- The state Senate on Tuesday bypassed a long-term fix for Chicago area mass-transit systems, instead passing a plan for a massive public works program that would expand gambling and offer stop-gap funding for public transportation.
The move was the latest attempt by Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago) and Gov. Rod Blagojevich to pressure House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to take up the same issues in his chamber by testing the resolve of rank-and-file House members who want money for local projects.
But the best quote of all is this from Senator "reverend" James Meeks:
- But Sen. James Meeks (D-Chicago) argued against expanding gambling because it is a "tax on poor people."
"To save the integrity of this body, we should all vote 'no' on this bill," Meeks said.
Leaving aside the fact that the Illinois legislature hasn't had any integrity in the past hundred years or so, a "tax on poor people"? We weren't aware that poor people had enough money to go gambling. If they have disposable income, we imagine they wouldn't really be poor anymore, would they? Or is reverend Meeks suggesting that his constituency doesn't have any sort of impulse control and they need to be told exactly how to spend their money?
We imagine the rev is a bit nervous that people might be spending a bit of the money that used to go into the collection plate to pay for his $50 million church might end up going elsewhere. He expects his flock to come up with a weekly contribution to his bottom line and if it ends up going elsewhere, how is he supposed to pay for the plane?
We imagine the rev is a bit nervous that people might be spending a bit of the money that used to go into the collection plate to pay for his $50 million church might end up going elsewhere. He expects his flock to come up with a weekly contribution to his bottom line and if it ends up going elsewhere, how is he supposed to pay for the plane?
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