“Yes” For Illinois

A coalition of Edgewater citizen groups sponsored a forum on the Illinois Constitutional Convention vote. “Yes for Illinois” and Illinois Citizens Coalition was there to advocate strongly for a “Yes” vote.

Should Illinois hold ‘Con-Con’ in 2010?

Others saw holding a convention as being less dangerous than doing nothing.

Raila, co-author of “Taxation without Explanation: The Illinois Property Tax System,” said special-interest lobbyists are against the convention.

“They have a fleet of people lined up like a firewall protecting their nesting grounds,” Raila said.

“They want to maintain the status quo with a General Assembly that last year passed 750 bills, and this year passed only 280.”

Raila wants amendments that would overhaul the property tax structure, place a prohibition on contributions from property tax attorneys and consultants who appear before the Board of Review, a permanent cap for property taxes, and wording that will enable non-lawyers to appeal property taxes before the Board of Review.

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Other issues that could be addressed are Tax Increment Financing (TIF) and Home Rule for Cook County and the City of Chicago, which drew conflicting views from Behrend and Osterman.

“The Home Rule provision gave protection to the city and the county. I don’t think they’d give up any power,” instructed Osterman.

Prompting Behrend to ask, “How many people feel empowered and protected by Daley and Stroger?”

“If you like Chicago’s gun ban, leave Home Rule alone,” Osterman replied.

As for TIF’s, Behrend and Osterman would like transparency for the taxpayer, with access to the books to see where the money is going and who’s lobbying for funds.

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Edgewater-resident Mimi Harris said she’s not yet sure how she’ll vote.

“People I’ve talked to felt that a lot of the conservative social agenda will come out.”

But William O’Brien, a 21-year-old member of the Illinois Citizens Coalition looks at it differently.

“If a convention isn’t the manifestation of Obama’s message of change and hope, I don’t know what is.”