Dear Senator Cronin:
As a Democrat in DuPage , I compliment you on your observations in your letter to the editor of Aug 7 [Daily Herald, see below]. In referring to the state budget negotiations, you allege: “This is a result of ONE-PARTY (my emphasis) control of our system of governance, which eliminates the need for cooperation and good faith negotiations.” You make this claim despite the fact that Republicans are represented in Springfield – your party holds 22 of 59 Senate seats and 51 of 118 in the General Assembly. You go on to say that “For the past 50 years, with few exceptions, Illinois has been governed by both Republicans and Democrats who were compelled to work together and compromise.”
Senator Cronin, wouldn’t it be great if in DuPage County, where 50% of the citizens are Democrats but all of our officials are Republicans, we could “work together” to solve some of the county's growing problems? And, wouldn’t it be great if we had same the kind of TWO-PARTY system of governance in DuPage that you advocate for in Illinois.? As you know, DuPage is not without problems. Bloated salaries and benefits for Republican county and township officials, budget deficits, cutbacks in services, proposals to raise taxes, and threats of home-rule are all problems that should have input by local Democrats who have for years been shut-out of the county's decision-making process.
Let’s work together, Senator Cronin, to elect just 6 Democrats to the county board; the Republicans currently have all 19 seats and would still be the majority, a broader majority than the Democrats now hold in our state legislature. But this would still bring us closer to the TWO-PARTY system of governance that you so eloquently espoused.
Two party government in DuPage County... deal or no deal, Senator Cronin?
Bob Peickert, Chair
Operation Turn DuPage Blue
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For reference sake, this is the text of Sen. Cronin's letter in the Daily Herald on Aug. 7:
Democrats’ poor legislative record
As I wrote this letter, the General Assembly was 60 days past its scheduled adjournment day, setting the shameful record of the longest overtime session in Illinois history.
With no year-long budget negotiated, once again we are privy to a disgraceful display of irresponsible governance and a failure of leadership.
This has been a frustrating, difficult session. By refusing to compromise on some of the state’s most pressing issues, Gov. Blagojevich and Democrat leadership in the House and Senate have broken their promise to the people that they were elected to represent.
I believe that our experience this year is a clear demonstration of the ideological differences between Republicans and Democrats.
It is my opinion that Illinois lawmakers are citizen legislators who should come to Springfield and work diligently to do the work of the people in a reasonable, responsible time frame before returning to their families, jobs and lives.
What we are witnessing is a fundamental change in state government, courtesy of the Democrats. Under their watch, government continues to grow. The legislature is meeting more often, moving toward a full-time legislature dominated by people who are committed to bigger government, more programs and higher taxes. This is the result of one-party control of our system of governance, which eliminates the need for cooperation and good-faith negotiations.
For the past 50 years, with few exceptions, Illinois has been governed by both Republicans and Democrats who were compelled to work together and compromise. I ask that once again Republicans are allowed to demonstrate our ability to govern.
We have been and will continue to be ready to work to bring a conclusion to this difficult overtime debacle that continues without direction, guidance or any semblance of leadership.
State Sen. Dan Cronin
Elmhurst
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2 comments:
Bob, nice connection on some of the same concerns-it takes at least two parties to work together in cooperation and negotiation that could prevent some of the gross abuses in DuPage County. I think if Dan Cronin is half-serious about his letter to the editor, he should jump at the opportunity to respond.
What are the "gross abuses" of which you speak? Are they even close to being in the same league as those committed by the Dems controling the state and Cook county?
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