Every 20 years IL law calls for a mandatory referendum on the ballot asking if voters want to call a constitutional convention. The last time was 1988, so we're due this year. If voted for, the con con raises the prospect of a Blagojevich recall ala Gray Davis. Otherwise, we wait until 2011.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opini on/chi-oped0701conconjul01,0,4887813.sto ry
For every dollar that goes into education funding through lottery ticket sales, a dollar comes out to be used elsewhere. So the funding would never go up, and now in a downturned economy, most people are buying fewer lottery tickets.
As disappointed as I am with Blagojevich, I blame a lot of this on the mismanagement of convicted felon and former governor George Ryan. He was a crook when he headed up the Cook County Forest Preserve, so that fact that he made it all the way up to the governor's mansion was particularly appalling to me. In 2002, Ryan proposed a $70 million budget cut to higher education. The following year, cuts were 5.5% higher. In 2004, state funding of public universities had fallen $171 million - nearly 11 percent - since FY1990.
It's worth noting that this was all under Republican leadership.
but better democrats leading the state. that opportunity is two years away, and until then, it would be dumb for reformers and progressives to get dragged into the guv-speaker feud. neither one of them represents our interests. let them fight over power; we'll get screwed no matter who wins. better to prepare for the real battles ahead...
Hey semiquaver, do me a favor and shoot me an email...I have a question for ya. My address is in my profile.
Thx.
