12.8 million citizens of this great state? Legislators arrived in Springfield planning for only one day. To each of us, though, we were committed to remain in session in Springfield as long as it took to get the job done.

September 23rd was a tough one, as the "budgeters" worked at hammering out something that the majority of us in both chambers could agree upon. As the day droned on and the intensity of the debate increased, it became apparent that negotiations were not going well. We all knew that we simply could not leave the capitol without dealing with the supplemental appropriations and fund sweeps bills to reinstate funding for desperately needed programs. As we sat "at ease" in the House we listened intently to the debate continuing in the Senate. It reminded me of an old war movie in which submariners sit on the bottom of the ocean listening as their prey circled on the surface.

The debate in the Senate went on for some time. I think we as legislators feel we all must speak on bills of this importance. I never said the legislation debated was perfect, but after hours of debate and many speaking about ways in which the bills should be better, they passed the Senate and the House applauded. If the Governor signs them, they will provide more than $250 million to keep our parks and historic sites open, and to keep needed social services programs working in our communities.

I knew the calls would come and they did. "How could you vote for a bill that takes money from this fund, or that fund?" The greater good was the big picture here. All of us suffer a little rather than some doing it all.

As always, you can reach me, Sally or Barb at or e-mail us at . You can also visit my website at www.jimsacia.com. It's always a pleasure to hear from you.