The Beast

Exactly. They are their own issue and need to pay into the pensions. And it is definitely a whole different issue, they are going to suffer consequences from all of the borrowing they are doing someday and won’t have enough Cook County taxpayers to fund their problem, unless it is a whole statewide issue.

If Madigan was out, there’s at least a chance that the person getting in could work with the governor (whoever that is) to fix problems. Then, if they don’t want to fix the financial issues, they will be voted out. Term limits wouldn’t hurt either party, as would independently drawn maps to eliminate gerrymandering. I would vote for Rauner to try and get a change to the pension system as opposed to Pritzker who may never address it. You are right that we can’t worry about a future election and given Trump’s and Pence’s “popularity,” Ives would probably lose. I suppose you’re on to something about a bad budget rather than no budget. I wish we could have a balanced budget where services could be provided, taxes could be reasonable and we aren’t overspending, but it might be a pipe dream. i would like to see Madigan work with Rauner but that might also be a pipe dream. We will see what happens, Pritzker will probably win anyway. At least you and I agree on rich assholes taking over executive branch roles!

I didn’t know the last budget was that way but I also don’t like how the constitution is written. I don’t think people need to be taken advantage of, but I also don’t think people need to live on such high salaries in retirement since they should be cutting back. I’m not saying the solutions I am proposing are perfect, but eventually we will not have a choice and will need solutions instead of just partisan bickering.

https://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/nbc-5-governor-debate-rauner-pritzker-493878531.html Why is it so hard to find a candidate that is level headed, likeable and electable? It’s either Rauner or Pritzker but damn do they need to focus more on the issues to engage Illinois voters.

McNeil and Parkins is not entertaining at all. Spiegel and Parkins were doing just fine and I think Hanley and Goff got shafted too. Lots of meatball fans got their way when Bernstein got moved and Goff and Spiegel went to the bullpen. I hope Bernstein goes back to afternoons someday and maybe pairs with Parkins, with Spiegs taking the morning slot again with someone else, maybe Holmes or McKnight.

I started reading it but then it got cut off. I hope he is doing well, I think DeCastro made a mistake with some of his firings.

I would like the amendment to come into play so we can adjust pensions; however, I would want comprehensive pension reform where new teachers pay something into the pension system but put in some to a 403(b). Retirees would get benefits but they would not get a cost of living increase like they do now. Those about to retire would get their pension, but those who are in the system would pay less. The remainder of funding would come from the state, with the requirement being that pensions eventually will be phased out. I also don’t think an administrator necessarily needs $150,000+ when they hit retirement since they should be cutting back like others have to. There has to be some solution to the problem. Thanks for the heads up - I will have to look up what the 403(b) includes in my wife’s district.

I wonder what sick reason there is for her needing to be at the same table as him. She should just do this in private with the committee with him out of the room.

She’s a few years into the pension system and is going to get a 403(b) to supplement a pension she might not got. What about the increase in property taxes? Will that occur to fund the pensions?

Daniel Biss was who I voted for in the primary since he wasn’t entirely in bed with Madigan and made some mention of pension reform. I would prefer a progressive tax as well. I am concerned with the pension problem being spread over to the taxpayers and that it will be in the form of a property tax increase. I am concerned that Pritzker won’t solve the financial issues the state faces and that he will be in lockstep with Madigan. Madigan is 76 years old and eventually will have to step down or pass away. One of my concerns is that if Pritzker gets elected, he will draw a challenger in Jeanne Ives the next time the election is held. I would not want Ives as governor, we already have someone like her in our federal government (Pence). I like the progressive tax Pritzker proposes and I would like the state to legalize marijuana and tax the crap out of it. I worry that he will work with Madigan and the financial issues won’t get fixed. My wife is a teacher and I know she’s worried she won’t get anything to retire on, she would have to contribute to her 403b to guarantee she would get something for retirement. And like I said, I’m worried about property taxes increasing as a new homeowner as a result of the impacts of Illinois’ financial state. I don’t particularly care for either Rauner or Pritzker and I think Pritzker is likely to win. I’d like to vote for someone I like, but for me it comes down to my money and property taxes, at least locally.

So, Illinois voters, do we think Pritzker or Rauner is going to win? For the state, I am considering splitting my ballot for Rauner since I don’t know that I can trust Pritzker to come up with a solution for the pension issue. (My wife is a teacher and pays into the pension system and may not receive her pension when she retires many, many years from now. We can’t afford higher property taxes as a solution either.) I’m not thrilled with Rauner but I don’t like Madigan either.

What are the chances that either: - The FBI investigates before a confirmation. - She doesn’t show up Monday and they confirm him anyway. - She shows up and they give testimony, then his confirmation gets voted down as most of the democrats and Collins, Flake and Corker vote him down?

Is the party still fractured over what happened at the convention and with the super delegates? I really doubt Trump would have lost to Sanders. The next primary elections will have to be fairer with the super delegates out of the way. Let’s see what happens and if Biden, Harris, Warren or Gillibrand will be the nominee, to name a few. I also liked the mayor of New Orleans as well.

What does your race look like and what does the Illinois sixth congressional district’s look like?

I bet she testifies and announces that she will testify the morning of or just show up to testify for her own safety. To announce she is testifying now seems somewhat premature.

What kind of risks is he taking?

Question - What exactly is a Bernie Bro?

Interesting, I didn’t know that the “Mike Madigan association because someone is a Democrat” applied during federal congressional races. Maybe Peter Roskam needs to look in the mirror and think about who he is associated himself with before speaking again. It would be better to elect a congressman who makes tax policies to benefit the middle class, considers how it impacts new homeowners in DuPage county and the sixth district, wants to improve health care policy to protect those with pre-existing conditions, cares about the environment and its impact on people - young and old alike and actually meets with constituents as opposed to hanging out on telecalls with only a select few of voters. I’m all for voting split tickets if you’re fed up with Madigan or other political leaders locally in Illinois, but the vote at the federal level is clear - Sean Casten is going to be the person that represents constituents from the sixth congressional district. http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-roskam-casten-madigan-20180917-story.html#nt=oft02a-2gp2 And yes, I saw 17 Casten signs versus 5 Roskam signs on a single drive home in Downers Grove on Saturday. It may not show what the turnout will be like, but the race is on like Donkey Kong.

I figured there was something going on with how you responded to Reddy in a few threads. I didn’t see a lot of Trump signs in my district in Illinois but I bet they were in the rust belt and Florida, which were obviously enthusiast about him in 2016. Democrats never can make that mistake again, they need to focus on the midwestern states and the rust belt. Their policies and ideas need to impact those people and they need to put more resources in those areas. Jon Favreau talked about this on “The Wilderness” when I listened today. Democrats focused more nationally on Obama as opposed to locally and lost elections due to the scarce resources locally. Evidently Howard Dean played a role with resources as well. As a young voter in 2008 and 2010, I had no idea that was happening.

Possible indicators could include the fact that the district voted for Clinton in 2016, the possibility of a blue wave and that Roskam supported the tax plan that capped state and local deductions (SALT) that really will harm homeowners. I’ve included a link that Casten posted on this today below: The IRS just released figures that show taxpayers in #IL06 will suffer the worst blow in Illinois. Roskam’s tax scam capped the federal deduction for state and local taxes (SALT) - so residents will pay on average $11,780 more in McHenry County to $18,369 more in Lake County. #TaxScam https://www.irs.gov/statistics/soi-tax-stats-county-data-2016 Having worked on campaigns of both sides of the aisle, I think that signs could show support in the neighborhoods, but there are lots of private people and those who don’t want to share their political opinions. Also, I know that both sides are focused on getting their base to turn out and so people are only going door to door wth voters who they can persuade to vote or voters who will vote. So if there were six signs for Casten, there are likely six people without signs who will vote for Roskam, even if I think lots of people are pissed at him for being in lockstep with Trump and hurting their pocketbooks in terms of property taxes.

Seconded.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/politics/ct-met-illinois-6th-district-peter-roskam-sean-casten-daily-herald-20180910-story.html https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20180910/we-are-really-totally-at-odds-on-this-roskam-casten-sharply-disagree-on-2017-tax-law To be transparent, I was concerned by Sean’s choice of words of Trump as bin Laden, but, I would agree that the president’s election enabled violent individuals and bigoted organizations to think their actions were okay. I posted both of these articles because it provides more perspective than one of them. I listened to the whole debate and while both the incumbent and Casten made good points (aside from Roskam tying Casten to Pritzker just like he has been tied to Madigan for a federal congressional race), I felt that change is needed in terms of economic policy that impacts the middle class, policy that health care, environmental issues, creating jobs of tomorrow and combating the administration’s agenda for which I don’t agree with. Hopefully the newspapers endorse Casten for congress and voters are motivated for change on Election Day and issue a rebuke of the president and his agenda.

My mental notes from the game: - Interesting third and short calls. They carry Howard and a full back, why not run it up the gut or between the tackles with some pulling if necessary? - The defensive backs deserve blame for those touchdowns in the second half and the Bears needed to counter McCarthy’s adjustments in the second half. - The Bears need more passes to the middle instead of to the sidelines to use the whole field. - Trubisky is still developing. Nice drive before the Packers went on top but he looked rattled at the end.

No kidding. Well, Downers Grove seems to be 95-5 Casten. It’s still good to see 50/50 Casten and Roskam in Wheaton, though.

Let the medical professional talk and listen to what he says. I’ll take what he says over someone who is b****ing any day of the week. If you don’t like what has happened based on what your other posts indicate, go grab several beers and recover tomorrow.