Politics as usual in Obama's home state

From the Rockford Register Star...

Following the announcement that Lowden and Castle Rock state parks will close Nov. 1 as part of the [Illinois' Democrat Governor Rod] Blagojevich administration’s plan to cut costs, local legislators and business leaders are asking why the parks were targeted.

“That’s the million-dollar question,” said state Sen. Tim Bivins, R-Dixon.

The Lowden State Park actually makes money — the park’s operating budget is $45,000 each year, and the park annually pulls in about $90,000, he said.

“Why would one close that park when it’s self-sustaining?” he said....

The parks slated for closure are in mostly Republican districts. Bivins, [state Rep. Jerry] Mitchell, [R-Sterling] and [Marcia] Heuer, [executive director of the Oregon Chamber of Commerce] said the parks were targeted because of state-level politics.

“You can draw your own conclusions,” Bivins said. “It’s pretty glaringly obvious.”

“For those of us who know how state government works, this is transparent,” Heuer said. “This was calculated, and I don’t like being the pawn.”...

With high gas prices and the state of the economy, people have been turning to the parks as a vacation, Mitchell said.

“Vacations have turned into ‘pack up the kids and enjoy the park,’ ” he said.

Illinois, especially Chicago has a reputation as one of the most politically corrupt places in the nation. Keep that in mind when considering whether a politician whose entire political career blossomed under the nurturing of that political environment, should be your next President.

Posted by Danny Carlton at September 11, 2008 8:29 AM