CapitolFax.com - Latest Comments in Question of the day

Re: Question of the day

po'd — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 02:21:19 -0000

is his bank involved?

Re: Question of the day

The Conservative — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:27:34 -0000

Why does the government issist on telling us what is good for us. No thanks, I like my big engine just fine.

Re: Question of the day

Yellow Dog Democrat — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:50:49 -0000

Or, perhaps here.

Re: Question of the day

Yellow Dog Democrat — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:49:52 -0000

P.S. Less you think I'm really a closet Greenie, I wrote a long time ago about the E-85/Ethanol scam, fueled by Consumer Reports.

You can read The Ethanol Myth here.

Re: Question of the day

Yellow Dog Democrat — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:45:02 -0000

TYLER - Please tell me where in the Constitution it says the Treasurer shall be responsible for "Bright Start" college savings program?

Again, Republicans on the rampage about putting tax dollars back in the pockets of taxpayers.

I guess they're only happy when our tax dollars or winding up in the pockets of corporations with armies of lobbyists.

SPARKY - Just for debunking kicks, I can't find anyone who claims that a 1998 Lincoln Town Car gets better than 18/24 MPG, yet Sparky claims his gets better than a Ford Escape Hybrid, which the EPA estimates gets 30/34.

Note to Republicans: We CAN read, and use Google efficiently.

Re: Question of the day

clean air guy — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:15:10 -0000

What the state REALLY needs to do is adopt Calfornia car emission standards (...most recently announced by two Republican governors in Florida this past week - Schwartzenegger and Crist). It would get us cars that are CLEANER (when at least 2/3 of IL residents still live in areas that don't meet current air quality health standards, and USEPA just suggested that tighter standards to protect public health are needed, finally outing more metro areas in IL with unhealthy air), HIGHER MILEAGE (meaning less long term out of pocket gas costs- especially as costs continue to increase because of Chinese demand, less money to unstable/unfriendly nations), and LESS GLOBAL WARMING POLLUTION (smile if you like the idea of most of Illinois looking like the Texas panhandle weather wise within the next 70-80 years, especially for those of you with kids or grandkids)

Creative hybrid subsidies are a step in the right direction for cleaner air, but we have a long way to go. Funny how the Republicans are getting a clue that T. Roosevelt didn't mess around when it came to environmental issues hundred years ago. Nice to see some Democrats have a clue that its important and worth fighting for too.

Re: Question of the day

plutocrat03 — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 22:36:56 -0000

That's how the discussion should go. I believe that spending 3.00 to save a gallon of gas is the wrong way to go. Lets get it out on the table and see if there is a more effective way to use the money. In this case there are only 2,000 direct beneficiaries.

If we subsidize everyone for everything, where will the money come from? At some point even the smokers will give up their habit and where will the replacement dollars come from on the programs supported by that resource.

As far as small cars physics dictates the smaller car will undergo a more violent event in a collision than a larger vehicle. Air bags and seat belts help, but there is a limit. As long as we have 80,000lb trucks out there, I'm staying in my 4000lb vehicle.

People are funny about fuel consumption. I still see people driving their vehicles over 80 mph when we all know that you burn 20-30% more fuel at that speed. In fact I recently saw a municipal vehicle in a public parking lot idling unattended for more than 20 minutes.

Re: Question of the day

Arthur Andersen — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:37:31 -0000

Bill, shouldn't you be fanning the Governor or something?

Re: Question of the day

A Citizen — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:18:01 -0000

Maybe Jesse White can get in on this - Issue license plates at half price if you agree to drive at or below 55 MPH. They could be a distinctive color so the cops would know to ticket you if you went TOO faaaaast.

Re: Question of the day

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 21:09:59 -0000

I'm sure the workers at the Chrysler plant in Belvidere are happy he wants to offer rebates for competing cars not made in Illinois.

Re: Question of the day

Shelbyville — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:58:34 -0000

Perhaps, an undershirt would help.

Re: Question of the day

Six Degrees of Separation — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:32:00 -0000

Hubbard-

The $1000 is not likely to change anyone's potential Hummer purchase to a Prius. Like I said before, it is a worthy goal, and a nice little incentive to maybe hasten a purchase that would probably be made anyway, or to switch a buyer of a high MPG gas or diesel burner to an equivalent MPG hybrid. I guarantee this is one small blip in what is already a wave of public energy investment in alternative technologies, both good (electric, hydrogen), fair (current hybrid technology) and highly questionable (ethanol, coal-to-liquids). As a taxpayer and potential customer, I'd like the incentive availabe if I paid ca$h or if I wanted to buy a high MPG gas or diesel...it should be about results, period where improving the environment is concerned.

My dream green vehicle would be a medium-sized pick-up truck built on the upcoming Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid chassis. Hope the incentive is still available in 2010.

Re: Question of the day

tyler — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 20:18:03 -0000

Illinois Constitution Article V, Sec. 18
" The Treasurer, in accordance with law, shall be
responsible for the safekeeping and investment of monies and
securities deposited with him, and for their disbursement
upon order of the Comptroller."
Now can somebody tell me, where does it say anything about hybrid cars or similar schemes? Alexi needs to be more of a banker and less of a showboat. Sometimes sitting back and doing nothing is a good thing. Let the "invisible hand" of the marketplace give us hybrid cars and incentives to buy them!

I recently rented a Chevy Impala that ran "Flex Fuel", that includes E-85. "Oh boy," I thought, "I am helping the environment and getting great gas mileage" Problem: you cannot find E-85 in any gas stations.

Re: Question of the day

Will — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:54:34 -0000

Its a good program. The technology and market for hybrids is already here. The only problem is the stubborn refusal of American car companies to give consumers what they're asking for. We're in a bizarre situation where its going to take government action to force American car companies to meet the demands of the marketplace.

Re: Question of the day

Hubbard's Peak — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:42:19 -0000

Is there anyone here who doesn't think we are consuming too much oil?

Transportation accounts for 2/3 of America's oil consumption. The Treasurer's program is trying to cut into that. The only criticism here should be of the people who are attacking Giannoulias and the other public officials who are not making a move to take the next step (carpool lanes?)

Why does the funding mechanism bother so many people? Shouldn't some value be assigned to the public goods provided here (not only the positive environmental effects but towards the national security goal of less reliance on foreign oil)?

This is a very laudable initiative, it comes at a low cost to the state, and potentially provides great incentive to those who have up to now have had not prioritized the environment to do so.

Re: Question of the day

Squideshi — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:42:18 -0000

Ummm... Rebates for hybrids isn't exactly a new idea. I seem to recall another candidate for Illinois Treasurer that had that same idea.

Re: Question of the day

Reality — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:35:34 -0000

As I said, from what I understand, the federal government is already giving a tax credit; this program, on its face, seems to make sense, especially if you can get both the rebate and the tax credit. If he can legally do this through his office, fine. If it encourages him to come up with even more popular ideas, better still.

Re: Question of the day

?! — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:24:33 -0000

Most of the critiques here are reminding me of Radogno's response to Giannoulias' call for an audit of the 529 program "Why do we need to pay for an audit to tell us that a great program is working?" (or something to that effect).

Just as Judy's 529 program turned out to be a joke, the fact that this state isn't doing much to encourage us to save on fuel costs is a joke.

Treasurer Giannoulias' program may be a small step, but it is a first step. Maybe it will help shape public opinion and consumer behavior. Maybe it will encourage American auto makers to offer more in hybrids. Maybe it will push Nissan -- which doesn't offer its only hybrid (the Altima hybrid) in Illinois -- to do so.

As for the funding mechanism, it is a limited cost to the state, it is balanced by his innovative ideas on getting better rate of return on other investments, and it results in tangible consumer benefits (that will only increase in the long term, as the price of gas is never really going to go down significantly).

Given that we just learned we have the highest gas prices in the nation, we should be applauding the Treasurer and figuring out how we can encourage further environmentally responsible consumer behavior.

Re: Question of the day

Bill — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:07:56 -0000

YDD,
You'd better be careful.
Mike is not going to like you saying nice things about Alexi!

Re: Question of the day

realitycheck — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:57:58 -0000

here's my two scents... The Treasurer is being very proactive which is more that what I can say about the rest of those fools (ie.. blago and friends). His Green Rewards program provides an alternative and has been endorsed by the green folks (ie.. Sierra Club) and the Mayor. I think those who take issue with a constitutional officer (Treasurer Giannoulias) who is actually doing something about key issues such as the environment instead of just talking about it are just ill-informed. Its the very reason we are in poor shape we are in as to the state budget... how about a realitycheck... Go Alexi!!!

Re: Question of the day

Mr. Wizard — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:50:34 -0000

I'd love to know how many of the people who write in for this idea work for the gummint. I worked for it for a long time and the most important thing I learned was: 9 out of 10 times, the gummint IS the problem, not the solution. How do you think farm subsidies started? Or go back and look at how medicaid started.

Re: Question of the day

Underdog — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:41:41 -0000

This is just the tip of the iceberg! I've uncovered a vast democratic/communist plot that has been hidden in our government for too long.

It starts at birth when government incentivizes adoption and foster parenting instead of letting kids rot away in orphanages like they should! Then, unbelievably, state and federal governments will let parents save tax-free for college. Then they give students low interest loans. They even give you a huge tax break to buy your house. And don't get me started on all the tax breaks you get for saving for retirement, giving to charity or spending on health care.

When will the government stop encouraging these devious behaviors like home ownership and retirement? Not any time soon if Alexi Giannoulias and his "Democrats" get their way!

***

At least Plutocrat was willing to ask some real questions instead of calling us sheep or free lunchers. For the record, if we're spending $2.5 million to save about a million gallons of gas, I think that's a good trade off. As for the accidents - if you're concerned about highway safety, cutting the speed limit will do more to make our roads safer than discouraging small cars.

Re: Question of the day

not on this one — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:11:30 -0000

normally the Treasurer's office comes up with bad ideas but they actually work. there is no way that anyone will ever get this loan program to actually work. it's way too complicated and to begin with you have to get your loan approved by a bank that wants to utilize the program. the issue is most banks don't want to use any of the programs to begin with. i wonder if Alexi's family bank used any of the programs before he was Treasurer. maybe he should have his friend Cong Jackson pass put forth some national legislation to further regulate emissions. the Boys Club of Cong Jackson, Alexi and Larry Rogers is all smoke and no fire. what ever happened to that 3rd airport.
they always start with promise and then do stuff just to make a headline. it's not surprising that Ald Fiorette was a part of the press conference. give us a break or go find a pig to kiss, because this is only early campaigning bs

Re: Question of the day

Team Sleep — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:01:25 -0000

Yeah, I hate when I do that.

Doug, I agree with you. Alexi beat Christine fair-and-square. He at least deserves for people to give him a chance. And the treasurer's office is not an easy one to take away, so he can be in there for a while - if he so pleases.

Shouldn't we all support some subsidies of the middle class? The middle class, as it were, pay a lot in taxes, are often saddled with credit card debt and ARMs, try to catch up with school loans and watch as our tax dollars go elsewhere. As my dad always said, "The crappy school my kids go to, the crappy roads I drive on and the crappy Social Security system that will probably never pay me what I paid into it is NOT worth the 40% of my paycheck the government takes from me." Hmmm.

Re: Question of the day

Ivote — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 17:41:59 -0000

Team Sleep: "I had my cookies turned off."
There seems to be a lot of people commenting here that have the same problem. . .
;-)