Government of the Repeal, by the Repeal, for the Repeal

Perhaps they got their marching orders this week from Speaker of the House John Boehner, who said, "we ought to be judged on how many laws we repeal". In any event, Lake County's elected officials are in an especially repellent mood, and promise to repeal a number of unpopular Lake Country laws.

One law these elected officials want to repeal establishes a new independent election commission in Lake County.  State Representative David McSweeney told the Daily Herald ...

"Springfield politicians will stop at nothing to further consolidate power," McSweeney said in a statement.
Lake County lawmakers trying to repeal election commission

McSweeney did neglect to explain how the law is supposed to consolidate power. As your LakeCountyEye understands it, the new law does quite the opposite -- it distributes power by transferring election duties from the Lake County Clerk to an independent election commission.  It may be instructive to note that David McSweeney is not a professional stand-up comedian; he is a Springfield politician.

Perhaps not uncoincidentally, another law under scrutiny regulates slot machines video gaming in Lake County. According to the Daily Herald ...

The question of whether to allow video gambling in unincorporated Lake County will go to the full county board with a key recommendation from the finance committee. The county board's finance and administrative committee recommended repealing the 2009 ordinance that banned video gambling
Lake County panel says repeal video gambling ban

If the ban is lifted, planners estimate that most of the new gaming licenses would go to businesses in the Chain O' Lakes area -- which would be a boon to homeowners there, who presently have to drive all the way to Mundelein to get near any loose slots. Not surprisingly, your LakeCountyEye has learned that the croupiers at the Waukegan Casino are planning to relocate their casino to Blarney Island.

But in spite of all the political saber rattling, smart money is betting that neither law gets repealed during the current legislative calendar. Your LakeCountyEye can report, however, that compromise legislation may be in the works. Do not be surprised if Lake County's independent election commission is shut down some time this year -- but only in unincorporated Lake County.  One source told your LakeCountyEye, "No one there ever votes anyways."

Finally, there is still no word whether another unpopular law has been repealed in Lake County, yet -- ObamaCare. Your LakeCountyEye will keep you apprised as events warrant.