Short History, continued: Mid-July at Library — taxing the rich, saving the Merc, same-sex marriage

Picking up on the town hall gathering at the Oak Park Library in mid-July: Having earnestly alleged that the state budget process was “really, really, really critical” and urged her listeners to have a look at the budget itself via “the new technology of today” on the state’s web site, State Rep. Lilly continued in an earnest, enthusiastic vein.

An audience member asked if a rise in property tax rates was to be expected. A “really, really good” question, she offered, adding that she herself had asked it in a legislative committee meeting in Springfield.

But really good question or not, she instead addressed the related but separate issue of allocating state funds for public schooling. “No way is education to be funded equitably across the state,” she said, meaning shouldn’t or won’t? The “equitably” called up the haves-vs.-have-not state funding of public schools? So “it won’t happen…