Illinois Safe Roads Amendment - The Chainlink2024-03-28T19:03:53Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/illinois-safe-roads-amendment?commentId=2211490%3AComment%3A1020608&feed=yes&xn_auth=nolike I said....tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-11:2211490:Comment:10266612016-11-11T04:45:46.196ZIrvin Steinerthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/IrvinSteinert
<p>like I said....</p>
<p>like I said....</p> An enlightened tax policy can…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-10:2211490:Comment:10265772016-11-10T16:33:10.330ZJoe Guzzardohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JoeGuzzardo
<p>An enlightened tax policy can change the world. I've long thought a minimum price for a gallon of gasoline should be set nationwide. The Feds take their cut and use it, not only for road improvement but for research into greener energy and environmental protection, as well. Now, this tax will be inversely pegged to the free market value of the product. As the price of the commodity goes up, the taxes will be reduced accordingly, and visa versa. Anyone who is onerously affected, lets say for…</p>
<p>An enlightened tax policy can change the world. I've long thought a minimum price for a gallon of gasoline should be set nationwide. The Feds take their cut and use it, not only for road improvement but for research into greener energy and environmental protection, as well. Now, this tax will be inversely pegged to the free market value of the product. As the price of the commodity goes up, the taxes will be reduced accordingly, and visa versa. Anyone who is onerously affected, lets say for example a self employed Uber driver, can get a tax credit when they file their taxes. This will also give us a buffer from the vagaries of pricing, insulating us to some extent from the forces that dominate the oil trade while providing more economic incentives for alternative energy solutions.</p>
<p></p> It passed.
We should keep tra…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-10:2211490:Comment:10264442016-11-10T15:20:33.400ZIrvin Steinerthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/IrvinSteinert
<p><a href="http://abc7chicago.com/politics/safe-roads-amendment-passes-in-illinois/1598220/" target="_blank">It passed.</a></p>
<p>We should keep track of how it affects cycling infrastructure, etc..</p>
<p><a href="http://abc7chicago.com/politics/safe-roads-amendment-passes-in-illinois/1598220/" target="_blank">It passed.</a></p>
<p>We should keep track of how it affects cycling infrastructure, etc..</p> Imagine my disappointment whe…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-08:2211490:Comment:10261472016-11-08T20:47:08.802Zcurt(is) lockehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/curtismyers
<p>Imagine my disappointment when this link was to a Goofy cartoon and not footage of the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, in concert!</p>
<p>Imagine my disappointment when this link was to a Goofy cartoon and not footage of the Motor City Madman, Ted Nugent, in concert!</p> Yeah, and that was 1950. It'…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-08:2211490:Comment:10262292016-11-08T20:10:55.080ZJim Rehohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JimReho
<p>Yeah, and that was 1950. It's far crazier today!</p>
<p>Yeah, and that was 1950. It's far crazier today!</p> Down with Motor Mania!
https…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-08:2211490:Comment:10263072016-11-08T18:58:17.561ZScott Chillsonhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/ScottChillson
<p>Down with Motor Mania! </p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-c5jlk48s" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-c5jlk48s</a></p>
<p>Down with Motor Mania! </p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-c5jlk48s" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hk-c5jlk48s</a></p> Another opinion on the Safe R…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-07:2211490:Comment:10263892016-11-07T16:22:01.569ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>Another opinion on the Safe Roads Amendment:</p>
<p><em>When looking at an amendment like this, it helps to put it into greater context. Illinois still hasn’t passed a State budget to fund services that are critical to people like education and healthcare. Because of the inability to do so, the sustainability of those services comes into jeopardy and emergency funds are needed to keep them operating.</em></p>
<p><em>So the next logical step may be to set up lock boxes for those services, so…</em></p>
<p>Another opinion on the Safe Roads Amendment:</p>
<p><em>When looking at an amendment like this, it helps to put it into greater context. Illinois still hasn’t passed a State budget to fund services that are critical to people like education and healthcare. Because of the inability to do so, the sustainability of those services comes into jeopardy and emergency funds are needed to keep them operating.</em></p>
<p><em>So the next logical step may be to set up lock boxes for those services, so that they can have funds used for them as well, right?</em></p>
<p><em>In theory, that makes sense. Where that kind of logic falls apart is when one realizes that certain budget items have big influences behind them. In this case there are unions that want to make sure that they maintain their funding and they have the clout to make sure that they are not only holding on to those funds, but also receiving a substantial amount needed. They do this by applying pressure to politicians who work to appropriate funding. That is their right and it is understandable.</em></p>
<p><em>The problem arises in the fact that for services like education, their isn’t a similar force that can apply pressure because schools, by their very nature, aren’t based on profit. Therefore there is less power to influence politicians and less money provided. So while a transportation lock box may be robust with funding, the education lock box would be nearly empty in comparison.</em></p>
<p><a href="http://www.chicagoprogress.com/2016/11/05/the-dangers-of-the-safe-roads-amendment/" target="_blank">http://www.chicagoprogress.com/2016/11/05/the-dangers-of-the-safe-roads-amendment/</a></p> Here's a new article explaini…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-07:2211490:Comment:10262092016-11-07T04:28:46.286ZJim Rehohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JimReho
<p>Here's a new article explaining where the money behind this amendment came from:</p>
<p><a href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/the-money-behind-the-safe-roads-amendment/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/the-money-behind-the-safe-roads-am...</a></p>
<p>The Safe Roads Amendment is absolutely nothing more than an effort by political and business interests to keep government money flowing into their pockets. And that's all that it's about. It has nothing to…</p>
<p>Here's a new article explaining where the money behind this amendment came from:</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/the-money-behind-the-safe-roads-amendment/" target="_blank">http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/the-money-behind-the-safe-roads-am...</a></p>
<p>The Safe Roads Amendment is absolutely nothing more than an effort by political and business interests to keep government money flowing into their pockets. And that's all that it's about. It has nothing to do with promoting good transportation policy or improving the lives of Illinois residents. It's about preventing anyone from slowing down or stopping dollars from being spent on roads. In no demonstrable way will this benefit cyclists or promote the recognition of cycling as a legitimate vehicular and transportation mode. Just look at the list of people who are behind it! The more I learn, the more I think groups like the Active Transportation Alliance failed to do a careful analysis before making their positive recommendations. Either that or they are awfully naive about Illinois politics. There is no need for this amendment, and it will become just one more millstone around the necks of all of us if it passes. </p>
<p></p> Wow. I'll definitely be votin…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-03:2211490:Comment:10259382016-11-03T19:59:58.260ZYasmeenhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/YasmeenSchuller
<p>Wow. I'll definitely be voting "no". </p>
<p>Wow. I'll definitely be voting "no". </p> Here is John Greenfield's lat…tag:thechainlink.org,2016-11-03:2211490:Comment:10260202016-11-03T17:47:05.025ZJim Rehohttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JimReho
<p>Here is John Greenfield's latest take, from the <em>Reader</em>:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/transportation-lockbox-ballot-initiative-illinois/Content?oid=24193231" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/transportation-lockbox-ballot-...</a> . He now indicates that he's inclined to vote against it.</p>
<p>I've done a fair amount of reading about this, and, most importantly, have parsed the actual language of the proposed amendment. When…</p>
<p>Here is John Greenfield's latest take, from the <em>Reader</em>:</p>
<p><a rel="nofollow" href="http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/transportation-lockbox-ballot-initiative-illinois/Content?oid=24193231" target="_blank">http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/transportation-lockbox-ballot-...</a> . He now indicates that he's inclined to vote against it.</p>
<p>I've done a fair amount of reading about this, and, most importantly, have parsed the actual language of the proposed amendment. When conflicts develop and the courts inevitably interpret it, they won't be basing their decisions on what somebody told somebody, what somebody thought the amendment was about, or what rights somebody said it granted. They will base their interpretations on the language of the amendment. To cut to the chase: <strong>there is no legislative definition in any Illinois statute that includes bicycles within the category of "vehicles." </strong>There are vague references to funds being used for "transportation," which could conceivably include cycling-related items, but there is no specific definition and no guarantee that that would be the case. This amendment is a wolf in sheep's clothing. Under the guise of designating specific revenues to be used for transportation, it is actually a financial guarantee for contractors and others involved in the business of roadbuilding and maintenance. It was drafted by cronies for the benefit of cronies. Just like another amendment was slipped through preventing any action on pensions, this one would prevent the legislature from having the flexibility of where to spend these funds even in the case of fiscal emergency. And as we've learned, it's awfully hard to un-amend a constitution, even a state constitution. As cyclists, if you trust the politicians and construction industry interests who conceived and drafted this to represent your interests, then by all means go ahead and vote for it. I, for one, have no such trust. Zero. This is Illinois, remember? There is no need for this amendment. Its purpose is to lock in funds for politically-connected businesses. But if it is going to exist, it should clearly and unambiguously define bicycles (and even electric bicycles) as "vehicles" that provide "transportation."</p>
<p>Mr. Greenfield now says he's probably going to vote no. I say, make that a certainty. Vote against the Illinois Safe Contractors Amendment. </p>
<p></p>
<p></p>