The Productivity Guru

Some recent news for those of you following the goings-on in Springfield.  The governor, Pat Quinn has made a slight step in the right direction, calling the Illinois state lawmakers back to the capitol for a special session on June 19th.  His impetus,  Fitch Ratings cut the state's credit ratings Monday and Moody's Investors Service did the same on Thursday.  It is now official, Illinois has the lowest rating among all of the U.S. states per the Wall Street Journal, with Moody's analysts quoted as saying the "legislature's political paralysis to date shows not only the magnitude of Illinois' unfunded benefit liabilities, but also the legal and political hurdles to legislation."   In plain speak, they're all a bunch of idiots!!  My interpretation of course.  This shortfall currently amounts to $96.8 billion dollars.  That's right $96.8 billion dollars and the legislatures left without resolving it at the end of their term rather kicking the c

Well you probably expected something on productivity, and yes you are going to get something on productivity.  The effect that terrible leadership has on productivity...the productivity of legislators.  Many of you may or may not know about the scandalous situation that has recently occurred in Springfield, Illinois as the end of the term of the Illinois Legislature came to a conclusion.  The primary leaders we are going to talk about are the President of the Illinois State Senate John Cullerton (D), the Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) and the Governor Pat Quinn (D).  For those of you not familiar with the situation, the legislature provided neither the broad pension changes needed in the state, nor the gambling expansion requested, nor the efforts to make Illinois the 13th state to approve marriage equality and so on and so forth.  Madigan who has been in the House since 1971 was quoted in the Chicago Tribune: "Obviously, this is a session where we have not enjoyed