My video about returning more than $28,000 in missing money to an animal shelter generated a lot of discussion.
I heard from many dog owners about their adoption stories and the animals that quickly became a part of their families.
I also heard from a few cat lovers asking why I didn’t more prominently showcase their feline friends.
First, we returned the money on National Dog Day, so it made sense to focus on canines.
Second, I have no anti-feline bias. True, I have told you about Mila, our Goldendoodle. She was very much a family member, and it was a very sad day when we had to say goodbye.
I haven’t written about all the cats I’ve had as pets…until today.
As a kid, we had two tabbies: Tony, followed by Tiger. The inspiration for their names might not have been original, but they were Grrrreat. Then there was Felix, an all-white cat who saw me into my adult years.
As an adult, I rented a farmhouse with a mouse problem. That meant two new black cats in my life, Jack and Bobby. Named after two great Kennedys, they were great mousers, and they loved to present their trophies at my feet. That was on me for choosing to live in a nearly 100-year-old farmhouse.
Allow me to state the obvious: cats and dogs are very different. Mila the Goldendoodle was always underfoot. I wouldn’t call her needy, but she never wanted to be apart from us.
The cats would occasionally rub up against our legs, curl up in our laps, or sometimes on the back of the couch next to my shoulders. They were also comfortable disappearing for long stretches. I really respected their independence.
In the State Treasurer’s Office, we try to help Illinoisans attain independence in various stages of their lives.
I know it’s nearly impossible to support yourself without a good job. That’s why I set up the Illinois Growth and Innovation Fund and the FIRST Fund to help put more people to work in good-paying jobs in our state.
I know how difficult it is to be independent from your parents after graduation when you are facing student debt in the tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars. That’s why we have fought so hard to reduce fees in our Bright Start 529 program to help families save more before their kids graduate from high school.
I know it’s nearly impossible for people with disabilities to achieve independence when the federal government limited them to having less than $2,000 in total assets to keep benefits. That’s why we set up Illinois ABLE accounts, which allow families to save up to $100,000 without losing their benefits.
And I know people will not truly enjoy their golden years nor have a retirement with dignity if they must survive on a meager Social Security check. That’s why we set up My Illinois Savings to help hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans create a bit of a nest egg. They have saved over $370 million so far.
To achieve financial independence, many people need a little bit of help. No matter where you are in life’s journey, our Illinois Financial Wellness Hub stands ready to help you learn along the way.
So, to all of the dog lovers out there, we want to help you be financially stronger so that you can give those furry family members a better life. The same goes for cat lovers, but I also want you to know that the lessons taught to me by five cats over the years have helped to shape how I run this office.
Sincerely,
Michael