Articles and Press Releases
Click to jump to selected section:
======================================================================
DuPage County Budget
09-15-08 - 2009 DuPage County Budget - Schillerstrom's proposed $462.6 million budget increases spending by 12.0%, adds more county employees, and borrows almost a quarter billion dollars for new initiatives.
04-21-08 - "Suburbs, schools spend millions on lobbying state officials" - Brandt comment: DuPage County spent $115,830 of our tax dollars lobbying Springfield for more tax dollars to spend.
04-02-08 - "The DuPage County sales tax increase"
03-29-08 - "County Board lowers property taxes" - Brandt comment: The County Board gets $47 million with their sales tax increase, they "might" return $1M in property taxes. Who got the better of that deal?
03-28-08 - "County Board weighs funding requests, property tax cut" - Brandt comment: We cannot afford this "tax and spend" philosophy of government. Voters need to remind DuPage County Board Members that we are not Cook County, nor do we want to be.
03-27-08 - "All want piece of new DuPage money" - Brandt comment: I saw this coming a mile away.
03-12-08 - BLOG ENTRY - "Real ideas and solutions..."
02-13-08 - "Schillerstrom has ideas for new sales tax money" - Brandt comment: Doesn't this sound like "tax and spend?"
02-13-08 - "County to divvy up $20 million" - Brandt comment: 100 of the 220 public safety jobs have been emptied through attrition and won't be filled. Does that mean we only have half of a public safety crisis? Or did we not really have a crisis in the first place?
02-09-08 - "Necessary follow-up to sales tax hike" - Brandt comment: Don't count on incumbent Board Member Michael McMahon to agree to salary reduction. "I'm not embarrassed by the pay rate because of the response to constituent needs," McMahon said.
01-23-08 - "County discovers surplus" - Brandt comment: It turns out, the county only needed $10 million (partially because 100 workers quit and those jobs will be eliminated), but they get $47 million from the sales tax increase. Anyone else feel duped?
01-22-08 - "County officials urge "no" vote on sales tax referendum" - Brandt comment - A "no" vote? Hmmm, that's what I've been saying all along, except without the sales tax increase."
01-18-08 - "Transit, county finally get funding"
01-17-08 - "A third rail on transit" - "Today, I turn to the root of the problem: DuPage County's rapacious (greedy) county officials. You know, the ones who never have enough money and - in the worst way - do not want to have to ask their constituents for permission to raise their taxes." (Cal Skinner)
01-17-08 - "The Schillerstrom Amendment" - Brandt comment - See the three little words that Schillerstrom snuck into HB656 (the transit bill) in order to go behind our backs and raise our taxes.
01-15-08 - "Area legislators say sales tax bypasses voters" - "I've really found it offensive to go around the referendum, to go around the voter..."
01-13-08 - "Sweet and sour taste to transit deal" - "If DuPage gets sales tax revenue from a deal in Springfield, it could render moot a referendum on the Feb. 5 ballot that asks voters to approve an increase in the county sales tax. But whenever government gets a new infusion of cash, you wonder if it will be spent on things the public truly needs and not on what government officials want for themselves."
01-11-08 - "Bailout could render referendum moot" - Brandt comment - A DuPage County Board Member said "Any time you can allow the people to be heard, that's a good thing." Well, then why did Schillerstrom go behind our backs to avoid the result of the public referendum?
01-11-08 - "DuPage funding woes may be near end"
01-11-08 - "Transit bill could halt tax hike"
01-11-08 - "Officials rally for tax referendum"
01-06-08 - "DuPage tax supporters ready for month-long blitz" - Brandt comment: I agree with those who say "county officials are using scare tactics to pass the increase and the money could be found in other county departments to save public safety jobs." How many "yes" votes would county officials get if they said "Vote for the sales tax increase so we can continue wasteful our spending on bloated government and keep our generous salaries and benefits?"
12-24-07 - "Republicans have mismanaged budget"
12-21-07 - "All we want for Christmas is the trimming"
12-20-07 - "Cut county budget before raising taxes"
12-12-07 - "DuPage Democrats cry foul on tax hike" - Brandt comment: Schillerstrom says the "sales tax increase is a long-term solution." My long-term solution is to consolidate departments, reduce the number of elected officials, reduce salaries and perks, and reform and modernize county government.
12-08-07 - "Use technology to track tax dollar use"
12-07-07 - "Cut pay and perks to balance budget"
12-07-07 - "Long lines a ploy to get more tax dollars"
12-05-07 - "Board's next task: Convince the voters" - Brandt comment: It is estimated to cost $250,000 to $750,000 of taxpayer money to "educate" voters on the referendum. Board Member Michael McMahon "doesn't have a problem" with that.
12-05-07 - "DuPage Board has doomed all of us"
11-29-07 - "Budget cuts on hold until February" - Brandt comment: Schillerstrom says he will "refocus his energies on gaining home-rule authority for DuPage." The worst kept secret in DuPage County.
11-29-07 - "No leader yet for DuPage tax push"
11-28-07 - "Doomsday DuPage budget ok'd"
11-27-07 - DuPage County FY2008 Budget Analysis and Recommendations - The Civic Federation
11-19-07 - "Politicians need to feel taxpayer pain"
11-17-07 - "Work to avoid another budget crisis" - "...we would hope the easing of this county budget crisis is accompanied by government reforms that could help keep costs under control over the long term."
11-17-07 - "Budget crisis could have been avoided"
11-17-07 - "DuPage County to huddle on budget again"
11-17-07 - "DuPage Board to scrutinize budget"
11-16-07 - "DuPage County sales tax up to voters"
11-16-07 - "Board to pursue sales tax"
11-14-07 - "DuPage employees rally for a tax hike"
11-12-07 - "County Board weighs two tax options" - Brandt comment: Where was the discussion on cutting Board Member salaries and benefits?
11-11-07 - "County Board mulls two revenue sources"
11-10-07 - "DuPage County board gets serious on revenue" - Brandt comment: The Board discussed increasing revenue with a $50 vehicle sticker or a 1/4% increase in the sales tax. They did not have a substantive discussion on the Cost Efficiency Report, which would have cut their $48,620 salaries.
11-09-07 - "County Board weighs cuts, revenue options"
11-07-07 - "Budget battle looms as decision nears"
11-07-07 - "No answer to county budget questions"
11-06-07 - "No good reason for such high taxes"
11-04-07 - "Law enforcement needs funding boost"
10-31-07 - Fiscal year 2008 budget remarks by Chairman Schillerstrom - Brandt comment: Schillerstrom blames Springfield for DuPage's problems. Blame others for your problems - is that good leadership?
10-30-07 - "Time to find solutions to budget woes"
10-30-07 - "We can't afford the government we want"
10-28-07 - ** Cost Efficiency Committee - Final Report **
10-27-07 - "Ease budget crisis by cutting pensions"
10-24-07 - "DuPage workers criticize layoffs"
10-24-07 - "Outcry over DuPage budget cuts gets louder"
10-22-07 - "Treasurer latest to blast DuPage cuts"
10-20-07 - "I will not vote for this budget"
10-19-07 - "Should Schillerstrom be more like Stroger?"
10-18-07 - "County officials must share budget pain" - Brandt comment: If County Board Members are going to ask residents to sacrifice, how about some sacrifice themselves?
10-17-07 - "DuPage budget debacle - what others are saying - what about long-term planning?" Brandt comment: The most shocking quote is "in the 20 years Schillerstrom has been with the county, DuPage has not had a strategic plan."
10-17-07 - "Budget to hit DuPage hard"
10-16-07 - "County Board chairman calls for major budget cuts" - Brandt comment: And does Schillerstrom take responsibility for this happening on his watch? No. He blames Springfield for not giving him more money to spend.
10-16-07 - "County budget will eliminate 200 positions"
10-16-07 - "Schillerstrom proposes cut budget" - official press release
09-19-07 - "$21.7 million shortfall..."
09-17-07 - "They've (the County Board) got to get their priorities straight...public safety is being
07-22-07 - "DuPage County braces for more cuts"
11-20-06 - DuPage County FY2007 Budget Analysis and Recommendations - The Civic Federation - "Reform and rationalization necessary to avoid continual tax increases"
======================================================================
Home Rule
03-26-08 - "Peraica introduces resolution to rescind Cook County home rule" - Brandt comment: Republicans in Cook County want to end home rule, Republicans in DuPage County want to gethome rule.
UPDATE: The resolution was defeated. - Brandt comment: Like I said, home rule is a Pandora's Box that once opened, is virtually impossible to close.
03-12-08 - BLOG ENTRY - "Real ideas and solutions..."
01-22-08 - PRESS RELEASE - "Home rule"
11-29-07 - "Budget cuts on hold until February" - Brandt comment: Schillerstrom says he will "refocus his energies on gaining home-rule authority for DuPage." The worst kept secret in DuPage County.
10-19-07 - "Should Schillerstrom be more like Stroger?" Brandt comment: Cook County has home rule, DuPage does not. Let's keep it that way.
10-17-07 - "Home-rule referendum" - letter to the editor
07-11-07 - "Schillerstrom: give home rule a chance"
02-01-05 - "Rare rift stirs up DuPage Board"
07-01-04 - "Home Rule & You!" - Citizen Advocacy Center
06-01-04 - "County Home Rule - Burden or Blessing"
07-09-03 - "Home Rule vs. non-Home Rule"
06-01-03 - "The State of DuPage County Procurement"
03-01-03 - "Home Rule akin to Home Ruin"
01-01-96 - "Home Rule and local government in Illinois" - Citizen Advocacy Center
======================================================================
DuPage County Board Member Board salaries and perks
08-22-08 - "DuPage County Elected Officials Salaries"
04-22-08 - "DuPage workers getting raises of 1.5% to 4.5%" - Brandt comment: County Board Members have given themselves raises averaging 9.4% a year for the last ten years.
03-12-08 - BLOG ENTRY - "Real ideas and solutions..."
02-09-08 - "Necessary follow-up to sales tax hike" - Brandt comment: Don't count on incumbent Board Member Michael McMahon to agree to salary reduction. "I'm not embarrassed by the pay rate because of the response to constituent needs," McMahon said.
12-21-07 - "All we want for Christmas is the trimming"
12-12-07 - "DuPage Democrats cry foul on tax hike" - Brandt comment: Schillerstrom says the "sales tax increase is a long-term solution." My long-term solution is to consolidate departments, reduce the number of elected officials, reduce salaries and perks, and reform and modernize county government.
10-27-07 - "Ease budget crisis by cutting pensions"
10-18-07 - "County officials must share budget pain" - Brandt comment: If County Board Members are going to ask residents to sacrifice, how about some sacrifice themselves?
09-09-07 - "Time for sacrifice on the County Board"
09-04-07 - "Will Board perks fall prey to cuts?"
06-29-07 - "County Board salaries too high for the job"
======================================================================
Questionable Ethics / Conflicts of Interest / Voter Fraud
09-25-08 - "Candidates would work to end pay-to-play"
07-26-08 - "Campaign financing questioned"
07-23-08 - "Local Democrats decry pay-to-play" - Brandt quote: "I challenge Chairman Schillerstrom to find a county contract over $50,000 that was awarded to a company that hasn't made campaign contributions to himself or other DuPage County elected officials. I’m not going to hold my breath."
07-22-08 - "DuPage Dems blast GOP for taking cash from local businesses" - Brandt quote: "Taxpayers end up paying higher property taxes ($1.5M) so Schillerstrom and other elected officials in DuPage County can line their pockets with campaign contributions."
07-21-08 - "Sign bill putting end to pay-to-play"
06-10-08 - "Time for state to end pay-to-play"
04-08-08 - "Let the sun shine in DuPage"
04-03-08 - "Paper trail needed in counting the vote"
03-27-08 - "Schillerstrom's win-win deal"
01-31-08 - "Schillerstrom pays to eliminate critics"
01-31-08 - "Election law clear on document destruction"
01-22-08 - PRESS RELEASE - "Transparency"
01-10-08 - "2004 DuPage ballots' destruction not illegal, Birkett says" - click here for the Attorney General's Opinion
01-08-08 - "DuPage stands by destruction of election files" - click here for the Attorney General's Opinion
11-26-07 - PRESS RELEASE - Brandt calls for investigation of DuPage County Board Member and criminal defense attorney Michael F. McMahon for violation of the Rules of Professional Conduct based on the opinion of the Illinois State Bar Association that "it is improper for a member of a county board to represent criminal defendants being prosecuted by the state's attorney of that county." Click here for more information.
12-31-07 UPDATE - The ARDC has declined to take any action citing a 1992 Attorney General opinion which determined that no per se conflict exists. I believe the Attorney General should re-evaluate their decision. However, in any event, DuPage residents deserve a County Board member who will work 100% to get criminals off the streets, not off the hook.
08-17-07 - "Schillerstrom's wife sworn in as DuPage County Judge" - Brandt comment: Who says nepotism is limited to Cook County?
07-19-07 - "Public, private ties that bind" - "Critics say (Robert Schillerstrom) is using his Democratic ties to enrich his private law practice..."
05-05-06 - "State assails DuPage over voting data"
======================================================================
$75 million from the DuPage Water Commission to the DuPage County Board
01-24-04 - "Riff grows between Schillerstrom, Mayors"
04-29-03 - "Schillerstrom targets water"
04-23-03 - "Water money doesn't belong to county"
======================================================================
Tripling the signature requirement for petitions in DuPage County only
05-30-08 - "Seeking office in DuPage may get easier"
11-09-07 - SB 662 signed into law.
09-16-07 - "Must be desperate times for GOP"
09-13-07 - "Legislation would hike number of signatures needed by candidates" - Brandt comment: If you don't like the way the game is going, change the rules, right?
======================================================================
Two-party system in DuPage County?
04-15-08 - "DuPage GOP challenges all new Democratic candidates" - Brandt comment: If you can't beat them at the ballot box, try to beat them at the courthouse, right?
04-06-08 - "Illinois GOP needs an extreme makeover" - "One party rule by either party subverts legitimate checks and balances essential for our constitutional self-governence." - State Senator Chris Lauzen (R-25th)
03-13-08 - "Democrats putting the heat on the GOP"
02-19-08 - "One-party rule is bad for DuPage too"
02-07-08 - "DuPage really is turning blue"
02-07-08 - "DuPage County in a blue state?"
08-13-07 - "Work for two-party system in DuPage"
06-20-07 - "One party rule is a bad idea" - Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-24 - Hinsdale)
Dillard (R-24 - Hinsdale)- DuPage County Board Chairman Robert Schillerstrom (R-Naperville)======================================================================
Miscellaneous
09-20-08 - "DuPage GOP not listening to people"
08-18-08 - "Is McCain another George W. Bush?"
08-15-08 - "No gang problem in DuPage? Think again."
07-13-08 - "Say it ain't so, Joe (Birkett)"
06-30-08 - "Day of reckoning for GOP deficits"
06-18-08 - "GOP continues to borrow and spend"
06-17-08 - "Government we could do without"
05-19-08 - "Area Republicans fear an Obama ballot"
03-06-08 - "Notes on IL GOP"
01-04-08 - "It's time for us to make a big change."
12-29-07 - "Big spenders can be found in both parties"
12-21-07 - "All we want for Christmas is the trimming"
11-27-07 - DuPage County FY2008 Budget Analysis and Recommendations - The Civic Federation
11-06-07 - "Primary battles emerge in DuPage County"
10-30-07 - "Ready or not - election season is upon us"
10-03-07 - "Here's why GOP is not a voting option"
07-01-07 - "The ABC's of DuPage County" - Citizen Advocacy Center
=====================================================================
Experience. Honest. Change.
=====================================================================
