Illinois ConCon

00Publius Contributor - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois ConCon - News - Society/Culture - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Deserves Better — Vote YES on IL Con Con

June 1, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Say yes to the Illinois Constitutional Convention. To help learn about the reasons and issues, a new book has been released by Bruno Behrend and John Bambenek called “Illinois Deserves Better.”

Here is what the website has to say:

It’s finally ready, and we hope that you will buy a copy. You CAN’T wait for Democrats or Republicans to fix Illinois. YOU have to be the one to fix Illinois, and it starts by voting “Yes” on the Illinois Constitutional Convention question that will be on the ballot in November.

Is the case for an Illinois Constitutional Convention really ironclad?

On November 4, 2008, Illinois citizens will have a once in a generation opportunity to call a Constitutional Convention. If you stop reading this book after this paragraph, please take away this singularly important message. If a better Illinois and a more honest government is your goal, then there is no intellectually sound reason to vote “No” on this ballot question. This book will prove that proposition.

The authors will take you through the trials and tribulations confronting Illinois, while showing that our sad state of affairs is a direct result of the perhaps well-intentioned, but poorly written and conceived Constitution of 1970. Unlike many who simply “curse the darkness” of Illinois politics, this book shines the light of reason on how we got here and how to find our way back. The authors lay out a clear case that the problem with Illinois’ Constitution is directly related to its massive transfer power from the citizens to the government.

The book continues with numerous proposals that make for an elegant and concise set of solutions to problems that plague Illinois (complete with model language). The book has the audacity to propose that we return power to the citizens of Illinois.

Illinois Deserves Better is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the issues that made one of the most important states in the Union a laughingstock across the nation. It goes on to provide a roadmap for the way back to its rightful place as a respected state. One governed by its excellent citizens, and not an insulated and un-serious political class.

Voting “Yes” gives citizens the opportunity for change, voting “No” simply gives you the status quo.

00Publius Contributor - Constitution - Illinois ConCon - News - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Chance to update state constitution will be in voters hands

May 22, 2008 by

By Kathleen Haughney

SPRINGFIELD — Illinois voters in November will get to decide whether to have a constitutional convention and revamp the state’s governing document.

The question of whether to rewrite the state constitution is automatically put to voters every 20 years, and Illinoisans rejected the idea in 1988. But some veteran political observers and activists believe that voters may think differently this year because of the state’s contentious political climate.

“If we owned cars or homes performing as poorly as state government, we would give them a tune-up or call a contractor,” said John Alexander, a Virden resident who was a delegate to the last state constitutional convention, in 1969-1970.

Samuel Gove, former director of the Institute of Government and Public Affairs at University of Illinois, said the vote may come down as a protest of Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Political infighting has dominated Springfield for the past year, going so far that Blagojevich sued House Speaker Michael Madigan over the power to call the Legislature into special session. The Legislature and governor were also months late in agreeing on a budget. Some lawmakers have called for the governor’s resignation or impeachment.
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00Publius Contributor - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois ConCon - News - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois can vote for con-con in November

May 20, 2008 by

-By Phil Kadner, Southtown Star

Voters who want an opportunity to recall elected officials will get a chance to voice their anger in November.

Every 20 years, Illinois is required to ask voters if they want to hold a constitutional convention, and this is one of those years.

A recall amendment to the Illinois Constitution was killed in the state Senate after passing the House this year.

The good news is that a constitutional convention could take another look at recall. The bad news (according to critics) is that everything else would be up for grabs.

People opposed to a con-con (the abbreviation for constitutional convention) caution that special interest groups will come out of the woodwork to pursue their favorite causes.
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00Publius Contributor - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois ConCon - News - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Vote ‘yes’ in November to constitutional convention

May 13, 2008 by 1 Comment

From the Southtown Star:

A poll taken earlier this year for the University of Illinois’ Institute of Government and Public Affairs and released last week shows overwhelming public support for legislative term limits and recall of elected state officials.

The poll of about 1,000 Illinois residents taken in January found that 70 percent support both limits and recall. The numbers are close to a Glengariff Group poll taken late last year that showed 65 percent favored recall. Glengariff did not ask about term limits.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s astounding unpopularity was measured by a different poll released this month. According to the highly respected Ipsos firm, the governor has a 13 percent job approval rating, with 54 percent disapproving and 33 percent reporting mixed feelings.

That unpopularity, combined with the inability of the General Assembly to find timely solutions without an overwhelming amount of intraparty bickering, undoubtedly has fueled the demand for recall and term limits.
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Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Illinois ConCon - News

Con-Con Galore

May 3, 2008 by

-By Rep. John Fritchey

The Legislative Research Unit has shown once again why they are a shining star when it comes to doing their job really well. The text below is from an e-mail which I just received from the LRU:

The Legislative Research Unit has compiled the documents on this Website to provide information in advance of the constitutional convention referendum to be held at the November 4, 2008 General Election.

This site brings together information on the 1970 constitutional convention and earlier conventions; the last referendum on holding a constitutional convention in 1988 (which was rejected); and current issues for consideration if a convention were held in 2010. Many of the resources on this site were not widely available to the general public.

This Website is offered to legislators, their staffs, journalists, advocates on both sides of the convention issue, and members of the general public who seek information on the Illinois Constitution and the issue whether to call a constitutional convention.
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00Publius Contributor - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Elections - Illinois ConCon - News - Society/Culture - Warner Todd Huston

Powerful Lobbyists Line Up Against Voice of the People in Illinois

April 27, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

At last YOU can have a say in Illinois!

The Illinois Constitution has an interesting provision in Article 14. It’s a rule where every 20 years a Constitutional Convention can be called to consider alterations and amendments to the state Constitution. The Convention itself isn’t called automatically, though. Only the question of calling or not calling the convention can be on the ballot at first.

Illinois has developed the reputation as one of the most corrupt anti-democratic state in the union and now we have this one small chance to change that. This is one chance, but a fleeting one, to finally have a say in what our politicians do. Do you want a chance to actually have a voice in state politics at long last? Vote yes on the ConCon.

Illinois DESERVES Better!

Naturally, there are very powerful people lined up to deny the citizens of Illinois from having their say after decades of being ignored, trodden upon and stolen from. After seeing politician after politician go to jail for corruption and graft.

These powerful folks don’t want their sweetheart deals and back room power-brokering to be upset by we lowly and forgotten citizens… you know, we who pay ALL of their bills with our exorbitant taxes?

So, guess who opposes the right of the people to have their say?

Unions stand against the people.

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Workers are against the ConCon. Why? Why else but because it will threaten their overly cushy jobs and their bloated and illicit pension and healthcare plans– the sort of plans that no one in the private sector is ever able to get.

The The Illinois Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Education Association are against the ConCon. Why? Well, how could they continue to so mis-educate our children so blatantly without ever being called to account for their failures if the people were ever called to have a say on their shoddy efforts at education?

A Constitutional Convention threatens the undeserved perks and high spending jobs they have. No wonder they are afraid of the people having their say.

As in everything, there are certain dangers. We might end up seeing taxes actually made worse instead of better. But, we also have the opportunity to put term limits on the thieves in office, pass a recall amendment, even finally pass that concealed carry bill that most people in the state support but is so continually blocked by just a handful of anti-American Chicago powermongers.

Certainly once we say yes to the ConCon our work it cut out for us. But we have to say yes to even get that one chance to be heard in Springfield, at long last. If we don’t say yes now, it’ll be 20 more years before we have a chance to have a say again.

Saying no out of fear that things “could” get worse is no option. Step up to the plate, Illinois. NOW is the time to FINALLY have YOUR say.

SAY YES TO THE ConCon!!

For more info go to the Illinois Citizen Coalition.

5 Important things you can do to get involved in fixing our FAILED government.

1. Give yourself permission to believe good things are possible. Stop cursing the darkness of Illinois politics and become the light that fixes our state.

2. Schedule a Town Hall meeting on the Constitutional Convention. We have speakers across the state that can present or debate the benefits of a convention.

3. Become an organizer. Your help in identifying “Yes” votes is important.

4. Help raise money. Powerful interests on both the left and right are fighting to keep things just the way they are. You can become part of the solution by finding people willing to become donors and paid members of the Illinois Citizens Coalition.

5. Make phone calls. If you find 10 people to call 10 people, your efforts can become part of the multi-partisan movement to clean-up Illinois. We can provide you with phone-scripts and telephone.

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00Publius Contributor - Constitution - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - GOP - Illinois ConCon - Media Bias - News - Society/Culture - Taxes - The Law - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois, We DO Have a Voice — Vote YES on ConCon NOW

April 13, 2008 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

There is no doubt that the State of Illinois is broken. We have crooks running every state office on both sides of the aisle — Republican AND Democrat. We have $106 BILLION of unfunded liabilities and that debt to the State Government is growing every single day. Nearly on a daily basis we have our representatives and officials being indicted and sent to jail. We have a Democrat Governor who cannot work with either party (yes even the one that voted him into office) and who constantly goes on TV and announces new spending measures that he has never brought before the State government.

Illinois is the most corrupt State of the union. It’s just that simple.

So, what can we do? The voters and the citizens of Illinois have absolutely no say whatever in this State government. Aren’t we just up a creek without a paddle?

NO. The time is NOW for change. We DO have a voice, but only for a short time, so ACT NOW. It’s called a Constitutional Convention — or the ConCon. If we, the average citizens of the State of Illinois speak up now, we CAN have our say.

So, what the heck is this ConCon? It may sound boring, or too complicated for you to bother with. You may even think that since it is all involved with the government, you will still be on the outside looking in if you aren’t in that government.

Worse, the powers on both sides of the aisle in our state government are trying to keep this whole ConCon under wraps until it is too late for community groups to get organized to talk about it.

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Article 14 of the Illinois State Constitution says that every 20 years a Constitutional Convention will be called to consider changes to our State Constitution. It is now time for that 20-year call to be sounded. But if it slips by we will be out of luck for another 20 years, another 20 years where we won’t have a chance to take back our government.

This is NOT just a liberal or conservative call to arms, either. We citizens of the State have an opportunity to slap down our arrogant and criminal politicians regardless of our individual political leaning. They cannot hold us down anymore!

But we need to spread the word that we need to vote YES on the ConCon!

We have a chance to add a recall to get rid of criminals like Rod Blagojevich to our Constitution. We have the chance to fix our overspending ways. There are so many things we can do but ONLY if we vote YES on the ConCon.

SPEAK UP FOR CHANGE IN ILLINOIS… Vote YES on the ConCon!

For more info go to the Illinois Citizen Coalition.

Here is a 30-minute video that offers some facts on the ConCon:


Continue reading “Illinois, We DO Have a Voice — Vote YES on ConCon NOW”