Illinois Funeral Task Force- Sad:Politics as Usual-YourFuneral Guy.

My hopes for reform in the Illinois Funeral Directors Association Preneed Ponzi Scheme were dashed upon the rocks yesterday. Mr Duane Marsh Executive Director of the IFDA has said in several Newspapers articles that the IFDA is behind the Legislative Task Force.

The Light Bulb went off in my head Yesterday when I received an e-mail from the IFDA.

“IFDA E-News Bulletin
May 6, 2009We have supported HR0177, which creates a task force to investigate preneed in Illinois, and specifically the IFDA Preneed Trust. We hope this new bill will not dilute the gathering of further information to insure all areas of concern are examined.”

The Aha moment:

The Legislators in the House of Representatives who are appointing the majority of the  task force are folks who the IFDA has  lobbied and donated money to for years. A full overview of the IFDA Preneed Ponzi scheme suggest the Lobbying and donation money came from the IFDA Preneed Trust.

Since 1996, the IFDA and its political action committee have contributed nearly $263,500 to politicians and political parties. Nearly $98,000 of those contributions took place after June 2006, when the comptroller’s office sent the warning letter to the IFDA.

Illinois Funeral Task Force investigating IFDA Ponzi Scheme turns out to be politics as usual.

Here is how it breaks down:

3 members appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Michael Madigan received campaign funds from the IFDA  PAC according to the Springfield, Il State Journal Register article:

House Speaker Michael Madigan has been among the group’s biggest beneficiaries, collecting $16,000 in contributions, twice what he collected from the IFDA and its political action committee during the previous decade.

3 members appointed by the Minority leader of the House of Representatives.

Republican Tom Cross (minority leader since 2002)

1 member appointed by the State Comptroller

1 member appointed by the Director of the Cemetery and  Burial Trust Division of the Illinois Comptrollers office.

1 member appointed by the Director of the Division of Insurance within the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation.

1 member appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Professional Regulation.

Doing the Math.

CONCLUSION: THE MAJORITY OF THE IFDA INVESTIGATION TASK FORCE WILL BE APPOINTED BY TWO or more POLITICIANS and Administrators  WHO THE IFDA LOBBIED FOR YEARS!

The lobbyists:  Tom Cullen and  Illinois Senator Roland Burris.

Funeral Industry|Funeral Cost Blog By Your Funeral Guy-R.Brian Burkhardt

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Tags: blog, Comptroller, Duane Marsh, funeral, Funeral and Burial Prearrangement Task Force, funeral industry, IFDA, Illinois, illinois funeral directors asociation, preneed, Roland Burris, Senator