Cynthia A. Janak
Who is Topinka?
By Cynthia A. Janak
With this election year upon us, I wanted to know who Judy Baar Topinka is. I went into the archives of newspapers to see what her policies are and if she was a team player for the people of Illinois. This is what I found.
On January 19, 1995, in the Chicago Daily Herald, there was an article about Illinois bidding wars with other states. Topinka, in her new position of treasurer, wanted to go against the policies of Governor Edgar.
Edgar wanted to spur business into the state with improvements to roads, sewers, and items that would benefit not only business, but the public as well. During the term of Edgar, the unemployment rate went to 4.2, which was the lowest in 20 years. The national rate at the time was 5.4. That would mean that Edgar's economic plan was working.
"I think that indicates that in Illinois we're doing something even better than what's been going on nationally," Edgar said. "I think one of those is to try and get out of the bidding war."
After one week in office, Topinka had this to say. "I'm going to have a real crackerjack economic development department."
"Topinka, sworn into office last week, said one goal of her first term is to use the treasurer's office as a conduit between businesses, banks, and state agencies to relocate firms from other states."
"I'm going to actively recruit to get businesses into this state," said Topinka, a Republican from Riverside. "I know the governor has said he doesn't want to compete with other states. I didn't make that agreement."
Question: Why fix something that is not broken?
What this tells me is that she is going to do things her way despite the fact that the plan in place has been working successfully. It is obvious to me that she is not a team player.
Where has she been hiding all this enthusiasm with the present administration? I do not know.
On July 29, 1993, there was an article in the Chicago Daily Herald about Topinka along with other Democrats accepting a free trip to Israel that was paid for by a Chicago Lobbying Group, the Jewish Federation of Chicago was co-sponsoring the trip.
"We are targeting people that are future leaders in statewide offices and Congress," said Leonard Lieberman, a lobbyist for the Jewish Federation of Chicago.
This will give you an insight as to Judy Baar Topinka and how she will work with our elected representatives.
"Sen. Judy Baar Topinka, a North Riverside Republican, said the trip will give her a better handle on Israeli issues, and noted she has a reputation in the Senate for speaking her mind and voting independently."
"Nothing ever gets in my way. That's not even in the cards," she said when asked if the gift would influence voting on issues the federation may push for or oppose.
The reason I am bringing this article up is the fact that Topinka in this article is being associated with the Democrats. She was one of two Republicans that went on this junket to Israel with 11 Democrats. I will admit that getting a first-hand insight as to what is going on in Israel may have been a good thing, but what does that have to do with the politics of Illinois? This is more of a national foreign policy issue, not a local one.
I also want to accent two items in this article. The first is that she votes independently and that she said that nothing ever gets in her way. What these statements say to me is that she will vote the way she wants, not necessarily the way the voters want. It also tells me that she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Does this include what the will of the people are, or her own personal ambitions? I would like to know.
The other thing that distresses me is the fact that she is willing to wheel and deal with banks, businesses, and social groups. What about dealing with the people?
In the last year, she did not raise the red flag on $10,000,000 given by the governor to embryonic stem cell research or the $1,000,000 given to a "school" that is affiliated with a church. I think that I would have liked to vote on the spending initiatives taken by the governor. Being the Treasurer of the State of Illinois, I would think that she should have said something to the governor and/or the people of the state that elected her. This was my hard-earned tax dollars that they spent without a consideration for the people and the budget of Illinois.
Here is another article from the Daily Herald from July 7, 1988. In this article, they were discussing soundproofing grants for schools and hospitals near O'Hare airport and a third airport. What happened is that a bill was coming up for a vote. Here is a paragraph from that article.
"The bill was approved on the roll call vote in the Senate during the waning hours of the Illinois General assembly's spring session Saturday, but was defeated minutes later when Republican senators Robert Kustra of Des Plaines and Judy Baar Topinka of Riverside were not present to verify their 'aye' votes."
Why were these two legislators unavailable for such a critical vote that would have brought jobs to the Kankakee area? Here is what the article had to say.
"Assistant Senate Minority Leader Aldo A. DeAngelis, R-Chicago Heights, said he noticed several senators were absent immediately after the roll call vote and called for a verification vote in an effort to defeat the third airport bill."
"Kustra said he left the chamber to work on GOP strategy on the issue that was next on the agenda — a controversial proposal to reform Chicago's public schools. Topinka said she had gone to make telephone calls."
"But State Sen. Jerome Joyce, D-Bradley, the sponsor of the third airport bill, charged their absence was part of an orchestrated plan to defeat his legislation."
"He said DeAngelis wanted to kill the third airport bill because his district includes Will County, which contains a site also being considered for a possible third airport."
Now, it is my opinion that soundproofing schools and hospitals would be a good thing for the community. It is also my opinion that a third airport would have brought jobs and prosperity to an area that was going through an economic downturn at the time.
Question: Were those phone calls that important that Topinka had to leave? On the other hand, was this just her way of not having her vote on record? I do not know the answer to those questions.
I am going to give you just one more article about Topinka and her policies. On March 25, 1993, the Daily Herald had an article about a tax increase. It is interesting what Topinka's position was on the increase.
Who is Topinka now? Let me show you what her views are on the family and controlling spending in government.
This is as good as Gov. Blago giving $10M to embryonic stem cell research when all the studies say it is not viable.
My question for you is: Do you want more of the same destructive policies for the State of Illinois or do you want a change in the governor's office for the betterment of the people of Illinois. The choice is yours.
I think putting someone in the governor's mansion who will look at how to make Illinois a place you would not want to live or work. Someone who is more concerned with making phone calls, trying to raise taxes, and supporting destructive behaviors is NOT the person that I would want.
I urge you to call your local newspapers and legislators to remove and/or not support the bid of Judy Baar Topinka for our next Governor. We need to put a person in that supports the values of the majority of Illinoisans with family values and integrity.
http://www.Senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm/ <-Find your Senators.
http://www.House.gov/writerep/ <-Find your Congressmen.
http://www.MoralLaw.org/delegation.htm <-Find your Congressmen and Senators.
http://www.TownHall.com/action/write_media.html/ <-Find your newspapers.
http://www.ilgop.org/contact Illinois Republican Party Tell them to not support Topinka.
http://www.illinois.gov/government/gov_legislature.cfm <- Find your Illinois Representatives and Senators.
© Cynthia A. Janak
With this election year upon us, I wanted to know who Judy Baar Topinka is. I went into the archives of newspapers to see what her policies are and if she was a team player for the people of Illinois. This is what I found.
On January 19, 1995, in the Chicago Daily Herald, there was an article about Illinois bidding wars with other states. Topinka, in her new position of treasurer, wanted to go against the policies of Governor Edgar.
Edgar wanted to spur business into the state with improvements to roads, sewers, and items that would benefit not only business, but the public as well. During the term of Edgar, the unemployment rate went to 4.2, which was the lowest in 20 years. The national rate at the time was 5.4. That would mean that Edgar's economic plan was working.
"I think that indicates that in Illinois we're doing something even better than what's been going on nationally," Edgar said. "I think one of those is to try and get out of the bidding war."
After one week in office, Topinka had this to say. "I'm going to have a real crackerjack economic development department."
"Topinka, sworn into office last week, said one goal of her first term is to use the treasurer's office as a conduit between businesses, banks, and state agencies to relocate firms from other states."
"I'm going to actively recruit to get businesses into this state," said Topinka, a Republican from Riverside. "I know the governor has said he doesn't want to compete with other states. I didn't make that agreement."
Question: Why fix something that is not broken?What this tells me is that she is going to do things her way despite the fact that the plan in place has been working successfully. It is obvious to me that she is not a team player.
Where has she been hiding all this enthusiasm with the present administration? I do not know.
On July 29, 1993, there was an article in the Chicago Daily Herald about Topinka along with other Democrats accepting a free trip to Israel that was paid for by a Chicago Lobbying Group, the Jewish Federation of Chicago was co-sponsoring the trip.
"We are targeting people that are future leaders in statewide offices and Congress," said Leonard Lieberman, a lobbyist for the Jewish Federation of Chicago.
This will give you an insight as to Judy Baar Topinka and how she will work with our elected representatives.
"Sen. Judy Baar Topinka, a North Riverside Republican, said the trip will give her a better handle on Israeli issues, and noted she has a reputation in the Senate for speaking her mind and voting independently."
"Nothing ever gets in my way. That's not even in the cards," she said when asked if the gift would influence voting on issues the federation may push for or oppose.
The reason I am bringing this article up is the fact that Topinka in this article is being associated with the Democrats. She was one of two Republicans that went on this junket to Israel with 11 Democrats. I will admit that getting a first-hand insight as to what is going on in Israel may have been a good thing, but what does that have to do with the politics of Illinois? This is more of a national foreign policy issue, not a local one.
I also want to accent two items in this article. The first is that she votes independently and that she said that nothing ever gets in her way. What these statements say to me is that she will vote the way she wants, not necessarily the way the voters want. It also tells me that she will do whatever it takes to get what she wants. Does this include what the will of the people are, or her own personal ambitions? I would like to know.
The other thing that distresses me is the fact that she is willing to wheel and deal with banks, businesses, and social groups. What about dealing with the people?
In the last year, she did not raise the red flag on $10,000,000 given by the governor to embryonic stem cell research or the $1,000,000 given to a "school" that is affiliated with a church. I think that I would have liked to vote on the spending initiatives taken by the governor. Being the Treasurer of the State of Illinois, I would think that she should have said something to the governor and/or the people of the state that elected her. This was my hard-earned tax dollars that they spent without a consideration for the people and the budget of Illinois.
Here is another article from the Daily Herald from July 7, 1988. In this article, they were discussing soundproofing grants for schools and hospitals near O'Hare airport and a third airport. What happened is that a bill was coming up for a vote. Here is a paragraph from that article.
"The bill was approved on the roll call vote in the Senate during the waning hours of the Illinois General assembly's spring session Saturday, but was defeated minutes later when Republican senators Robert Kustra of Des Plaines and Judy Baar Topinka of Riverside were not present to verify their 'aye' votes."
Why were these two legislators unavailable for such a critical vote that would have brought jobs to the Kankakee area? Here is what the article had to say.
"Assistant Senate Minority Leader Aldo A. DeAngelis, R-Chicago Heights, said he noticed several senators were absent immediately after the roll call vote and called for a verification vote in an effort to defeat the third airport bill.""Kustra said he left the chamber to work on GOP strategy on the issue that was next on the agenda — a controversial proposal to reform Chicago's public schools. Topinka said she had gone to make telephone calls."
"But State Sen. Jerome Joyce, D-Bradley, the sponsor of the third airport bill, charged their absence was part of an orchestrated plan to defeat his legislation."
"He said DeAngelis wanted to kill the third airport bill because his district includes Will County, which contains a site also being considered for a possible third airport."
Now, it is my opinion that soundproofing schools and hospitals would be a good thing for the community. It is also my opinion that a third airport would have brought jobs and prosperity to an area that was going through an economic downturn at the time.
Question: Were those phone calls that important that Topinka had to leave? On the other hand, was this just her way of not having her vote on record? I do not know the answer to those questions.
I am going to give you just one more article about Topinka and her policies. On March 25, 1993, the Daily Herald had an article about a tax increase. It is interesting what Topinka's position was on the increase.
-
Legislators reject Medicaid tax bills
By Dave Urbanek, Daily Herald State Government Editor
Springfield — Legislators sent mixed signals Wednesday on the state's controversial Medicaid tax on health care, shooting down a bill that would extend the current tax and rejecting an alternative that would increase the state's sales tax.
The state levies a $750-million tax on hospitals, nursing homes and community-based mental health centers to help fund health care services for the poor. The tax will expire automatically in June unless extended by lawmakers.
The tax is disliked by most legislators, the medical community and patients, who must ultimately pay it. Suburban hospital, nursing homes and mental health centers are leading the charge against the extension of the tax.
While Gov. Jim Edgar has said he is open to an alternative funding source, finding a politically popular replacement is expected to be difficult.
With that in mind, Democrats tried Wednesday to win approval of a bill to continue the tax. But their efforts were rejected by the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee.
"Although we must find a long-term funding replacement for the tax, (it) ensures that hospitals can continue to provide health care services to all Illinois citizens," state Sen. Donne Trotter, a Democrat from Chicago, said while defending the tax.
Meanwhile, the Senate Executive Committee was busy rejecting an alternative Medicaid funding plan sponsored by state Sen. Judy Baar Topinka, a Riverside Republican.
Topinka's plan would place Illinois 6.25 percent sales tax on food and over-the-counter- drugs, raising $565 million to help pay the annual Medicaid tab. The current sales tax rate on food and drugs is 1 percent.
But with Edgar flatly opposed to general tax increases, Topinka realized the bill was not going anywhere.
Who is Topinka now? Let me show you what her views are on the family and controlling spending in government.
-
Chicago Celebrates 36th Annual Gay, Lesbian Pride Parade
POSTED: 3:43 pm CDT June 26, 2005UPDATED: 4:04 pm CDT June 26, 2005
CHICAGO — The 36th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade, the closest Chicago ever comes to Mardi Gras in New Orleans, will enliven Halsted Street in the Lake View neighborhood Sunday.
More than 250 floats and groups, along with the usual scattering of city, county and state politicians, including Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich, were scheduled to step off at noon on Halsted Street at Belmont Avenue, according to a release from the office of the governor.
Equality Illinois said in a release that officials confirmed to attend Sunday's parade included Secretary of State Jesse White, and Illinois Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka. The "special guest" will be actor Wilson Cruz, an advocate for homeless teenagers in Los Angeles.
http://www.nbc5.com/news/4653472/detail.html?rss=chi&psp=news
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Potential Republican gubernatorial candidate Judy Baar Topinka rides in Chicago "gay pride" parade. Topinka told IFI that she opposes "gay marriage" but supports "civil unions."
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Topinka Asks Homosexual Group to Support her Campaign for Governor
5/27/2005 9:05:00 AMBy David E. Smith, IFI Senior Policy Anaylst
Log Cabin Republicans, a national political organization with local chapters, is an activist group that works for the acceptance of homosexuality within the Republican Party.
The Illinois chapter, Log Cabin Republicans Chicago, recently received a solicitation of support from Judy Baar Topinka (the current Illinois Treasurer and former Republican Chairman).
This really isn't a surprise, the socially liberal Topinka has been very visible in the homosexual community, marching in "Gay Pride" parades, attending Equality Illinois' (Illinois' leading homosexual lobby group) fundraisers, helping to secure loans for the homosexual community Center on Halsted in Chicago, and speaking at homosexual rallies.
According to a 2002 Windy City Media interview with Equality Illinois lobbyist Rick Garcia, Treasurer Topinka "has a lot of openly gay and lesbian staff," and for Garcia, that gives him a "comfort level, knowing that our folks are inside."
http://www.illinoisfamily.org/informed/contentview.asp?c=25812
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State Treasurer Awards $ 10 Million Link Deposit to Center on Halsted
August 2, 2002
Illinois State Treasurer presented a $10 million link deposit today at a ceremony held on the future site of Center on Halsted.The Center will serve as a future community center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) persons and serve as an anchor for LGBT cultural, recreational and social service programs.
http://www.centeronhalsted.org/coh/press/press_archive2.cfm?pressid=21
This is as good as Gov. Blago giving $10M to embryonic stem cell research when all the studies say it is not viable.
My question for you is: Do you want more of the same destructive policies for the State of Illinois or do you want a change in the governor's office for the betterment of the people of Illinois. The choice is yours.
I think putting someone in the governor's mansion who will look at how to make Illinois a place you would not want to live or work. Someone who is more concerned with making phone calls, trying to raise taxes, and supporting destructive behaviors is NOT the person that I would want.
I urge you to call your local newspapers and legislators to remove and/or not support the bid of Judy Baar Topinka for our next Governor. We need to put a person in that supports the values of the majority of Illinoisans with family values and integrity.
http://www.Senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm/ <-Find your Senators.
http://www.House.gov/writerep/ <-Find your Congressmen.
http://www.MoralLaw.org/delegation.htm <-Find your Congressmen and Senators.
http://www.TownHall.com/action/write_media.html/ <-Find your newspapers.
http://www.ilgop.org/contact Illinois Republican Party Tell them to not support Topinka.
http://www.illinois.gov/government/gov_legislature.cfm <- Find your Illinois Representatives and Senators.
See also: © Cynthia A. Janak
The views expressed by RenewAmerica columnists are their own and do not necessarily reflect the position of RenewAmerica or its affiliates.
(See RenewAmerica's publishing standards.)
