In another of a string of crushing legislative defeats for State Senator Terry Link, his proposal to allow speed cameras in certain zones likes schools and hospitals, and then issue tickets to speeders, failed miserably in the state senate, 13 to 35.
The Daily Herald notes that Link originally proposed a much broader bill that would have allowed cameras on nearly every road in Illinois, but apparently Link at least had enough brains to not call for a vote on that version of the bill.
Our newly-minted State Senator Dan Duffy, who is quickly growing into the role of Link's senate nemesis, told the Daily Herald that all camera enforcement is unconstitutional and that in addition to voting against speed cameras he plans to push for the removal of existing red light cameras in Illinois.
An unnamed opponent of the bill called it one of the 'worst bills of the year.'
Link maintained that the bill was aimed at increasing safety, not making the state money. But his fellow senators didn't buy it. The Herald quoted Senator Rickey Hendon as stating, "The sponsor was given this bill by the people who only want to gouge the people of the state of Illinois. Gouge! Rob! Stickup! Get their hands in your wallet! Get both hands in your purse and take more of your money! It's not about the safety of the children."
Hahahaha! So much for Link's allies in the senate.
Take a look at the comments to the Daily Herald article- Link is really taking a beating. There also seems to be some suggestion of a connection between Link and the companies that might manufacture and supply such cameras. Would any would-be TA cub reporters like to take a look at Link's D-2's for a little research? TA has to spend time today actually practicing law for a change. Go get 'em!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments:
Link has gone from being a 'poker and golf buddy' of the President, and candidate for State Senate President to being a Blago-26 whack job that even Chicago Dems want to distance themselves from.
Do you suppose the 30,000+ people who voted him back into office are paying attention?
Let's see if I understand this--TA is FOR speeding in school and frequent accident zones? TA is for the expense of parking an officer at a strategic location, then utilizing expensive equipment in an attempt to enforce the law? Well, I guess that fits, as he's now taking to blowing the horn of one of the worst tax-and-spend republicans in Lake County, Suzi Schmidt! Speeding is like a status crime; there's no intent required and no defense. You're either exceeding the limit or you're not. That the public may or may not favor a method of enforcement doesn't make it a bad bill. The fact remains that municipalities have to chose between traffic enforcement and other police activities. But TA here is all in favor of giving your local police the more expensive, more happenstance enforcement tools. Nevermind the kids in the crosswalk, TA, they can't contribute to Mark Kirk's campaign, so who needs'm. Right?
Anon, please reread the post and explain where I passed judgment on the merits of the bill? If you don't agree it should have been stuck down, go complaint to the overwhelming majority of state senators that crushed it.
Leaving that aside, it's a typical dem stunt to say "oh, you're voting against widows and orphans" when a bill that in some way COULD benefit someone does it in a way that is unconstitutional, misguided, inefficient or just plain wrong.
Kirk takes heat all the time for votes on extremely bad bills that have some relations to veterans, and then gets blasted as being "against veterans". That kind of logic works for only the simple-minded or those that can't be bothered to get news in anything but bullet points.
Anon 8:39,
Do you read the paper? The number of cars of accidents today in the US is the lowest since the Kennedy administration (1960). Fewer folks are driving and fewer are speeding.
Link's suggestion that the speeding cameras are to reduce speeding is ridiculous. It is simply to generate revenue the General Assembly can spend as they wish. Are you aware legislators can speed to Springfield without getting a speeding ticket - look into that one!
By the way, I would rather get a ticket as a result of a speeding camera because A) I only have to pay a fine B) I don't have to pay a lawyer C) It does not go on my record.
And to anon 8:27, I think some of the 30,000 are paying attention, but as long as Senator Link is free to line the pockets of crooked ministers in Waukegan and North Chicago for GOTV activity, he will continue to maintain the seat. Just tellin' it like it is...
Since when is Dan Duffy a constitutional law expert? I, like most, was not a fan of this bill, but Mr. Duffy coming out with such a claim seems highly perplexing
Post a Comment