Sen. Duffy in the News

Speed cameras for school zones advances

By Dan Carden | Daily Herald Staff

 Published: 4/30/2009

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/print/?id=290364

SPRINGFIELD - Intending to show once and for all that using cameras to ticket speeding drivers is only about safety, a suburban state senator on Thursday changed his plan allowing speed cameras on nearly any road to only permit speed cameras to be used in school, park and hospital zones.

"We feel that these are areas where our children and vulnerable individuals are walking and we are very concerned about them," said state Sen. Terry Link, a Waukegan Democrat. "I think this will meet the safety concerns of what we're talking about."

Under the revised plan, cities and villages would be allowed to contract with speed camera companies that would install equipment, watch for speeders and issue tickets in the specific zones.

"I think we took the concerns about revenue enhancements out of here to make this bill what it was: truly a safety bill," Link said.

But several state senators said they were still not convinced by Link's safety claims and believe speed camera enforcement is only about making money.

"I just fundamentally disagree with the principle of having the cameras, where they're used and why they're used and what their real purpose is. The kind of money they generate is just incredible," said state Sen. Dan Duffy, a Lake Barrington Republican. "In suburban areas they definitely use them as Cash Station machines."

State Sen. Tim Bivins, a Dixon Republican, agreed with Duffy. "I'm all about safety, but I think this is more about revenue and I can't support the bill," he said.

A trucking industry spokesman said truck drivers also oppose the speed camera plan because truckers are sick of getting tickets due to misread license plates by tollway enforcement cameras.

"We just don't think the technology is up there yet. We don't think this is a good way to go about enforcement. We prefer that law enforcement officers we do have out there enforce the laws," said Matt Hart, associate director of the Mid-West Truckers Association.

Nevertheless, the changes allowing speed cameras in school, park and hospital zones were approved 5-4 by the Senate Commerce Committee.

But even supporters of Link's proposal were concerned that speed cameras might set a dangerous precedent.

"I'm just hoping that we don't come up with something else, after this is in, another new technique to go ahead and again go after people and keep harassing people," said state Sen. Iris Martinez, a Chicago Democrat, who voted for the plan.

The speed camera plan was amended onto a proposal previously approved by the Illinois House. The full Senate must still approve the plan, the House must agree to the changes and Gov. Pat Quinn must sign on before speed cameras become law.

 

State needs more jobs, not higher taxes

(http://www.pioneerlocal.com/barrington/news/forum/1524877,ba-duffy-041609-s1.article)
April 16, 2009
BY STATE SEN. DAN DUFFY

The recession has hit hard in Illinois and very few have been spared. Everyone is cutting back in order to keep household spending in line with lower incomes and reduced home values. Eating out is now an occasional luxury not a weekly event. Family vacations have been rerouted to visiting relatives or staying home instead of trips to Disney. We all clearly understand that when times are tough, we need to change our spending habits.

But many in Springfield have the opposite view. They have decided this is the perfect time to take more of your hard earned money so they can continue to spend. They are considering increasing the income tax by 67 percent, increasing the gas tax, and adding a brand new tax on services.

These are just some of the new proposed tax increases. There are countless increases in "fees" and job-killing, hidden taxes on small businesses. Some in Springfield have argued that we can't possibly cut the bloated Illinois budget since every penny is well spent. Yet nobody can tell me how much money the State actually has or specifically how much money we owe?

How could any family balance their budget if they didn't even know how much money they made each month or what their total bills would be each month? It is not a question of whether or not there is wasteful spending in Illinois' gigantic budget. The question is, how much? The voters of Illinois have made tough choices to get their household budgets in line. It is time for legislators in Springfield to do the same.

Businesses, not the government, create jobs. Businesses provide the tax revenues we need to build better roads, better schools,

We have well-educated, hard working people and beautiful, world class cities. Companies should be flocking to our doors. Yet in the past 10 years, Illinois has ranked third from the bottom in job creation. Local businesses have known for years what the rest of the world is now discovering. Illinois has a reputation as a corrupt state with a very anti-business atmosphere.

A new business is not going to set up shop in Illinois when there are so many other states available where the owners don't have to worry about corruption or "new" business taxes hidden around every corner. Companies which are already here are making the decision to expand outside Illinois or move entire operations out of state

The massive tax increases proposed by the Democrats in Springfield will only exacerbate our current problem. We must not let this happen. We should be doing everything we can to encourage - not discourage job growth. Companies will stay and come back to Illinois, but we first must reform our corrupt political system and make it clear that Illinois is "open" for business.

 

Legislator Essay: Bill would make pay to play donations easy to find

(http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/forum/1491690,pp-duffy-032609-s1.article)
March 26, 2009

This is part of our monthly essays from legislators. We've asked them to use the space to speak to their constituents -- why they voted on a particular bill, issues they hope to address, services their office offers. Sen. Dan Duffy represents the 26th Senate which includes all or part of Barrington, Buffalo Grove, Barrington Hills, Hawthorn Woods, Lake Barrington, Lake Zurich, Libertyville, Long Grove, Mundelein, North Barrington and Vernon Hills.

Most institutions handling money have surveillance cameras at every point where money is being moved. We all understand the reason for this: Dishonest people are less likely to steal if they know they are being watched.

For the same reason, the citizens of Illinois need to be able to watch money being moved in Springfield. An inexpensive way to do this is to post checks issued by the Illinois government on and easy-to-search Web site.

We should also require that companies or organizations receiving payments from the State disclose the name and address of all owners and executives. By linking this information to the existing campaign disclosure information on the State Board of Elections Web site, it would be easy to discover if a recipient of state funds is "paying" to "play."

Although most voters are too busy working hard to provide for their families and pay the ever increasing tax burden, enough citizens (and the press) would be watching. This "transparency" will force a change in Springfield. Legislators would know every action is being watched.

I am the sponsor of Senate Bill 2080. Unlike other transparency bills proposed, SB2080 will put government checks online, including checks written to members of the General Assembly.

Don't be fooled by the many so-called reform proposals enacted by the career politicians who benefit from a corrupt system. Despite the ethics bills they've enacted, Illinois is considered one of the most corrupt states in the union.

Power is not something that is given up easily. Upon close examination, one will find that many "reform" proposals will actually greatly benefit those currently in power. For example there is currently a "campaign finance reform" proposal to limit how much an individual can contribute to a candidate without limiting contributions to a party.

Party leaders control their parties. Unlimited millions will go to the current party leaders while contribution caps will be set on challengers and elected representatives. The powerful leaders will increase their power and will single handily control "where" and to "whom" the money will be distributed. Since challengers and elected representatives depend on this money to be re-elected, this would make it harder for them to remain independent from the leadership.

We work for you. It is up to the voters to demand real reform. Do not settle for anything less. Establishing an easy-to-use Web site where anyone can see where our tax dollars are being spent will be a major step in the right direction.

The voters can change Illinois -- one step at a time.

 

Feb. 19, 2009 Northwest Herald by: Kevin P. Craver

Local reps say Burris must go

McHenry County’s state legislators joined the growing bipartisan chorus asking Democratic U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to step down.

Its four Republicans and one Democrat agree that Burris’ conflicting statements regarding his dealings with associates of disgraced former Gov. Rod Blagojevich are grounds for him to resign. They also said that Burris’ actions are further hurting a state shattered by Blagojevich’s arrest, impeachment and removal from office.

“I think he should resign. I don’t think he should be in that seat,” said state Sen. Dan Duffy, R-Lake Barrington. “He hasn’t been truthful and upfront since the beginning. He’s changed his story, what, three, four times?”

It’s Burris’ ever-changing version of events, in several cases under oath, that has a growing number of state officials saying that enough is enough. But that’s about all they can do, because they have no authority to unseat him.

Burris faced an uphill public opinion climb from the start, when Blagojevich chose him Dec. 30 to serve the remaining two years of President Obama’s term. Blagojevich had been arrested weeks before on corruption charges that include allegedly selling the seat for money or jobs for him and his wife.

State Rep. Jack Franks, D-Marengo, held a news conference with fellow Rep. Susana Mendoza, D-Chicago, demanding that Burris quit. Franks said they chose a news conference to pressure more Democrats to do the right thing.

“I think he so wanted the Senate job that it clouded his judgment,” Franks said. “Who else would have taken such a tainted appointment? And as a result, I think he’s really hurt his legacy.”

Burris, 71, was the first African-American elected to statewide office in Illinois, and he served as comptroller and attorney general. He later made unsuccessful runs for the U.S. Senate, governor and mayor of Chicago.

Assistant House Majority Leader Lou Lang, D-Skokie, also asked Burris to resign Wednesday, saying that he “... has forfeited the legislature and public’s trust and confidence.”

Lang, Franks and Mendoza were members of the House special committee that questioned Burris during their investigation into whether to impeach Blagojevich.

“I really think he should resign, partly in light of our recent past actions with former governor Blagojevich, and our moving forward in an attempt in time to clean up the state of Illinois,” said State Sen. Pam Althoff, R-McHenry.

Burris defended himself in a fiery speech Wednesday before the City Club of Chicago and blamed the news media for blowing the matter out of proportion. The U.S. Senate Ethics Committee is launching an investigation, and the Sangamon County State’s Attorney’s Office, which has jurisdiction over the state capitol, is reviewing documents regarding Burris’ testimony.

“You know the real Roland,” he told the lunchtime audience. “I’ve done nothing wrong, and I have absolutely nothing to hide.”

Local legislators disagreed, given Burris’ changing version of events.

“Given that, I think, he should step down,” said state Rep. Mike Tryon, R-Crystal Lake. “We in Illinois once again are on the front page of every newspaper in the country for our politics.”

State Rep. Mark Beaubien, R-Wauconda, said that the entire Blagojevich/Burris episode was “an embarrassment to the state.” But he said it begs the question of how the state would fill the vacant seat.

Copyright © 2008 Northwest Herald. All rights reserved.

http://www.nwherald.com/articles/2009/02/18/r_tsq01gmvr9arphxkivuwzg/index.xml

 


Transcript of what Duffy said

Feb. 10, 2009 By Nicole Milstead | Daily Herald Staff

SPRINGFIELD - Each of the 59 state senators was given the opportunity during former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment trial last month to make a five-minute speech. Lake Barrington Republican Dan Duffy, making his first speech ever in the Illinois Senate, stunned many observers with blunt criticism of veteran members for not challenging Blagojevich's behavior sooner. Here's a transcript:

"As a freshman senator, let me say it has been an interesting first month in office. It is an honor to represent the people of the 26th District and to sit here in their chair.

I have heard over the past few days how the governor has traded official acts in exchange for personal profit and campaign contributions. He did this many times in a variety of ways.

I have also heard how the governor violated state and federal laws. The governor's speech today was incredible, a very passionate political speech, but it doesn't change the facts.

The governor's actions show a pattern of abuse, which clearly tramples over the Illinois Constitution and violates his oath of office.

The testimony presented definitely warrants the governor's removal from office, but what confuses me is that the testimony shows that this abuse of power has been going on for years and that many people in this government and in this chamber had to have known about it.

According to the governor's speech today, he said that what he did, he did in conjunction with the Democratic Senate leadership. He said he couldn't have done any of this without their help and support.

The auditor general's testimony yesterday reflects how deep and how widespread the corruption has gone.

How is it that the majority in this chamber, the same people who have presented this case reflecting years of corruption, are the same people that have praised the governor by giving him three pay raises over the past two years? Three raises since the 2006 election, increasing the governor's salary by almost 18 percent at the same time that all this documented corruption was taking place.

Mr. President, we have just scratched the surface of corruption. The governor did not and could not have done all this without a lot of help. We must implement clear and concise transparency laws in this state.

Every single government check written, whether for payroll, bills or expenses, should be posted on the Internet on a Web site for all to see.

Voters should have the ability to recall, if necessary, any elected official in this state.

And we should have a whistle-blowers' hotline for all legislators, staff and lobbyists to call if they suspect or know of any corruption that's taking place. This hotline should be maintained by a nonpolitical appointment who will keep names anonymous and offer awards for convictions.

This is just the beginning, Mr. President, and we have a lot of work to do."

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=270861