Voters won’t forget that Halvorson chose Blagojevich over them
For more than a year the Illinois Republican Party has been advocating tougher ethical reforms for our government and if today’s published reports are true Illinois may be on the cusp of obtaining the first step in some much-needed reform.
Of course, it’s guaranteed there will be a number of individuals who will line up to take credit for passing these reforms. One such individual is State Senator and Congressional Candidate Debbie Halvorson.
However, it’s important to understand that the Illinois legislature would not have to be debating new ethical rules today if Senator Halvorson had not bottled up the house ethics package that passed and landed in her committee more than a year ago.
As Chairwoman of the Senate Rules Committee Senator Halvorson held up the unanimously passed house ethics package in her committee for over a year! She even went so far as to say last fall the house was just playing politics with the Governor by passing these reforms.
Suddenly, after announcing her candidacy for Congress and prodding by the Illinois Republican Party, newspaper editorials, and voters Halvorson has had a change of heart. She’s now working overtime in the face of a public spotlight on this issue to get an ethics plan through the legislature. My, how time and a congressional candidacy changes things. It’s laughable at best. Halvorson protected Rod Blagojevich by sitting on ethics reform for more than a year but is now ready to claim credit. That’s not leadership. That’s opportunistic. That’s being a politician.
Go ahead and try to take credit, Senator. Try to tell the people of this state that you wanted ethics reform all along. Try to convince the people of your district that you have not been Rod Blagojevich’s chief lieutenant in the state senate. Keep trying.
Just remember, Senator, the voters of this state are not dumb. They are going to remember when you had a choice between them and Rod Blagojevich, for over a year you chose Rod Blagojevich.
Posted by Editor
May 1st, 2008 at 9:56 am
I think friendly business owner Ozinga is the perfect person to offset petty entrenched Blago-buddy Halvorson.
[Last night I heard the Credit Union Representatives (who were having a reception in Springfield) complain openly about how badly Governor Rod has treated them - all the while Debbie Halvorson was smiling and carrying on like she wasn’t the chief person responsible for Rod’s bills in the Senate. Someone needs to explain to the Credit Unions that they are being played if they think Debbie is their friend.]
May 1st, 2008 at 11:22 am
She should be recalled just like her boss!
May 1st, 2008 at 11:45 am
Your damn straight the voters won’t foget. Her’e the email I sent her awhile back.
Sen. Halvorson you need to stand up for the people of Illinois, not Rod Blagojevich and allow the Recall Amendment a vote by the Senate. WE The People have the right to decide how and who will squander away our hard earned tax dollars. It is not for you or any other politician to manipulate our Constitutional rights.
Her response:
Cathy:
Thank you for your recent email. Your viewpoint is important to me. Keeping me informed of your concerns helps me better represent the 40th District. Rest assured, I will keep your opinions in mind when voting on questions before the Illinois Senate.
I invite your continued interest in our legislative process and look forward to hearing from you regarding other matters important to you.
Best Regards,
Senator Debbie Halvorson
Senate Majority Leader-40th District
May 1st, 2008 at 3:51 pm
Along with ethic reform and the recall amendment I would like to see term limits in place plus if a State Senator or Repersentive or US Rep or Sen decides to run for higher office, they must step down and vacate thier office. The people of that district, not the Govenor, will get to elect a new rep. Even in the case of a so called “Illness” that forces them to resign, I do not belive a family member, (Jacobs from East Moline) should be appointed, let the people decide or leave the office open till the next election.
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:55 am
RECALL is very important to the citizens of Illinois ! What the senate has just told us is “Ethics in government is not important, it is ok to ignore the citizens”. My senator Maggie Crotty has done the same. She has voted along party lines instead of doing the right thing. They need to be held accountable for there actions. To me “RECALL” is the same thing as being able to bring back a defective product to the store that you bought it. The politicians don’t care, they care about apeasing there bosses & contributors, that is a fact by the vote. This vote represents what is fataly fundementally flawed with Illinois politics on both sides of the isle.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Wow, Debbie, it looks like maybe we are seeing EJ is really pulling the puppet string.
May 10th, 2008 at 5:47 am
It’s time to take back Illinois and say no to Obama.
Check out this site and be sure to pass it on to your moderate dem friends.
http://politicallydrunk.blogspot.com