Mayor’s Row …………by Ned Mitchell

            You just have to love those folks we elect in Springfield to look out for us and to make lifetime decisions that we all have to live with.  I am truly amazed at the group that came charging back to Springfield after a few weeks off to look out for the Easter Bunny.

            As we all know Illinois has the largest debt of any state in the Union.  We are losing thousands of jobs every year to other surrounding states as our manufacturers, trucking companies and just about anybody who makes anything, leaves us for a more friendly business climate.

            We are drowning in pension debt, spend a lot more money each day than we take in, and are forcing hospitals out of business, bankrupting other health related businesses.  What do the democrats who own the State Senate come up with to solve our problems?  They, along with the reformer/unreformer Governor have proposed millions of dollars in new spending to solve our problems.  Yes, you read that right, millions of dollars in new spending!  Not only are we not able to pay our bills in a timely manner but this group of economic geniuses want to increase spending to record levels.

            They are doing all of this in the name of expanded health care and the establishment of a capital program called “Illinois Works.”  The only problem is the Senate democrats do not address just how they are going to raise all of this money.

            Over on the other side of the capitol the House of Representatives want to double the state income tax for those making over $250,000.00 per year.  Still others in the House want to do away with the Illinois flat income tax and adopt a graduated tax like the federal government.  The only problem with all of this chatter in the House is the fact that those great public servants want to throw those ideas on the November ballot and have me and you vote on whether or not we raise taxes on people in higher income brackets.  Whatever happened to our elected officials casting votes that were for the good of all of us?  We elect people to do a job and to cast votes on pertinent issues.  We do not elect people to throw ideas back at us for referendum votes; we elect them to make a decision!

            Last week found a letter in my mailbox from former Congressmen Glenn Poshard and Dennis Hastert inviting me to a listening tour concerning the “Illinois Works” program.  In the letter Poshard and Hastert claimed they were appointed by the reformer/unreformer Governor to head up this special mission because they were considered “outsiders.”

            Folks if Poshard and Hastert are outsiders, what on earth are the rest of us?  I would say that from the looks of the massive pensions these two have bestowed upon themselves they would most certainly qualify as members of the Fraternity of Insiders deluxe.  There was no need for me to attend this dog and pony show.  I am already convinced as most folks are that we do need a capital program.  We have much to do and not much time to do it in.  I do have serious reservations about allowing the reformer/unreformer unlimited control over where the money is spent.  We know from his past that he is not a man of his word and you cannot believe anything that spews out of his mouth.  We could be faced with millions of dollars being sent to his crony’s pet projects such as the $1 million dollars that went to a school in Chicago that does not exist.  Then we have the problem of “pay to play” here in Illinois.  One of the Governor’s main fundraisers Tony Rezko is on trial right now in federal court for having his hand up to his elbow in the money jar.

            Meanwhile the Senators have not voted on a House bill that would allow a recall provision in Illinois that would let voters decide if they want to turn an elected official out to pasture.  They also are refusing to even talk about campaign finance reform with that bastion of nepotism Senate President Emil Jones saying the proposed bill “does not go far enough” so therefore he single handedly will not allow the rest of the 58 State Senators to vote on any such proposal.  Folks, seriously, you have got to be kidding me!  Of course there is a remedy for such shenanigans and that is at the ballot box.

            The State Senate did do one worthwhile thing last week and agreed with the House in passing “Shib’s Law” that will protect fire fighters who respond to emergency calls on highways in Illinois.  It will give fire fighters once they have been properly trained, the authority to close sections of highway while they do their jobs and until appropriate police officers are on the scene.  The new bill passed unanimously and we are very proud of all those in Sesser and surrounding towns who lobbied hard for this law that will not only save lives of fire fighters and emergency workers in the future, but also pays special tribute to our own “Shib” Miller who died on duty last year.  Senator Gary Forby and Representative John Bradley did an outstanding job in passing this legislation.

            The Mitchell family spent the afternoon in Carbondale on Saturday watching a performance live at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.  Former Sesser native Thomas Mygatt, deputy director of marketing for the Opera flipped for the tickets and it was unlike anything I have ever seen before.  Here we were in Carbondale, joining thousands of opera fans in New York City watching the same opera at the same time.  We are proud of the accomplishments of Thomas who is the son of Janet and Tom Mygatt and the grandson of Virginia and Gene Cockrum.

            Special birthday wishes go out to mother Rose Mary Mitchell who turns 89 on April 10^th.  We wish her a special day with many more to come.

            Condolences to first cousin Wilma Macari and immediate family who lost husband Dominic Macari Jr. last week.  Dom was a retired coal miner and a great guy in my opinion.  We are also saddened to learn of the death of former Sesser resident Leon Elliston.  Leon was a faithful reader of this column and shared his comments from time to time.

This Saturday evening at the historic Sesser Opera House we will have the opportunity to see and hear the world renowned Cavani String Quartet.  These four ladies have performed in many of the larger opera houses in the United States and we are fortunate to have them in Sesser.  They will be performing the music of Tchaikovsky and this promises to be a premier event for us.  All proceeds from ticket sales will go to music scholarships at SIUC.  Come by early and have a great meal at Bruno’s Steakhouse or the Opera House Café in Sesser and then enjoy beautiful music that you would have to normally go to a large city to see.  For more information call 625-5322 or 927-0458.  We look forward to seeing you in Sesser.  The concert starts at 7:00 pm.