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Quinn ripped for giving jobs to legislators' wives
Sun-Times May 12, 2010 BY DAVE McKINNEY Sun-Times Springfield Bureau Chief SPRINGFIELD --The state's budget meltdown did not prevent the wives of two Democratic lawmakers from landing six-figure state paychecks thanks to Gov. Quinn and the Illinois Senate.
Red Light Cameras = Big Dollars For Towns
June 15, 2009
By State Sen. Dan Duffy
Everyone favors making our roads safer for citizens, but “Red Light Cameras” put revenue above safety. These cameras are supposed to help prevent accidents by taking pictures and issuing tickets to people who speed through intersections while the light is red. Instead they are being used as ATMs by some towns, making camera companies rich, and are actually increasing accidents in some intersections.
Last November the Village of Schaumburg installed a camera at Woodfield Mall. The camera generated $1 million in fines in just three months. It was estimated that 70% of the tickets issued by these cameras were sent to people who turned right on red legally. These individuals made a complete stop but they had to roll past the white line to see around potting boxes and other obstructions to their view. However, cameras cannot make judgment calls. Once your wheels cross the white line, a picture is taken and a ticket is sent to your home. Since there is no police officer present to evaluate the situation, how can you explain the incident should you take the time to go to court?
State needs more jobs, not higher taxes
April 16, 2009
BY STATE SEN. DAN DUFFY
The recession has hit hard in Illinois and very few have been spared. Everyone is cutting back in order to keep household spending in line with lower incomes and reduced home values. Eating out is now an occasional luxury not a weekly event. Family vacations have been rerouted to visiting relatives or staying home instead of trips to Disney. We all clearly understand that when times are tough, we need to change our spending habits.
But many in Springfield have the opposite view. They have decided this is the perfect time to take more of your hard earned money so they can continue to spend. They are considering increasing the income tax by 67 percent, increasing the gas tax, and adding a brand new tax on services.
Legislator Essay: Bill would make pay to play donations easy to find
March 26, 2009
Most institutions handling money have surveillance cameras at every point where money is being moved. We all understand the reason for this: Dishonest people are less likely to steal if they know they are being watched.
For the same reason, the citizens of Illinois need to be able to watch money being moved in Springfield. An inexpensive way to do this is to post checks issued by the Illinois government on and easy-to-search Web site.
We should also require that companies or organizations receiving payments from the State disclose the name and address of all owners and executives. By linking this information to the existing campaign disclosure information on the State Board of Elections Web site, it would be easy to discover if a recipient of state funds is “paying” to “play.”
"Although most voters are too busy working hard to provide for their families and pay the ever increasing tax burden, enough citizens (and the press) would be watching. This “transparency” will force a change in Springfield. Legislators would know every action is being watched. I am the sponsor of Senate Bill 2080. Unlike other transparency bills proposed, SB2080 will put government checks online, including checks written to members of the General Assembly." --State Sen. Dan Duffy
Blago speech gets local freshman lawmaker noticed
Published: 2/9/2009 2:36 PM | Updated: 2/10/2009 9:55 AM
By Nicole Milstead | Daily Herald Staff
SPRINGFIELD - When Dan Duffy stood up to speak during Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment trial, it’s likely few in the Illinois Senate knew his name.
But the freshman Republican lawmaker from Lake Barrington quickly left an impression with his new colleagues, using his few minutes in the spotlight to essentially tell veteran members they’d let the governor get away with questionable behavior far too long.
“How is it that the majority in this chamber, the same people who have presented this case reflecting years of corruption, are the same people that have praised the governor by giving him three pay raises over the past two years?” asked Duffy in the waning moments of Blagojevich’s impeachment trial.
Public praise for a quick response
Published: 3/10/2009 12:06 AM
Letter to the Editor
I am writing because the most extraordinary thing happened to me this week. I was concerned about some upcoming legislature and had some questions concerning this bill. I wrote an e-mail to my new state senator, Dan Duffy expressing my concerns. I received a response the next day! Not only that, but the senator himself responded. I was so pleasantly surprised that I felt I just had to share this information. All too often we complain about our elected officials, so I thought it would be fitting and appropriate to thank them and acknowledge them when they are doing a good job.
Keep up the good work. I, for one, am impressed.
Judy Fojtik - Ingleside
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=277704
