Governor Blagojevich on Gambling

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/05/06/opinion/131446.txt

 

Targeting Pontiac prison is more hocus-pocus

 

5/6/2008

Bloomington Pantagraph

Editorial Board


Once again, Rod Blagojevich the Political Magician has waved his wand and pulled a skunk out of his hat.

The governor's latest trick is turning a plan to close a portion of Stateville Correctional Center into a plan to close Pontiac Correctional Center.

Fortunately, it will take more than chanting "abra cadabra" to complete this stunt.

The State Facilities Closure Act requires public hearings and a study of operational costs, budget impact and economic impact on a community before prisons, mental health centers or residential facilities for veterans can be closed.

But be watchful. After the Stateville announcement, the governor's office tried to claim the Facilities Closure Act didn't apply because the governor was only closing part of Stateville.

As in the original Stateville proposal, the governor's plan is to transfer inmates to the nearly empty Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois - supposedly in the interest of saving the state money. The closure would displace an estimated 1,600 inmates and more than 500 employees in Pontiac.

When this magician says there's nothing up his sleeve, it's difficult to believe him.

The State Facilities Closure Act was enacted after Blagojevich attempted to close Pontiac and Vandalia prisons in 2004. Blagojevich's aides claimed at the time it was only a coincidence that the targeted prisons were located in the districts of two key Republican foes - state Rep. Dan Rutherford, R-Chenoa, and Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson.

Once again, Blagojevich is targeting Pontiac. Apparently, the governor figures he no longer needs - or was unlikely to get - Rutherford's vote on the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Committee to implement his healthcare plan.

The state clearly needs to take action to balance its budget. But the action must be well-thought out and not politically motivated.

We asked this question after Blagojevich said Stateville would be closed and we'll ask it again: Why wasn't there any mention of closing prisons in the governor's February budget address?

If any in-depth research preceded the decision, why was the location abruptly switched from the Joliet area to Pontiac barely two months after the initial announcement?

Illinoisans are getting tired of the hocus-pocus from the governor's office. That goes double for Blagojevich's "disappearing act" when it comes to spending - or not spending - time in Springfield

 

The development, hosting and maintenance of Senator Rutherford's web site are not paid for with taxpayer dollars. The phone line and internet service for Senator Rutherford's e-mails are also not paid for at taxpayer expense.