(Springfield, IL) — April 30, 2010. Could someone get Jason Plummer, the 27-year old GOP candidate for Lt. Governor a proofreader? Here’s what’s posted on this Facebook page today: The Rasmussen Reports survey once again proves that the people of Illinois are ready for a clean break from the politics of the past. Let’s not … Continue reading
By State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) (Springfield, IL) – The desire to know the facts of one’s history is an attempt to understand the age-old questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I come from? For an estimated 200,000 Illinois adult adoptees, they currently are unable to fully answer these questions. Under … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 29, 2010. Organized labor leaders and State Rep. Will Burns (D-Chicago) today gave a public push at a press conference in Springfield to legislation that would permit slot machines at the state’s horse racing facilities. The plan, House Bill 5975, would generate an estimated $100 million to $300 million annually that … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 29, 2010. State Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) reports via her Facebook Page that Governor Pat Quinn, and chief of staff Jerry Stermer today met with the Conference of Women Legislators about funding for day care, mental health services, alcohol and drug dependence and women’s health initiatives. In Quinn’s proposed budget, … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 28, 2010. Illinois lawmakers expect to be home at the end of next week, even if it will take a little longer to finish the new state budget. Legislators expect their last day in Springfield to be on or about May 7, the scheduled adjournment date. And about three weeks earlier … Continue reading
(Princeton, NJ) — April 27, 2010. Despite signs of economic recovery, general election prospects are growing more dire for Democrats, according to a new poll. Democrats and Republicans are drawing even among registered voters, but among “enthusiastic voters” — it’s a GOP blowout by 20 points. 20. Gallup reports in a new poll today: Although … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) – April 27, 2010. Democratic nominee for Illinois State Treasurer Robin Kelly today called on Republican opponent State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa) to give back political campaign contributions from a Goldman Sachs executive in wake of the fraud scandal that has rocked the Wall Street firm. Rutherford has accepted $75,000 in campaign donations … Continue reading
(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
(Springfield, IL) – April 26, 2010. State Senator Dan Rutherford (R-Chenoa), GOP candidate for Illinois Treasurer, last week charged Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias and his chief of staff, Robin Kelly, are using the belated launch of a state task for “political benefit”. “To convene a good purposed task force, two years late, hold taxpayer funded public … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — April 25, 2010. Woe. Here’s something that doesn’t round bend everyday. State Rep. John Fritchey (D-Chicago) and LaShawn Ford (D-Chicago) today called on Governor Pat Quinn to call out the Illinois National Guard to battle the surge in violent crime in Chicago that has claimed 113 lives so far this year, equal … Continue reading
(Carbondale, IL) — April 21, 2010. State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) holds a wide lead over Governor Pat Quinn in Southern Illinois, according to a new poll. It’s a football field-wide lead. The poll, conducted by the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute (named after the father of Quinn’s running mate Sheila Simon), reveals that Brady … Continue reading
(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
(Springfield, IL) — April 20, 2010. Attorney General Lisa Madigan is investigating two separate complaints that the board of Pontiac School District 429 did not comply with the state’s open meetings laws. One of those complaints, filed by former Pontiac Mayor Scott McCoy, concerned two school board meetings held this Feb. 1 and Feb. 18. … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 19, 2010. Illinois Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) backed changes to the Illinois employee pension system that will yield savings of $220 billion during next 30 years, but wants to put current employee benefits on the chopping block if possible. “I know there’s differing opinions as to whether or not … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 19, 2010. Score a big one for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn today joined Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood at the Eads Bridge in St. Louis to break ground on the new $667 million Mississippi River Bridge project. Quinn’s disgraced predecessor Rod Blagojevich had earlier in … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — April 15, 2010. Some pundits are criticizing Governor Pat Quinn for his failure to appoint yet a paid campaign manager to lead the fight against GOP nominee Bill Brady. Why should he? He’s already got a damn good one for free. Former Republican Governor Jim Edgar has filled the vacuum in Quinn’s … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 15, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn and Illinois Department of Transportation officials today rolled-out a $12.84 billion Multi-Year Highway Improvement Program that is expected to create an estimated 167,000 direct jobs over the next six years. “I have made it my priority to invest in our state’s infrastructure, which will spark economic … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — April 15, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn yesterday finally signed into law a significant public pension reform bill that will save taxpayers billions of dollars while protecting the retirement of state workers. “From the moment I took office, I have worked to overhaul Illinois’ pension system to provide relief to taxpayers while protecting … Continue reading
(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
(Chicago, IL) — April 8, 2010. Who would have ever thought that Democrats Governor Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) might have squeezed from the ultra-conservative Wall Street Journal the headline–”In Praise of Illinois.” But, yep. Last month, Madigan and Cullerton engineered legislative approval of an astounding pension-reform … Continue reading
(Princenton, NJ) — April 8, 2010. The Democratic Party slide continues. Its image is scraping the bottom of an 18-year low, according to a new Gallup poll released today. Americans’ favorable rating of the Democratic Party dropped to 41% in a late March USA Today/Gallup poll, the lowest point in the 18-year history of this … Continue reading
(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
(Chicago, IL) — April 5, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn has proposed cutting the share of the Illinois income tax that is shared with towns and cities by $300 million to help close the state’s gaping budget deficit. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), however, on Friday told Evanston Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl not to worry: the … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — April 2, 2010. The Illinois job market continued its downward slide in February battering Illinois communities and posing a stiff challenge to Governor Pat Quinn‘s election campaign against State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington). Unemployment rates rose above previous-year levels in all 12 metro areas for the 33rd consecutive month, according to data … Continue reading