Divide Illinois in 2 (Chicago, Naperville, Peoria: travel, incomes, sick)

[Avengerfire]

Here is a good example how the state screws over Cook County on health care money from the Fed and shortchanges it.

http://www.ctbaonline.org/All%20Link...A%20Report.pdf

More to come soon on the tax issue.

[Avengerfire]

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/...evich-cla.html

"The $385 million currently goes into general funds that are used for a wide array of state expenses, ranging from the salaries of prison guards to school operations."

"Many lawmakers believe the casino cash should be used to help pay for a multibillion-dollar construction program for schools, roads, bridges and other projects throughout the state. But some lawmakers believe a portion of the casino revenues are needed to replace the $385 million that would be used to underwrite mass transit in the Chicago area. And some lawmakers also want a portion of the money to be used to boost school funding. "


Read very closely. Why is $385 million in gas tax from Chicago area going to the state and not getting anything back for it in the first place? Hmmm. These lawmakers shift money around so much so you cannot see where it is really going to.

Then, to fund downstate roads they are going to take all kinds of money from Chicago's Casino.

How about 80% of the Chicago Casino's money,the toll road money,and gas taxes in Northern Illinois come back to Northern Illinois? Downstate would really be screwed then.

I call B.S. on downstate. I wish the state would split, downstate would be even more backwards then it already is.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

Ok, here we go.....

1. Income taxes, errr....everyone pays those so you will need to be more specific.
2. Highway tolls....the tolls are supposed to pay for the roads around there. Additionally, everyone uses the roads so proportion to population and all that. (Plus a lot of that money goes back into the Chicago-land economy)
3. Airport? Again, proportional to population...heck...most of souther IL would fly out of St. Louis anyway.
4. University? Um, I went to the U of I....it was PACKED with kids from Chicagoland.5. Sports Teams generate local revenue how is this a "burden" the city is carrying for the rest of the state?

Basically, if 90% of the people that use the item are from area A and they contribute 90% towards it's costs....um, how are they bailing out the other 10%?

I've lived in Chicago, the burbs, Champaign and a small town so believe me I've heard the arguments.

How about Chicago using other parts of the state for Prisons, Food growth and garbage dumps?

Especially agree with #4. My ex-husband went to U of I, was from La Grange. Almost everyone I met there was from the Chicago area. This N. Illinois state would have to build its own University b/c the other state colleges north of I-80 couldn't accomodate all of them. UI undergrad is almost all instate, 90+ %.

[RikardW]

I was born and raised in Peoria. I can remember my dad complaining about the Cook County and downstate division. Things haven't changed a bit these past 40 years.

[DirtDawg]

Im from "downstate" and I dont understand something. With the CTA in a horrible mess,the Governor is wanting to do something else, real dumb,like buying Wrigley Field. I hope you people above I-80 are finally seeing why the whole state is in a mess with money. If you look at the County by County election results for Governor...WE didnt elect this dummy to office. YOU did and now you are reaping what you sowed. Now he and Emil, ( YOU elected him also. ) are going to screw up everything thats left and that is the Chicago area. Your seeing the "trikle down effect" with us. Downstate is poor in areas for a reason. This Governor, as well as RYAN,(elected by somebody north of 80 again) have passed taxes and other restrictions that make it easier to go "across the border" to Missouri,Kentucky,Indiana,Iowa,or Wisconsin to buy goods or to OPERATE your business. When the purchase of goods and the businessman leaves due to poor state management. What do you expect will happen? Several Transportation companies left the state to purchase license plates at half the cost in Missouri and Indiana due to Rods rate increase. The fee hike was ruled illegal and eventually reduced, but those companies never came back. They discovered less TAXES on fuel,income,etc. was just a mile away. Now if you watch the news, the entire Legislature is not operating to resolve the CTA mess or anything else that needs attention in Illinois. WHY? It surely cant be that Rod and Emils Idiot Show is on, can it? Maybe its because the Chicago voters elected two people who dont have a clue? Elect them again, but between now and then,count how many of the business move away from your area before the election. We havent forgotten that YOUR politicians, (The U of I Board of Trustees-yep,the majority, YOUR folks.) worked overtime to oust Chief Illiniwek from the U of I. Another great feat for Rod and Emil! The Chief is gone and the CTA is almost on blocks. But wait til next year.

[j33]

I didn't vote for either of those *******s and they they are a disaster, and if you think I've been taking this CTA thing lying down then you'd be sorely mistaken because if it goes under, I'll be walking over 3 1/2 miles to work each way in the middle of January and i will not be happy about it, and no buying a car isn't a viable option, there will be gridlock the parking prices will probably go from 25 a day to 30 a day and I can't afford that ... not to mention all the garages will be full by 7am (I've told the governors office what I've thought so many times they actually called me once).

Oh, and buying Wrigley Field is an awful idea.

[Steve-o]

Originally Posted by j33

I didn't vote for either of those *******s and they they are a disaster, and if you think I've been taking this CTA thing lying down then you'd be sorely mistaken because if it goes under, I'll be walking over 3 1/2 miles to work each way in the middle of January and i will not be happy about it, and no buying a car isn't a viable option

Get a mountain bike, a baclava, and a Carhart jumpsuit. I guarantee youll be sweating by the time you get to work.

[Manigault]

I thought it was the NCAA which was 86ing the chief? Don't blame it on Chicagoans. And the last I heard, Ryan was from Kankakee, well-below I-80. I guess the downstate folks (like the good burghers of Pekin) do love their outdated mascots.

[illini84]

Originally Posted by Manigault

Plus, the northerners sure pay for the food they eat

Actually, Cook County has one of the highest poverty rates (read: most tax money goes HERE for welfare, food stamps, etc.). Cook County has a poverty rate of over 15%, while southern Illinois counties average around 9%. WE'RE tired of paying for YOU.

[Avengerfire]

I didnt vote for Blago or Ryan either.The OLD people of the whole state got Ryan in. Cook County had nothing to do with electing him other than its old people. There are not many Republicans in Cook County.I swear, I think 90% of people over the age of 65 voted for that moron Ryan.

Blago is a discrace. The same morons in Cook County that voted for him had to have voted for Todd "the stroker" Stroger too. I will let the blame rest on Northern Illinois for Blago. No argument there.

I dont live in Emil Jones district so I couldnt have voted for him. The Dems of the whole state everyone elected made him the President, not me or you.

I am not a Dem. or Repub. and I live in Chicago.