Two ballot proposals voters should reject

One consolation in the dismal national election picture is the fact that we get to choose someone else in four years.

The two referendums appearing on the ballot don't have this saving feature and should be rejected by voters. First, the statewide referendum called "Safe Roads" is a proposed constitutional amendment that has all of the earmarks of Mike Madigan, the principal architect of Illinois' sorry financial condition, and should be rejected on this point alone.

Second, Madigan gets his wish on a ballot initiative, but 500,000 voters cannot get a referendum past the corrupt judicial system, another reason to reject the Safe Roads ballot question.

Finally, this referendum tries to do something that a fundamental document like a constitution is not meant to do: Usurp the legislative process which is perfectly capable of handling budget matters if Madigan would let the process work. Remember the financial mess over the constitutional amendment on state worker's pensions? This would create the same mess. Giving it a cute name doesn't mask its insidious nature. Voters should reject it.

The second referendum for Fox Valley Library District voters is a tax increase to build a new library. Their current propaganda says they have listened to us and reduced the size of the increase they are seeking. They apparently listened, but they didn't hear the message they were given: no new taxes and no new construction to build a second library in the district. Looking at their own information, the ideal solution would be a new one-site facility more centrally located in the district and the sale of existing assets to help with the construction costs, and use the savings of having one infrastructure instead of two to do the same thing. When the state's situation stabilizes, if ever, maybe such a one site facility would make sense.

Raymond Bellock

Sleepy Hollow