More McHenry County Blog

I remember when casinos were first allowed in Illinois. Not one single Republican House member voted for the bill.

Now, too many are sucking up to the casino feeding troughs. They are probably in too deep to get out. I certainly would not favor more casinos. I think the ones already here should be put out for bid periodically, just as former State Senator Peter Fitzgerald suggested in the early 1990’s.

How about the illegals among us?

· We pay for their children’s education.
· We give them better tuition rates than Wisconsin students.
· We have a special home loan program for them.
· We recognize foreign identity cards.
· We shall pay for their kids’ health care under Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s All Kids.
· And, there is a strong movement to issue them Illinois drivers’ licenses.

Just what does citizenship mean?

Clearly, not what it used to.

But, most of the Mexicans among us locally have incredibly strong family values and I have seen the hope in their faces when they are faced with the possibility of raising their families here.

Having said that, I don’t believe state and local tax dollars should be spent for services to “undocumented immigrants,” as the Daily Herald puts it, without a vigorous public debate. That kind of debate did not take place for the All Kids program. I don’t remember it for public education. (I’ll bet it was a court case.)

I think it’s time for Congress to make the first move.

And, the “Vision Thing.” That’s what the first President George Bush called it. The Daily Herald’s question is
A governor is asked for vision as well as position papers; how does your vision differ from your opponents of either party?
I could have answered in 2002, but now that answer is irrelevant.

I’ll bet all of Blagojevich’s challengers manage to get something in about improving ethics and suppressing corruption.

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