erhaps the hardest job of being President of the DCBA is the requirement that I come up with a monthly President’s Page for the Brief. Sometimes it is really difficult to come up with a topic upon which you can expound for 800 words of so. It is also helpful if the topic lends itself to humor so you can appear to be witty to all our devoted readers. I have been waiting for a week or two now for inspiration as to a topic for this month’s page. Alas, it’s just not happening, and the deadline has arrived. So rather than a coherent, flowing, insightful discourse on life as an attorney, I am reduced this month to a stream of consciousness article about this and that.
Health Insurance Reform:
I hesitate to get into the political arena with an opinion, especially an area so supercharged as the debate over Health Insurance Reform. However, I think this is an issue that is extremely important to solo and small firm practitioners. Under the current state of affairs, it is extremely difficult for solo and small firm practitioners to get health insurance at a reasonable rate. If you have pre-existing conditions, you may not get it at all. The ISBA has a health insurance program, but the cost is extremely high. When I left that program a couple of years ago, I was paying over two thousand a month for family coverage. Many, perhaps most, law offices in DuPage County don’t provide health insurance to their attorneys and staff. Instead, health insurance is provided by a spouse working in a different place. Last year, DCBA Past President Tom Else did a detailed investigation into how we could assist our members in procuring health insurance. Unfortunately, without a change in the laws, we discovered that there is not much that can be done. I happen to believe that every U.S. citizen should have the right to reasonably priced comprehensive health insurance without lifetime maximums and without restrictions on pre-existing conditions. We are the only western industrial nation without such a plan. If that means raising taxes, so be it. That cost would be partially offset by a reduction in health insurance premiums. In my practice, I consistently see clients whose financial future has been destroyed by uninsured medical bills. It can happen to anyone. It can happen to you. It doesn’t have to be that way. I am encouraged by the recent passage of health reform legislation by the House and Senate. It’s a start. I hope they can get the differences worked out and the bill signed into law quickly.
Terrorism:
The recent effort to blow up an airliner over Detroit on Christmas Day reminds us that we are in a war against terror and that has not changed since 9/11/01. Al Qaeda will continue to plan and attempt to carry out, attacks against American cities and civilians. Not participating in the war on terror is not an option. We have no choice. If we won’t fight back, they will take advantage of that decision to attack us more often. It is better to take the fight to the terrorists in Iraq and Afghanistan than take an isolationist position and wait for them to attack us at home. This fight will likely take many years and may occur in numerous places over that time. We have made some progress over the last five years. Iraq seems to have stabilized and their government seems to be gathering the support of Sunni and Shia alike. Whether a similar outcome will result in Afghanistan remains to be seen, but the effort must be made. One thing that is for certain, if we bail out on Afghanistan, the Taliban will move back into power and it will become a safe refuge for Al Qaeda as it was in 2001. We cannot afford to let that occur.
Politics:
I don’t think I have ever seen a more divisive political climate in my entire lifetime. Both political parties seem to be run by the far right wing or far left wing as the case may be. What ever happened to liberal Republicans or conservative Democrats? The art of compromise has been totally lost. If one party makes a proposal, it is immediately dead on arrival with the other party. If you made a political scale consisting of 100 points, with 0 being the liberal far left and 100 being the conservative far right, my guess is
that the overwhelming majority of Americans would fall between 45 and 55 on that scale. If that is so, why can’t our representatives in Washington and Springfield work together? Both sides of the aisle have good ideas, but each party takes an all or nothing approach. The unceasing and relentless need for campaign funds to run for reelection causes ethical problems and disrupts the function of government. Efforts at campaign finance reform meet with consistent objection and reform provisions are watered down, if passed at all. I think that all two year terms should become four year terms to cut down on the need to be constantly running for office. I also believe strict term limits would be a very good thing. We should all be really appreciative that a no nonsense, tough prosecutor like Pat Fitzgerald is the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois.
Sports:
Cubs: It’s pretty hard to get excited about the Cubbies’ prospects for 2010. Everyone is a year older. It’s doubtful D. Lee and Ramirez can get through the season without several weeks off for injuries. Zambrano gets crazier and less consistent every year. After Zambrano, Lilly and Dempster, who’s next? The Cubs need Soto to return to rookie year form. He was a disaster last year. Who knows what you’ll get with Soriano. He’s injured a lot and one of the streakiest hitters in baseball. When he’s hot, he’s great. When he’s cold, it’s a massive deep freeze that could last for weeks. Marlon Byrd?? He’s an upgrade from Milton Bradley, but it’s hard to get really excited about him. Who’s the closer? Marmol is Mr. Inconsistency. Unless he matures a lot this year, they could lose a lot of games in the late innings. I think they finish no better than 3
rd in the N.L. Central.
White Sox: You have to like their starting rotation if everyone is healthy. Buehrle, Peavey, Floyd, Danks and Freddy Garcia look pretty good. I think Alex Rios will remind everyone why he was an All Star two years ago. Gordon Beckham is one of the best young players in the game. He could move into all star status at second base. The offseason pickups of Mark Kotsay, Andrew Jones, Omar Vizquel and Mark Teahan all look good. They are solid veterans who will create tremendous depth off the bench. Teahan plays a respectable 3
rd base. If A.J. and Paulie can have the type of years they did last year, the Sox will be tough. Tyler Flowers may be the surprise of the year. I think this kid will be the real deal as a hitter and catcher. Expect him to spell A.J. and start to make his own mark as a catcher and DH. O.K., you all know I’m a Sox fan, but I think they win the A.L. Central this year.
Bears: They desperately needed to clean house after last season and they didn’t do it. Next year will be no better and probably worse than this past year. They have no first or second round draft picks this year. Gaines Adams for a second round pick? Jerry Angelo should have been fired for that alone. The offensive line is a shambles. Therefore, there is no running game except for Cutler who is running for his life. The defensive line is very ordinary unless Tommy Harris ever becomes Tommy Harris again. The cornerback position is thin and the safety position has no one. The only bright light is the young receiving corps who have the potential to be pretty good. Bears finish behind Green Bay and Minnesota next year also. They miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year and Angelo and Smith are history.
Bulls: They are already just playing out the season and hoping to pick up a major free agent next year. They should put the word "Interim" before Head Coach Vinny’s title. He is so gone. Actually, other than Derrick Rose, who would anyone want from the Bulls? They’re actually in a worse situation than the Bears, if that’s possible.
Hawks: What can you say except they’re young, hot and fast. The UC rocks every time they play at home. This might be the year Lord Stanley’s cup comes back to Chicago. If management plays their cards right, the Hawks could be a powerhouse team for a long time.
DCBA:
We have a couple of big events coming up in March. First, on March 5
th to 8th, is the DCBA trip to Washington D.C and then on to Gettysburg (March 9th to 11th). There is still time to sign up for the trip, although it may be too late to get in on the Supreme Court admission ceremony. Check with the Bar staff immediately if you are interested in going. We will be meeting with Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens after the ceremony. We’ll also be touring the White House on Saturday the 6th of March. On March 10th we will have a six hour guided battlefield tour in Gettysburg. If you’re a history buff, this D.C./Gettysburg trip will be really special.
The other big event coming up just after this issue hits the streets is our annual Judge’s Night show on February 26
th at the Abbington. This year’s show is entitled "Them in Black" and is produced by Angel Traub and directed by Kevin Millon. The cast is backed by the outstanding Judges’ Nite Band. This is the largest event of the year for the DCBA, so if you don’t have your tickets yet, you need to sign up now. You will see an advertisement for the show elsewhere in this issue of the Brief. Don’t miss it!
We’ll that’s the article for this month. A steady stream of rambling thoughts. I have just one other rambling thought I would like to share with you…. HURRY SPRING!!
Kent A. Gaertner is a partner at the Wheaton law firm of Springer, Brown, Covey, Gaertner and Davis LLC. The firm practices exclusively in the area of bankruptcy, reorganizations, workouts and related litigation. Outside the office, Kent likes to pursue his passion for golf and travel. He lives in Aurora with his wife Mary. Kent can be reached at 630-510-0000 or by e-mail at kgaertner@ springerbrown.com.
DuPage County Bar Association
OFFICERS Kent A. Gaertner, President Steven M. Ruffalo, President-Elect Colleen McLaughlin, Second Vice President Sharon R. Knobbe,Third Vice President Thomas A. Else,Immediate PastPresident John A. Pleviak,Secretary/Treasurer James J. Laraia,Assistant Treasurer Directors Stephen A. Brundage Brenda M. Carroll Lynn C. Cavallo Dion U. Davi Patrick B. Hurley Chantelle Jackson Timothy P. Martin Cecilia Najera John J. Pcolinski, Jr. Angel M. Traub Timothy P. Whelan Executive Director Glenda Berg Sharp, CAE General Counsel Terence C. Mullen Associate General Counsel Timothy M. McLean ISBA Liaison James F. McCluskey Legislative Liaison A. John Pankau, Jr. Brief Editor Michael J. Davis
