Jesse Jackson Jr. has a message for Chicago's tax happy Democrats:
It's just $293 million, Daley is telling taxpayers about his proposed new taxes and fees.No word yet from Rahm Emanuel and Barack Obama on this one.I guess some Democrats can only take so much corruption.
The city's latest tax push, called by some a "Corruption, Waste and Mismanagement Tax" or a "Lazy Bureaucracy Tax," is compounded because it coincides with similarly huge tax hikes proposed by Cook County and state government.
It seems as if Daley, Cook County Board President Todd Stroger and Gov. Rod Blagojevich are in a race to see who can raise your taxes the highest.
The city's "corruption tax" is something I tried to calculate when I was exploring a run for mayor in 2006. While an exact figure is impossible to pinpoint, I conservatively estimated that the tax exceeded $1.5 billion in recent years -- including $300 million for the do-nothing hired truckers; $500 million for illegal hiring under the Shakman decree; well over $100 million in fraudulent "minority" contracts to white-owned businessmen; and at least $25 million in legal fees and settlements for police torture cases. And that's just scratching the surface.
I oppose new city taxes, and I urge the City Council to do so as well.
When Chicagoans went to the polls in February, they voted for change -- unseating many incumbent aldermen. Taxpayers said enough to the waste, fraud and abuse. They wanted new aldermen with new ideas -- and less corruption with lower tax bills.
There are several ways that the city can reduce spending.
First, purge the dead weight, the do-nothing patronage workers and the "protected" distant cousins of committeemen who populate the Department of Streets and Sanitation, the Water Department, etc.
Get rid of corrupt cops who not only give a bad name to their honest, hardworking brethren, but cost the taxpayers dearly in legal fees and court settlements.
End pay-to-play by banning campaign contributions from individuals and companies doing business with the city. This would reduce "pinstripe patronage" and stop those who consistently "game" the system Chicago-style.
Beef up the office of inspector general -- and reject funding for the easily corruptible Office of Compliance.
Comply with -- in short, stop fighting -- the federal Shakman decree. That alone will save taxpayers an estimated $36 million a year.
Make all supervisors sign sworn statements that they will not "clout" anyone a job. Any supervisor caught violating that pledge would lose his or her job, benefits and pensions.
Provide real whistle-blower protection so that rank-and-file employees can report corruption when they see it, without fear of retribution.
