Before moving to the substantive portion of this thread, first consider this:  With billions of dollars in unpaid bills and a more than $500 million budget deficit this year alone, it’s hard to imagine Illinois’s finances getting much worse. But, according to a three-year budget projection released by Governor Pat Quinn’s office Tuesday, the outlook is not good.  So what do the wonderful progs focus their attention on?   Read on….

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. • Texting while biking?  Apparently it happens. But it may not be legal in Illinois for much  longer.   State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, D-Chicago, has filed legislation  that would prohibit bicyclists from texting while on the road. The legislation  allows bicyclists to use hands-free devices while biking, and permits texting  when the bike is stopped and pulled to the side of the road.

Cassidy said she sponsored this legislation after receiving complaints from  her constituents about the “prevalent problem” of texting while biking. “It’s  stunning for me to even contemplate,” Cassidy said of the process of texting  while on a bike.

“We’re just doing anything we can to make transportation more accessible and  safer,” Cassidy said.

Cassidy said she has received support from the Active Transportation  Alliance, which holds the belief that “bikes are vehicles” and should be treated  as such. Ed Barsotti, director of the League of Illinois  Bicyclists, agrees.

“We feel that bikes should have the same rights and rules as motorists and if  motorists aren’t allowed to text, neither should cyclists,” Barsotti said.  (read more)

Priorities.   Such pesky considerations…..