Over the past week, former “judicial hellhole” Chief Judge Ann Callis has been asked a number of questions important to Illinois voters. However, she has had a hard time giving a straight answer to those questions.
1. Callis Won’t Say How She Would Have Voted On The Farm Bill
REPORTER: “On the Farm Bill, would you have voted for it in its final form, or would you not, or have you said?” CALLIS: “I haven’t said. I think the farmers needed the relief, but I’m very concerned about the reduction in SNAP benefits, so right now I don’t know how I would have voted.”
2. Callis Won’t Say If She Supports Construction Of The Keystone Pipeline
In a questionnaire from The News-Gazette, Callis wouldn’t say if she supports the Keystone Pipeline:
“4. Do you support construction of the Keystone XL pipeline through the United States?
Although creating jobs is an extremely important goal, I also think we can make decisions that protect our environment. Since recent news has come out on the pipeline, I think we need to wait and see what will happen in courts. Then we should be bringing all people together to make responsible and informed decisions that will foster job growth and at the same time protect our environment.”
3. Callis Can’t Name A Single Part Of The Budget She Supports Cutting
REPORTER: “Well beyond fraud and waste, any particular program that could stand to a cut at this point?” CALLIS: “Well, I don’t think, again, we should use a butcher knife, maybe a scalpel. Lets see what works and what doesn’t. You that there will be some programs that aren’t necessary or some part of a program that’s wasteful and just unnecessary and lets take a look at that and see what could be cut.” REPORTER: “Well, you’ve been a candidate for a long time.” CALLIS: “Long time.” REPORTER: “Do you have an example at this point?” CALLIS: “No, I don’t have a specific example, besides the Heat program.”
4. Callis Only Said She Would Support Current Ethanol Policy After A Reporter Ridiculed Her
REPORTER: “And I know that, just a farm thing, ethanol policy continues to be a national debate. Where are you on that? Should subsidies go on or required usage of ethanol, where should that end or take off or where?” CALLIS: “Well, we have a lot of farmers in our district and they rely on the ethanol policy, but again let’s see if it is working, if its growing jobs, if its helping our community, and where the cost would be, the drop-off, or not.” REPORTER: “Again, that’s still an issue that you might have studied by now, but I apparently not.” CALLIS: “Well, no, well, I support the ethanol policies.”