THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER
Barack Obama
Late Night: Indicted State Rep. Derrick Smith Has Stashed $100,000 in Campaign Cash… and More
(Chicago, IL) – April 16, 2012. Usually candidates–even victors–in tough primary fights end a campaign with an empty treasury. But not indicted State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago). Smith apparently made a profit. Continue reading
Video: IL House Minority Leader Tom Cross, U.S. Rep Aaron Schock Hit Illinois Health Exchange Implementation
(Chicago, IL) — April 14, 2014. Special Report: U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Peoria) and Illinois House Republican Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) on Friday held a press conference in Cahokia, Illinois to criticize Governor Pat Quinn and lawmakers’ efforts to move forward with plan to establish Illinois Health Exchanges, a key feature of President Barack Obama’s health care reform law. Continue reading
Illinois Elections 2010: Bill Brady Bucks the Tea Party
(Chicago, IL) – October 12, 2010. Will Bill Brady be welcome at the next tea party cotillion? Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Pushes New Illinois Health Care Council to Focus on Unjustified Rate Hikes
(Chicago, IL) — September 22, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn yesterday launched the Illinois Health Care Reform Implementation Council’s first public meeting, which was held in Chicago, focusing on unwarranted insurance premium hikes. Continue reading
Blagojevich Trial: Appointment of Lisa Madigan to U.S. Senate Was Blagojevich Lie, Alibi, John Harris Says
(Chicago, IL) — June 23, 2010. While Illinois was waiting for its newest U.S. senator to be named, FBI wiretaps reveal former Governor Rod Blagojevich was playing political games. And those games started almost immediately upon the election of Barack Obama to the presidency. “You’re pitting one team against another like a free agent,” he … Continue reading
A Majority of Illinois Voters Back Repeal of Barack Obama’s Health Care Reform Law, New Poll Says
(Chicago, IL) — June 10, 2010. A majority of Illinois voters favor the repeal of President Barack Obama‘s health care reform, according to a new poll. According to a survey of 500 Illinois voters by Rasmussen Reports on June 7: Fifty-four percent (54%) of voters in Illinois favor repeal of the health care plan, slightly … Continue reading
Blagojevich Trial: Blagojevich Buddy Lon Monk Admits Corruption Conspiracy Began in Summer 2002; Says Ex-Governor Knew of Law-Breaking
(Chicago, IL) — June 10, 2010. A man who was once one of Rod Blagojevich’s closest friends and a top aide said the former Illinois governor knew what he was doing was “wrong” when he met with now-convicted influence peddler Tony Rezko. Alonzo ”Lon” Monk, who served as Blagojevich’s chief of staff when he took … Continue reading
Blagojevich Trial: Sam Adam, Jr. Vs. Carrie Hamilton Vs. Mike Ettinger
(Chicago, IL) — June 9, 2010. Opening arguments in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich kicked off on Tuesday afternoon, as the prosecution and defense team met for the first time in open court. The difference in styles was readily apparent. Federal prosecutor Carrie Hamilton took the 18-member jury through the … Continue reading
Elections 2010: Anti-Incumbent Moods Exceeds 1994 Levels; Tea Party Support Erodes, New Poll Says
(Washington, D.C.) — June 8, 2010. Americans’ foul political mood is deepening and spreading. It is tainting both Democrats and Republicans and is even souring on Tea Party types. However, its wrath is especially focused on incumbents, according to a new poll. A fresh survey by The Washington Post-ABC News says voter support for U.S. … Continue reading
Health Care Reform: Gov. Pat Quinn Seeks to Tap $200 Million from Feds to Expand Health Insurance to Illinois Uninsured Residents
(Springfield, IL) — May 4, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today announced legislation that will expand insurance coverage for uninsured people with pre-existing conditions by tapping into nearly $200 million in federal funds. As part of this legislative push, Quinn is also introducing a measure to create a Health Consumer’s Bill of Rights. Both bills will … Continue reading
Illinois Jobs: Governor Pat Quinn Rolls-Out New Jobs Program to Put 15,000 Unemployed to Work
(Chicago, IL) — April 26, 2010. Another day, another jobs program gets rolled-out by Governor Pat Quinn. Today, Quinn unveiled the Put Illinois to Work program, an anti-poverty program aimed at building a healthy workforce by putting 15,000 unemployed and underemployed Illinois residents back to work. “The program will also assist in building a workforce … Continue reading
Pew Poll: Economic Problems, Pessimism Weigh on Americans
(Chicago, IL) — April 20, 2010. The scale of the political problems facing Democrats can be viewed through the prism of the U.S. economic problems and anxieties faced by Americans, according to a new Pew Research Center poll. Americans are united in the belief that the economy is in bad shape (92% give it a … Continue reading
Illinois Politics: Toni Preckwinkle Campaign Manager Scott Cisek Quits, Moves to Cook County Dem Party; Frets Potential Quinn, Giannoulias Losses
(Chicago, IL) — April 8, 2010. Political operative Scott Cisek, who helped engineer Toni Preckwinkle‘s victory in the Democratic primary for Cook County Board President, has resigned as Preckwinkle’s campaign manager to become political director at the Cook County Democratic Party. Cisek announced his departure in a statement posted on a new blog “Cook County … Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Elections: “There may not be a state in the country where Democrats have a weaker top of the ticket at this point than Quinn and Giannoulas.”
(Chicago, IL) — April 6, 2010. Here’s an SOS to the Democratic Party of Illinois: Democrats are likely to lose the Governor’s office and the U.S. Senate seat. Think about that for a moment. “There may not be a state in the country where Democrats have a weaker top of the ticket at this point … Continue reading
Health Care Reform–Illinois: Barack Obama May Have Approved It, But Pat Quinn or Bill Brady Will Have to Implement It
(Chicago, IL) — March 24, 2010. President Barack Obama yesterday approved the new health care reform law, but Governor Pat Quinn or a Governor Bill Brady will be largely responsible for carrying it out in Illinois. In an interview with the Chicago Tribune‘s Judith Graham, Illinois Department of Insurance Director Michael McRaith swatted aside one … Continue reading
Health Care Reform-Poll: More American Support Passage than Oppose
(Chicago, IL) — March 23, 2010. For what the snap reaction to Barack Obama’s newly minted health care reform bill is worth, from Gallup today: “Nearly half of Americans give a thumbs-up to Congress’ passage of a healthcare reform bill last weekend, with 49% calling it “a good thing.” Republicans and Democrats have polar opposite … Continue reading
Health Care Reform: U.S. Rep. Bill Foster Credits Conversation with Illinois Insurance Commissioner Michael McRaith for “Yes” Vote
(Chicago, IL) — March 22, 2010. U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL), one of the House Democratic hold-outs on President Barack Obama‘s health care reform bill that came before the U.S. House on Sunday, credits consultation with Illinois Insurance Commissioner Michael McRaith in helping him cast a “yes” vote for the plan. “In the last 72 … Continue reading
Illinois Elections: House Committee OKs Rep Elaine Nekritz Bill to Change Illinois Primary from February to March
(Chicago, IL) — February 24, 2010. An Illinois House panel has cleared the way to restore the Illinois primary election from February to March. The Illinois House Elections and Campaign Reform Committee voted unanimously, 9-0, for legislation, House Bill 4964, sponsored by State Rep. Elaine Nekritz, who chairs the panel, to move the primary election … Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Elections: Ok, Alexi Giannoulias for $500
(Chicago, IL) — December 11, 2009. Ok, we are in with Alexi Giannoulias for $500. US Senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias is making fund-raising calls today and he reached yours truly, the editor of THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER, on our mobile phone to make a pitch for his candidacy. Giannoulias, who is making calls from his “prison … Continue reading
Illinois 2010 Elections: State Senator Terry Link Rides Lt. Governor Endorsement Wave as AFL-CIO, Other Support Rolls In
(Chicago, IL) — December 10, 2009. State Senator and Lieutenant Governor candidate Terry Link‘s political wave machine is operating at full-tilt boogie. On Tuesday, Link scored the endorsement of the 1,000,000 member Illinois AFL-CIO, the state’s largest labor organization, an endorsement that is a potential game-changer in the crowded, seven-candidate Lt. Governor race in the … Continue reading
Jesse White, Lisa Madigan, John Cullerton, Barbara Flynn Currie, Robin Kelly and Other Illinois Pols Attend White House Holiday Party
(Chicago, IL) — December 5, 2009. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed a group of Illinois Democrats to a glittering holiday party at the White House on Thursday. A select group. Heading up the Illinois White House party goers–with an invitation–were: Secretary of State Jesse White, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Senate … Continue reading
White House Party Crashers Michaele and Tareq Salahi Crashed 2nd Party with Roland Burris, Barack Obama–Obama Stalkers?
(Chicago, IL) – December 1, 2009. White House party crashers Michaele Salahi and her husband Tareq Salahi get around. And they seem to be stalking Barack Obama. Before they crashed President Obama’s first White House state dinner, they also crashed the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Awards Dinner on Sept. 26, 2009, according to the Associated … Continue reading
David Ormsby, Editor
Gov. Pat Quinn
- Pat Quinn On Gay Marriage: Illinois Governor Endorses Marriage ... The Huffington Post News Editors
- Hon. Pat Quinn, Governor, State of Illinois « City Club Chicago Videos city club chicago
- FREEDOMISMIST: PAT QUINN MAY BE ABLE STAY OUT OF ... Eileen
- Governor Pat Quinn Puts His Foot Down On Gambling Expansion ... Mark
- Teachers picket against pension changes : News : ConnectTriStates ... KHQA Newsdesk
- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn Endorses Gay Marriage unknown
- Democurmudgeon: Gov. Pat Quinn exposes Scott Walker as a fake ... Democurmudgeon
- Quinn Launches “Save Our State" Website | Chicago Tonight | WTTW Yasmin Rammohan
- McHenry County Blog | Pat Quinn Tells Truth about Pension ... Cal Skinner
- Pat Quinn Criticizes Scott Walker On Jobs The Huffington Post News Editors
IL General Assembly
- Illinois General Assembly Approves Money to Keep Day Care Center Open, Bill ... - WJBD Online May 18, 2012
- State's Minimum Wage Could Become Highest in Country - Patch.com May 18, 2012
- Legislative update: Budget, pension, Medicaid await Illinois General Assembly ... - NIU Today May 15, 2012
- General Assembly puts health exchange bill on back burner - Crain's Chicago Business May 10, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - MarketWatch (press release) May 1, 2012
- Personal property tax diversion goes nowhere in legislature - The State Journal-Register May 16, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - PR Newswire (press release) May 1, 2012
- Feds give Illinois more money for insurance exchange as Legislature stalls - Crain's Chicago Business May 17, 2012
- Chicago Cubs, Obama controversy part of final days of legislative session - Examiner.com May 19, 2012
- Our View: Illinois pensions, casinos and Rockford's new bishop in stew - Rockford Register Star May 13, 2012
The Capitol Fax Blog
- Reader comments closed for the weekend May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- Chicago Tribune: Coal plant closures could send electricity costs soaring May 18, 2012 Advertising Department
- Protected: *** UPDATED x5 *** SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: This just in… May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- Question of the day May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- OK, so where’s your plan? May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- Caption contest! May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- Topinka: Cigarette tax hike a “common sense solution” May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- Slots at tracks a possibility? Maybe May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- AFSCME loses appeal over canceled raises May 18, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 - Ricketts gave preliminary approval, lauded TV ad *** Cubs owners try damage control May 18, 2012 Rich Miller