Springfield needs to get priorities in order

By Paul Sassone

Paul Sassone

Red means stop.

Green means go.

But, what does blue mean?

You’ll find out soon. Because a new Illinois law now allows motorcycle

rear stopping lights to be blue. So, I guess, blue now also means

stop.

Who needed this law? Who benefits from this law? Someone, some place.

There are more than 100 new Illinois laws that went into effect Jan. 1.

You and I may not see the wisdom of some of these laws. But someone was able to convince Illinois legislators that, for example, Illinois needs a state artifact.

If some non-Illinoisan ever asks you, “Say, Joe, I was wondering. Just what is your state’s artifact?”

You now can proudly reply, “Why, Illinois’ state artifact is the pirogue.” And that’s pirogue, not pierogi. The artifact is a narrow canoe made from the bark of a single tree. The pierogi is a delicious Polish treat of little pockets of dough filled with sweets, savories, meats or vegetables. They would make a good state artifact, too, I think.

Don’t get me wrong. Many of the new laws are serious business. It’s been the shame of the nation that until just now Illinois kids under age 18 were not allowed to trap animals. As of Jan. 1 and for a mere $7, Illinois kids under age 18 can get a trapping license. Finally!

And if you were stumped trying to figure out a use for that pitchfork you got for Christmas, a new Illinois law allows you (and anyone) to hunt catfish with a pitchfork. You also can whack catfish with a spear gun, bow and arrow, bow and arrow “device,” including slingshot bow, spear or gig, whatever that is. Unfortunately you can’t sell or barter these deceased catfish unless you have authorization from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

But, what Illinois still does not have as of Jan. 1 is a budget.

And because Illinois doesn’t have a budget, Illinois residents are suffering. Because there is no budget these are just a handful of actual, happening-right-now instances of suffering:

1,800 families have lost the services of the Autism Project;

3,200 fewer meals on wheels are being served in DuPage County;

Lutheran Social Services of Illinois closed seven home care and adult day-care facilities that cared for 2,355 senior citizens. And 25,000 more senior citizens in Cook and Lake counties face loss of services.

All over Illinois, necessary programs for children, families, the elderly, the ill, the poor are starved for funding. And vulnerable people are suffering acutely because Illinois has no budget.

I’m very happy for motorcycle riders. Blue lights are nice.

But for 2017, Gov. Bruce Rauner and Illinois legislators must get priorities straight:

Human needs first, catfish killing second.

–Springfield needs to get priorities in order–