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Illinois Raids Welfare for Videogame Legislation

Posted by Zonk on from the glad-they're-prioritizing dept.

jcgam69 writes "Recent hearings revealed that the State of Illinois spent $1 million defending their unconstitutional video games legislation. The story gets even worse when you learn where the money came from. 'Some of the areas money was taken from included the public health department, the state's welfare agency and even the economic development department. A state representative who attended recent hearings on the issue said that Gov. Blagojevich's staff simply spread the legal bills around by sticking them to agencies which had funds left in their budgets--even if the agencies had nothing to do with the issue or the litigation.'"

15 of 157 comments (clear)

  1. This really isn't a surprise. by PixieDust · · Score: 5, Insightful
    And anyone who is surprised by this hasn't been paying attention tot he level of corruption at higher levels. This government is rotting from the inside out. One look at the myriad of scandals and corruption at the top is all that's needed to deduce that at lower levels, it's going to be just as bad, albeit potentially not as well known, because it's not as sensational. Doesn't make for news quite as good as a Lawyer testifying before congress that she doesn't want to incriminate herself with her testimony over attorney's being fired. Apparently she didn't understand what being granted Immunity meant.

    C'mon, with idiocy like that rampant, is anyone really shocked by this?

    On the other hand, I can see exactly why this was done, and why it might be ok. It is the taxpayer's money, and it's expectd to be used. They spent it very poorly yes, but it's there to be spent. If the public is upset about it, they need to make that known, by tossing those dips out of office. If they don't do that, then no bitching from you. Either change it or stfu.

    1. Re:This really isn't a surprise. by ravenshrike · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Really the headline should read: Just another day of corruption in Illinois politics, move along.

    2. Re:This really isn't a surprise. by edwdig · · Score: 3, Insightful

      There are tens of thousands of instances of government not working that are in the news every year, doesn't matter if it's democrats or republicans in charge.

      Your comment just prompted the following thought:

      Ever think about how many things they do get right? Remember, something is only news if it's out of the ordinary.

    3. Re:This really isn't a surprise. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

      How your comment got a 5 Insightful is beyond me. Perhaps it's all the "rotting from the inside" that's going on here at /.. Starting with that Taco guy and continuing down to everyone that posts here ;)

      IMHO, you are throwing out the baby with the bathwater by arguing that the entire system is "rotting from the inside out". There has almost always been corruption at the highest levels of gov't and I'm not really expecting this to change. But to paint ALL public employees in this way is simply unadulterated government-bashing. There are literally MILLIONS of honest, hard-working public employees (police, firemen, health inspectors, judges, programmers, etc, etc) who are never in the news for corruption and never will be BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT CORRUPT. Do NOT lump these innocent people in with the corrupt politicians. It may be easy to stereotype but that does not mean it's correct.
      Corporate America is also imperfect. Enron, anyone? Is corporate America also "rotting from the inside out"? Are all corporate employees corrupt too? Just because the CEO is a POS does not mean that the working stiffs are doing their damndest to screw everyone too.

      Also, third party candidates (mentioned in another post on this thread) are often presented to DIVIDE a party. I am not particularly enamoroured of our 2 party system, but votes for a 3rd party candidate take votes AWAY from a candidate who could probably win if the 3rd party candidate were not running. Think very carefully before voting 3rd party, and don't do it simply because you're upset about major parties.

  2. Halo 3 or food? by 192939495969798999 · · Score: 4, Insightful


    Which would make you want to commit violence more, playing a video game or not getting a welfare check? Their priorities are completely messed up.

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    stuff |
    1. Re:Halo 3 or food? by Quiet_Desperation · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Which would make you want to commit violence more, playing a video game or not getting a welfare check?

      Someone spending a welfare check on a video game.

    2. Re:Halo 3 or food? by ef738 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Taking money I've earned to encourage others not to work makes me want to commit violence.

    3. Re:Halo 3 or food? by Copid · · Score: 2, Insightful

      There was a time when those in need would turn to their community for help when extraordinary circumstances arose.
      So, how well did that work?
      --
      An interesting anagram of "BANACH TARSKI" is "BANACH TARSKI BANACH TARSKI"
  3. Take it from the legislative budget. by daeg · · Score: 3, Insightful

    That bites. The funds should come from the legislative budget, even if they have no funds left. The Legislature would be hard-pressed to pass more bills that could result in massive legal bills if their pay check was directly at risk.

    Either that or create a discretionary fund that is 100% disclosed to voters at voting time, included in clear wording direct in the ballot.

  4. Think of the children! by kidcharles · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Think of the children! No, seriously, think of the children who need government assistance to eat.

    --
    Ceci n'est pas une sig.
    1. Re:Think of the children! by ab0mb88 · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I have found it to be universally true that if you have to be reminded to think about the children, the larger issue probably does not have that much to do with the children in the first place.

  5. How it really shakes out. by landimal_adurotune · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The games in question are almost always rated M for mature and most chains require ID to buy them anyway. So Illonois spent $1,000,000 trying to protect 17 year old children from exposed breasts. There is far more titilation (pun intended) to be had in a no-age-limit Maxim/Stuff/etc. magazine than in nearly all of these video games. Heck the kids could just go to the art museum for far more nudity, and read Genesis and Leviticus for rape/murder/genocide/incest.

  6. Re:Where'e the problem? by gstoddart · · Score: 4, Insightful

    If the legislation was important enough to enact, then it's important enough to defend.

    If you thought the legislation exceeded the scope of government, then you think paying to defend it is bad too.

    The problem is, similar legislation had been thrown out in other states as being unconstitutional. So spending money on a bill you already know is going to get shot down by the courts is just stupid. Using budgets from other departments to pay for it is absurd.

    From TFA:

    Spending this sort of money on important causes is one thing; spending it on video game regulation approaches that have been repeatedly ruled unconstitutional in other states is quite another. The situation might be more understandable were it not for the fact that Illinois could have easily seen this coming, either by paying attention to what other states are encountering or by opening a dialogue with the likes of the ESA. Instead of taking that cautious approach, the Governor decided to press on, and now the taxpayers will bear that burden. The fact that some of the money was pulled from public health and welfare only makes the situation worse.


    They knew their law wouldn't hold up in court. They spent tax payers money to defend a position they couldn't defend. They did some creative accounting to pay for it. You don't find that a little irresponsible?

    Cheers
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    Lost at C:>. Found at C.
  7. Re:Remember, kids... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    That's right, folks! Trust them tomorrow!

  8. Re:Hard to say this is bad by gstoddart · · Score: 2, Insightful

    It's hard to say this is bad. Anti-videogame laws are unconstitutional and generally stupid.

    Welfare payments trap people in poverty and support criminal activity, drug use, single parenthood (a.k.a. growing up without a father), irresponsibility, dependence, and the inability to develop capabilities or skills.

    Wow. Welfare causes all of those things ... so borrowing money from hookers, junkies, lazy bums, and single moms to pay for court costs is OK? And health care, who needs that, right?

    Nice false dillema you've got there.

    It may be sort of true (in some cases) that some of what you describe is some of the more unfortunate aspects of social programs, but talk about throwing out the baby with the bath water. I'm fairly sure that most of the recipients of welfare aren't included in what you're describing.

    Man, some of you people have such amazing knee-jerk reactions towards any sort of program to help people out it astounds me.

    Cheers
    --
    Lost at C:>. Found at C.