Townships put a big one by the voters

If you think the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives are on your side - on the side of the People, take a good look at Senate Bill 3010! Then you'd better start calling Gov. Quinn at 7:00AM and tell him to lose his pen.

You've probably been reading about Grafton Township's mess with their proposed town hall.

And you probably know that Dorr Township electors said NO! to a new town hall.

Well, you might just get it jammed down your throat, anyway. Go to www.ilga.gov/ (for Illinois General Assembly). Search "by number"; enter SB3010.

The "short description" should be enough to scare you: "TOWNSHIP HALL-NO REFERENDUM".

But wait! What about the Peoples' voice? (Hint. Remember, this is Illinois.)

This Bill was introduced on February 4, 2010, by Sen. M. Maggie Crotty (D-Oak Forest). Do you think, for even one minute, that Dorr Township officials and their attorney did not know about this bill? Did you hear it mentioned at the March monthly meeting? At the Annual Town Meeting? At the May monthly meeting?

What's this bill all about? How about this? "... any township may, by ordinance or resolution, build, purchase, or lease a township hall, a multi-purpose senior center, or a combined township hall and multi-purpose senior center within the township without referendum approval, if the building, purchasing, or leasing of the township hall, multi-purpose senior center, or combined township hall and multi-purpose senior center is paid or provided for with funds that are not the proceeds of bonds authorized under this Article."

It will no longer matter what YOU, the elector, wants (or doesn't want). If the elected persons responsible for the stewardship of YOUR tax dollars decide that THEY want a new place to play in, they are going to get it!

This bill has already passed both houses. Am I the only one who didn't know about it until last night?

How did Jack Franks vote? NO, on 5/6/10 (Thanks, Jack!) House: 98-19
How did Pamela Althoff vote? YES, on 3/15/10 Senate: 39-4

Call Gov. Quinn early Thursday and tell him not to sign this bill.
Phone 217.782.0244 or 312.814.2121

And next time you are in contact with your Township officials, tell them how much you appreciate their sneakiness in withholding this critical information from electors in their townships.