Yesterday I listened to State Senator Mike Frerichs on Penny For Your Thoughts.  I encourage you to listen to the podcast.
http://www.wdws.com/multimedia/podcast/interviews-penny-your-thoughts.html-0

Mike Frerichs is very informed, very articulate, and a very polished politician.  I like Mike Frerichs personally.  If you call his office, they will handle your request professionally with a high level of constituent service.  But listening to this podcast was disappointing and leaves me with little confidence that we are going to turn our state around any time soon. 

I hear constantly from people that Illinoisians are sick and tired of corrupt politicians and dysfunctional government.  I believe the job providers are weary of the corruption and dysfunction in Springfield.  Listening to Frerich's non-response on eliminating legislative scholarships was sad.  I don't want to hear about Senators getting offended that the Governor wants to propose legislation, I want to hear what the senators are doing to work to eliminate corruption in state government.  Mike Frerichs needs to stop whining and start leading on this issue. 

Our elected officials in Springfield seem to be spending too much time and energy in Springfield putting out fires that they created.   The candidates running for office in 2012 helped elect the people who created these fires.  The candidates running for office in 2012 lacked the discipline to prevent these fires in the first place.  Oddly, the candidates in 2012 are going to run on their ability to fight the fires they were instrumental in creating in the first place.   It is a brilliant political approach, but it is costly to our state and to our community.   Listening to the podcast yesterday, I am concerned the Mike Frerichs, who makes fighting fires look good, lacks the leadership to prevent fires in the first place. 

Removing legislative scholarships is an easy opportunity to eliminate corruption.  Seriously, do something about it.