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05-09-2009, 01:32 PM
http://www.connecttristates.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=295616 (http://www.connecttristates.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=295616)
Quincy, IL - Supporters are calling it 'the great speech *never* given' in Quincy. We've heard from some people today who are fuming after Monday night's Quincy City Council meeting.
Seven Democratic aldermen voted to deny a Quincy resident listed on the council agenda the opportunity to address the council.
Two former Quincy mayors, both a Democrat and a Republican, tell us it's a move they've never seen before. We wanted to know more, and to get answers to some of the questions we've heard.
Quincy resident Steve McQueen says he was shocked the council voted against letting him speak.
McQueen said, "I was utterly in shock. Never did it cross my mind that they wouldn't allow me to speak."
As one of the organizers of the Quincy Tea or Taxed Enough Already party, he filed a request and was placed on the city council agenda to speak against the city's recently approved $31.2 million budget. That budget, approved last week, includes water and sewer fee increases along with pay raises for city employees.
But when it was time to suspend the rules and let McQueen speak, aldermen voted along party lines...seven Democratic aldermen against hearing McQueen's speech versus the six Republicans in attendance voting for it. 2nd Ward Alderman Steve Duesterhaus told us the denial has nothing to do with First Amendment rights..it has everything to do with operating by the rules.
Big mistake and they are paying with national coverage. Google tea party quincy, IL in the news search. City council is getting racked over the coals on this one and I think they deserve it.
Quincy, IL - Supporters are calling it 'the great speech *never* given' in Quincy. We've heard from some people today who are fuming after Monday night's Quincy City Council meeting.
Seven Democratic aldermen voted to deny a Quincy resident listed on the council agenda the opportunity to address the council.
Two former Quincy mayors, both a Democrat and a Republican, tell us it's a move they've never seen before. We wanted to know more, and to get answers to some of the questions we've heard.
Quincy resident Steve McQueen says he was shocked the council voted against letting him speak.
McQueen said, "I was utterly in shock. Never did it cross my mind that they wouldn't allow me to speak."
As one of the organizers of the Quincy Tea or Taxed Enough Already party, he filed a request and was placed on the city council agenda to speak against the city's recently approved $31.2 million budget. That budget, approved last week, includes water and sewer fee increases along with pay raises for city employees.
But when it was time to suspend the rules and let McQueen speak, aldermen voted along party lines...seven Democratic aldermen against hearing McQueen's speech versus the six Republicans in attendance voting for it. 2nd Ward Alderman Steve Duesterhaus told us the denial has nothing to do with First Amendment rights..it has everything to do with operating by the rules.
Big mistake and they are paying with national coverage. Google tea party quincy, IL in the news search. City council is getting racked over the coals on this one and I think they deserve it.