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Elliott_Davis's Blog

by Elliott_Davis from St. Louis

Last Post 1 day, 22 hours Ago


Governor Flying High
Jul 31, 2008 | 12:01 PM
Category: News
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 We did a You Paid For It last night on the high flying governor of Illinois Rod Blagojevich.

He's logging a lot of flight hours in the State's executive private plane on your dime.

 Part of the problem as a taxpayers watchdog group pointed out, is that he chose to keep his residence in Chicago instead of moving to the governors mansion in Springfield,

 He could at least stay there when the legislature is in session. It might facilitate better communications in resolving a multi-billion dollar mess.

 It also would cut down on what you're spending to fly the governor back and forth to Springfield..

With gas being what it is every little bit helps.

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Member Comments Total Comments: 11
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madaboutweather read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 2:55 PM

I always appreciate the time many of our elected officials out into helping our country, but anymore it seems like they get into office and do the work of thier own selfish beliefs or wants. Whatever happened to working for the people? They are paid to be our spokesperson sort of speak. To work for the will of the people. Instead so many are just out to pad thier pockets and see what eles taxpayers can do for them. Such a shame.

Wasteless Spending, who's gonna stop it? No one! So sad.
Gal4Christ read my blog view my photos
Jul 31, 2008 | 3:25 PM

They are suppose to be elected to SERVE the people. Somehow all those dollars and power go to their heads.

ElLiot go go go is all I can say. It's gonna take the media to expose the corruption and it takes the people to contact them to let them know we don't like it.

They talk about those on welfare wasting and abusing and they aren't showing leadership in the wasting and abusing.

He needs to stop and think about the hardworking Americans paying the taxes. He chose to be Governor and that should require him to use the governor's mansion while they are in session and to be there for the people.
Jimmy-42 read my blog
Aug 1, 2008 | 8:04 AM

The only thing that the Governor of North Illinois cares about is himself and his Chicago Mob buddies, he doesn't care about the hard working tax payers from the states of North, and especially South Illinois. Hmm... wonder if there are any other politicians running for an office who have Chicago Mob buddies ...
littlebow2000 read my blog view my photos
Aug 1, 2008 | 10:59 AM

I believe the Governor of Illinois should be able to use the private Illinois Governors plane as he see fit.
True gas prices are high and true living in the Governors Manson would be a lot less costly. But as Governor of a State, the Governor has the elected responsibility to do business as he deems, is to be in the best interest of the State. State travel by plain, train, bus, or car is his discretion. We a citizens must respect that.
After all the President of the United States does a lot of travel back and forth to Texas to his home and no one seems to mind that do they.
Elliott_Davis read my blog
Aug 1, 2008 | 3:35 PM

littlebow... That might be fine if Illinois was an efficiently run state but it's not.
Right now the state is grappling with a 2 billion dollar deficit, same as last year.
Communications between the Governor and the legislative branch is strained at best.
In the end taxpayers are the real losers.
Taxpayers should get good results for the hard earned dollars you're paying to fly the Governor around. Are You satisfied with what you're getting.?
Gal4Christ read my blog view my photos
Aug 1, 2008 | 5:08 PM

Taxes are too high now for taxpayers and it's things like this that are driving taxes up. Look at Missouri's Governor and the publicity he got with putting in panic buttons everywhere in the mansion. It's called Govt. waste. They have cut the poor and truly needy in Missouri and the whole motto was govt. waste and abuse and they are doing the same. They are suppose to be the models and lead in saving taxpayers money. To me if I accepted a position I would move where I needed to to save. The whole country is in a mess right now with a low economy.
Exerciser999
Aug 1, 2008 | 10:08 PM

illinois is going broke cause all those dummies in chicago are blowing the checks that we mail em. i am sick of this crapola and elliott can help fix it. go get em.
CatOn88Keys read my blog view my photos
Aug 2, 2008 | 9:55 AM

Elliott, I have been looking for this You Paid For It but haven't seen it yet. I love your stories and look forward to seeing this one.

Please stay on the Governor of Chicago, I'm sure there is a lot of material there!
We are so sick of this clown in Southern Illinois. He proposes a $14 million in budget cuts to the IDNR and $1.4 billion in cuts for health care, education, social service programs and transportation to balance the budget and all the while has a mansion in Springfield that is not worthy of his presence. Yet, recently when he was forced to jet down for meetings and found that the air conditioning was out, THAT was an emergency!

Just one word of advise, don't bother giving out the Springfield phone number - nobody's home!!!
the4thstooge read my blog
Aug 4, 2008 | 7:40 AM

i agree elliot,it's just ridiculous for him to commute back and forth from home to job,either stay home or do your job.as far as the people who are ok with this,maybe send a contribution in with their state taxes.
what a great job,you do for fox2,elliot.thanks
Truth23 read my blog view my photos
Aug 4, 2008 | 9:25 AM

Citizens of Illinois, time to vote him out of office!!! It is not just the cost of gas for that plane, it is the salary of the staff, the service of the airplane, and the extra staff that have to fly with him and stay in Chicago. A good majority of major corporations and businesses are now using conference calls to do their business instead of flying. A home was provided for the Governor with a full staff, which is still on call when he flies down to Springfield. The Mansion is not shut down completely. Another waste of money. In other words it is all the extra other expenses he is incurring while the state of Illinois wallows in bankruptcy. Vote him out or recall him!! Stay on this one Elliot and thank you.
gwiegard read my blog
Sep 10, 2008 | 2:03 PM

I agree with Truth, he should stay where he can be reached easily, also now he wants to close down our historic sites as we have no money for them, if we didn't have to pay for the jet and fuel maybe we would have monsy for our historic sites.
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Elliott_Davis

I'm a reporter at Fox 2 News, specializing in investigative journalism with the 'You Paid For It segment'. I'm also a weekend anchor and reporter. I'm a St. Louis native, graduate of Vashon High School, Cornell University, and the father of a teenage daughter. I enjoy reading, chess, and exposing public officials wasting your money.

Member Since: 9/13/2006


 

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