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Mari Harrer May 29, 2013 at 01:35 am
Mari: No need for 401 plans, just look to the Ill. Municipal Retirement Fund, an employees plan. It…Read More is not run by the state government and it is solvent.
D.DouglasThomas June 2, 2013 at 08:55 am
Let's send the naper patch comments to Darlene Senger..think she might take a minute to "read…Read More them" and do something instead of doing nuthing!
Grumpy Old Man June 4, 2013 at 06:55 am
I agree with Butch on control of pensions. I do not agree however that any state employee, other…Read More than first responders, should be receiving a public pension, or in the case of Boss Daley and others of his ilk, multiple public pensions. The vast majority of Americans enjoy Social Security as their primary pension and if they are smart, IRA or 401(K) plans. I could support a public employee 401(k) plan so long as it was primarily paid by the employee contributions with fixed government contributions with no COLA increases out of the public treasury, but privately invested. Obviously the current problem involves current obligations which can't be eliminated but there is no good reason to maintain this public pension system for future specially privileged employees, most of whom have jobs which are protected from at will termination (unlike the vast majority of American workers who have no such protection). If the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund is a satisfactory alternative great. The granting of pensions to public officials, appointed or elected is a travesty and must be ended. And, although I've always in the past opposed it, I think that it is time for term limits. Especially for the Mayor of Chicago.
Dan May 25, 2013 at 02:11 pm
Shared sacrifice should included those blessed with substantial pension income to pay state taxes…Read More like the rest of us do. Why should the 10,000 individuals that earn over $100,000 in pension income from a former government job receive this income tax free? We need a progressive pension tax to correct this tax loophole.
Johnson H. May 28, 2013 at 10:56 am
Your shared sacrifice should not include the public employee who has faithfully paid into the…Read More pension system that the politicians set up. The politicians now want to force the public employee to pay more, and the taxpayer to pay more for the states mistakes. Shared sacrifice my A$$... The only sacrifice that should be happening is the politicians give up their pay for the next 10 years to pay for the mess they created by not paying/delaying payments into a system that would have been in good shape if they had payed in to begin with. The politicians made this mess, by skipping payments, setting re-payment schedule @ 50 years with balloon payments and now they want to cry broke and walk away from their obligations. That is horrible. Take a look at what Mayor Rahm is doing in Chicago. Closing schools because he is crying broke, now he is proposing a new $50Million stadium to be built for DePaul. As I have said before "The rich get richer and the poor get screwed" Go into politics and you can become part of the elite in this country and screw everyone else. !
Grumpy Old Man June 4, 2013 at 06:24 am
Dan, right on and the first overly paid pensioner is Boss Daley who I understand collects more than…Read More one. I have yet to understand how there are more than one pension plans. I don't believe in any public employee pensions save for first responders and I definitely do not believe that the public office holders, e.g., Mayors, aldermen, state senators and representatives, Governors, Lt. Governors, Comptrollers, State Treasurers or elected officials at the county and local level should receive one penny in public pensions. Until some common sense takes over Illinois all of these separate governmental pensions should be rolled into one and no one entitled to more than one pension check. If that requires amending the state constitution and getting rid of home rule so be it.
Ryan Hammond May 23, 2013 at 03:29 pm
I swear it Bill, if you pee on me again... I'm gonna neuter you the old fashioned way.
Lisa LaCoco May 24, 2013 at 11:46 am
I don't think it's going to grow anymore, no matter what you do
Tim May 25, 2013 at 06:40 pm
How hot was it? It was so hot, I heard the tree say "thank you" to the dog!
Grumpy Old Man June 4, 2013 at 07:25 am
This bill will not save the life of a single person. Oh, I know, someone will trot out some…Read More "statistic" to prove it will. Just like the Chicago Gun Ban saved 1000 lives over a period of 10 - 15 years. Right. More statistical nonsense. The majority of deaths in America is from gang bangers in the inner cities using handguns and who fire a few rounds, not from nutjobs like Lanza with their imitation assault rifles (which are not since they can't fire on fully automatic). Sorry, that's just a fact. I know gun grabbers don't want to be confused with the facts. The story on Lanza having to reload his 30 round magazine assumes that if he had a ten round limit he wouldn't have been able to kill more. Really? The limit would work, I suppose, if he was confronted by someone with a weapon, but with time on his hands he could reload at will. I really can't understand how we won WWII using the M1, a semi automatic rifle clip fed with an 8 round capacity. Oh, I know that the artillery won the war, but the M1 was the principal weapon issued to American troops. Oh well, the gun grabbers (and let's be frank, these gun controllers are really nothing but gun grabbers in sheep's clothing) can stand on their graves and rant and rant. By the way, I have no problem with background checks and severe penalties for straw purchasers. Registration is the usual resort by the gun grabbers so that they can come and get em when the time is right. Yeah, I'm "paranoid"! I have nothing but sympathy for the families of the children who were murdered by Lanza. However, their loss does not make them experts on urban violence. And there is no such thing as gun violence, the left's term to de-sensitize us from individual responsibility and blame the "gun." There are individuals who use guns to commit crimes, including murder. I have no problems with laws which regulate conduct of individuals which are strictly (but impartially and fairly) enforced. But silly laws that avoid the problem and criminalize law abiding citizens are not worthy of this society.
ALLEN CALVIN SR May 26, 2013 at 01:20 pm
I didn't know that your ability to say "ALAKAZAM" was so crucial to the success of this…Read More trick.
John Wayne May 20, 2013 at 03:24 pm
The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability is nothing more than a left wing fascist organization.…Read More
Those who support progressive taxation pretend to be on the moral high ground but, in fact, they have no ground to stand on. Envy, not justice, is at the root of the argument for discriminatory taxation. That is why those who most strongly advocate progressive taxation are in favor of the welfare state. If we are to restore civil society and move from tax socialism to tax justice, we need to abolish progressive taxation, institute a fair flat tax and limit the size of government. Otherwise, class warfare and welfare will prevail.
PaulRevere May 20, 2013 at 06:05 pm
"tax expenditures" needs clarification.
States are "non profit ventures".…Read More Therefore , states cannot have any expense called "tax expenditures". People and For profit businesses have "tax expenditures". Those are "tax revenues" to the states.
States have "REVENUES" and "SERVICES SPENDINGS".
A potential Tax revenue cannot be "spent". To label any less tax revenue as an expense is absurd. Why? Because that would suggest a 6% corporation state Tax rate really means 94% more Taxes could have been collected. Is that a Tax expenditure?
Only liberals would label 100% of anyone's income as "tax revenue" to be called "tax expenditure" for any % not taxed. "STATE TAX REVENUE". Whatever is left for the taxpayer to keep is therefore a "tax expenditure" to the State. LOL! You guys running our Govt have warped minds.
Just try to get those "tax expenditures" as revenue and watch the businesses close shop. When will you admit the real problems of "Highly overpaid Govt Public employees". They are the ones creating an undue "TAX EXPENDITURE" on every living Person.
Glenn Brooks May 22, 2013 at 03:28 am
We can't Reboot because the system file is corrupted. I/O error.
MaryfromIL May 17, 2013 at 06:44 pm
Staying home part time is great. Full time is majorly boring. I'm trying to go back part time.…Read More Hard because I'm partially disabled.
MaryfromIL May 17, 2013 at 06:46 pm
Most thrifty people wouldn't buy coffee out. If forced to, they would hit McDonalds. And thrifty…Read More doesn't mean cheap. I'm very thrifty, but a 20% tipper. If I can't afford the tip, I don't eat out.
MaryfromIL May 17, 2013 at 06:50 pm
My friend and I were about the most thrifty people around. She paid off her mortgage in 5 years, as…Read More the single parent of 2 kids in daycare (not cheap), getting no child support. I paid off mine in 6 years. But it's important to live for today as well. My dad died in the service at age 21, so my mom thoroughly enjoyed her life after that, by living for today. However that tends to leave one broke, so it's best to live for today, but plan for tomorrow.
I cut my household costs by over $30,000 a year by buying those "save money" books and applying their ideas. I supported 4 people and a $21,000 yearly house payment on $45,000 a year. Try it, the first 25% cuts you won't even feel.
SherryMally May 20, 2013 at 02:52 am
The blue bow goes NOW and we will never speak of this again..capiche?
Herc May 16, 2013 at 06:34 pm
Well if they don't I'm sure the Obama Administration will vote for them!
David Deegan May 16, 2013 at 06:37 pm
More illegal aliens coming in for free Obamacare (If only these were Bush jokes...or about Sarah…Read More Palin's kids, those never get old)
Resurrected May 17, 2013 at 11:35 pm
When are people going to grow up and learn there's no such thing as UFO's or extraterrestrial…Read More beings!
Maori Tuakana May 19, 2013 at 09:50 pm
That totally IS a burger, & it sounds awesome! I keep mine simple. I use more of an 85% ratio,…Read More on a half pound patty. Once finished, the stacking is simple. Two slices of American Cheese, Habanero Pepper Sauce (Marie Sharps or Melinda's), Grilled White Onion Slice (about 1/2 inch & whole slice intact), Mustard, Mayo (not Salad Dressing), & that's all. Of course the type of bun is up to you. I use a Gonnella Gourmet Bun.
Maori Tuakana May 19, 2013 at 09:51 pm
Now that's a great idea! I was told to use Italian Sausage, but this sounds like a winner.
Kibitzer May 16, 2013 at 01:48 am
Of course things are going to get worse. I tell people that all the time. They listen politely and…Read More then go their way. No one believes we are in a economic sink hole. I look for the Rapture of Christ's people and once that happens, all hell will break loose. Don't know what the "Rapture" is about? Check out "Rapture Alert.com". It totally breaks my heart for those in denial. About the economy, and the Lord Jesus.
Wheaton Watcher May 17, 2013 at 11:04 pm
Yep. I guess that explains the economic growth and the jobs the economy has been adding the last 4…Read More years.
Greg Tomita May 15, 2013 at 06:35 pm
Forget wi-fi - find some way to let me bring my bike during rush hour, and expand ticket discounts…Read More to starving grad students...
Tony Pedretti May 15, 2013 at 08:43 pm
They should not. We don't need distractions care of our mobile devices to be faster. As a 13-year,…Read More nearly daily rider on the BNSF line, these funds would better serve riders by addressing the "switch problems" that occur during inclement weather or other infrastructure that improves the consistency and timeliness of service.
Darren McRoy (Editor) May 15, 2013 at 10:04 pm
Personally, I grew up mowing acre-sized lawns for $25, and I like to think I did a pretty fair job!…Read More But in fairness, I was using my parents' ride-mower. That would not have flown with a push-mower!
Eric Hansen May 16, 2013 at 09:43 am
Our pricing is around $36-$38.00 per week for an average size lawn.
Lets discuss Competitive Lawn…Read More Service. After 32 years our company employs 30 and provides 30 private sector jobs. We are inspected by OSHA, The Department of Labor, The INS, Dept of Ag, and The Fire Marshal. We pay Fed and State Taxes, Unemployment taxes, Work Comp, property taxes, stormwater sewer tax, insurance policies, sales taxes, municipal stickers for business licenses, Truck plates, truck inspections, and fuel taxes. Our Employees are paid 1 and 1.5 pay rates and pay all of the federal, state, and local taxes and all are legal to work in the country as well as the state of Illinois. We carry a 5 million insurance policy. Employees are licensed by Dept. of Ag. We belong to our local Chamber of Commerce, our state Landscape associations, the BBB, and are active in charity work and fundraising for our local schools, churches, and various cause based programs.
All of this does one thing for our local areas, it stimulates our local economy and in a big way. Trickle down economics that occur from our employees, vendors, and all of the taxes we pay gets back into the system. By hiring local companies that do all the right things when it comes to the paragraph above, it keeps this money moving locally and improves the lives of every resident.
Hire Legal, Local, and heavily insured Companies like us!
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Amanda Montano May 16, 2013 at 05:30 pm
Thank you so much for the kind words and recommendation Ally! We greatly appreciate your post! We…Read More were so happy to help out your family in a time of need, it was the least we could do! It is good to hear that you are so pleased with our work! Enjoy your fresh new lawn and leave those flood memories behind!
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David Vancina May 14, 2013 at 03:14 am
"An essential component of IVS’ success is our highly qualified, Illinois licensed…Read More teachers facilitating each course."
Really? Parents who home school have been achieving this kind of success for a long time. For anyone who's interested, http://www.hslda.org is a great place to learn more.
Edea Krammer May 22, 2013 at 11:35 am
Points taken! I have to say that my greatest advice is curtailed the things that aren't important…Read More and get the best videographer, DJ or a Band, and photographer that you can bear. A month after your wedding no one is set to recollect your centerpieces, your veggie platter, your flowers or your cake. What they will recall is whether they had an incredible time with the DJ that you picked, and when they see the wedding photographs with an astounding work your photo artist did!
www.timgunther.com
Carol Lynn Grant-Strathmann May 23, 2013 at 10:25 pm
So much to plan for just with pictures alone! Thanks for all the tips.
Tony Manjalagots May 14, 2013 at 07:08 pm
There is no adult supervision in Sprungfield. Yet we keep allowing these pathetic people to be re…Read More elected. Why is that/? How can the political machine carry so much power. Oh wait, I forgot about all the free stuff the people of the inner city get for voting. I think in Shitcago, one has to be dead for 10 years before they can't vote anymore.
Grumpy Old Man June 4, 2013 at 07:04 am
The answer Carol is probably not, until we impose term limits on Lou Lang and his cronies and on all…Read More public offices in Illinois. As far as teacher's pensions, future teachers should look to IRA investments and social security and all other public employees and public officials the same other than first responders. Boss Daley gets multiple pensions which is a disgrace (have we thanked you Boss for the various boondoggles Rahmbo has inherited from you). As for now I think the voters need to vote the whole crew out.
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