THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER
Archive for
THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER Has Moved…
Dear Readers and Subscribers, THE iLLLINOIS OBSERVER has moved to a new Web site: http://www.illinoisobserver.net. After today, there will no longer be posts made to this site. The new site provides us an opportunity to provide more news and provide it in a more organized format that is easier on the eyes. We’re sure you’ll … Continue reading
Our View: Rahm’s Rush on Chicago Infrastructure Bank Wrong
Our View: Although Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced his Chicago Infrastructure Bank ordinance–a thoroughly complex proposal–only a month ago, he claims that there has been enough public debate. Continue reading
Rahm Emanuel, Toni Preckwinkle Release Cautious Statements of Support on Quinn Illinois Pension Plan
(Chicago, IL) – April 20, 2012. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle today released cautious statements of support for Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed Illinois pension plan reforms. Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn Announces Illinois Pension Reform Plan
(Chicago, IL) – April 20, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced an Illinois pension reform plan that he claims is expected to save taxpayers $65 to $85 billion. Continue reading
Cook County Board OK’s Suffredin Tax Administration Office Proposal
(Chicago) – April 19, 2012. Special Report: Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin (D-Evanston) on Tuesday won approval by the county board for a plan to create the Cook County Office of Tax Administration to coordinate the multi-layered county tax system. Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn Pushes $2.7 Billion Illinois Medicaid Savings Plan
(Springfield, IL) – April 19, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn today announced his own plan to cut Illinois Medicaid costs by $2.7 billion from the Illinois’ troubled health care program for poor. Continue reading
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
Suffredin Cook County Tax Plan in Doubt as Commissioner John Fritchey Withholds Support–For Now
(Chicago) – April 14, 2012. Special Report: The fate of a plan by Democratic Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin of Evanston to streamline the county property tax system may be in doubt as another key Democratic commissioner is for now withholding support. Continue reading
Judge Dismisses Ex-IL GOP Congressional Candidate Lawsuit Claiming Chicago Board of Trade Locks Fire Exit Doors
(Chicago, IL) – April 13, 2012. Special Report: On Friday the 13th, a federal judge decapitated a lawsuit filed by a former Illinois GOP congressional candidate against the CME Group seeking the court to order the Chicago Fire Department to be stationed at every Chicago Board of Trade emergency exit due to the alleged existence of “locked doors” where fire exit signs are posted. Continue reading
Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin Pushes News County Tax Administrator Plan
(Chicago) – April 13, 2012. Special Report: In the wake of other aborted attempts to streamline the administrative apparatus of Cook County’s property tax system, a top county lawmaker is rolling out another proposal for a county panel vote on Tuesday. Continue reading
Stealing a March on Emanuel, Ald. Michele Smith Wins Approval of Local Convenience Store Liquor Sales Crackdown
(Chicago) – April 12, 2012. Special Report: While Mayor Rahm Emanuel today was revving up a new effort to crackdown on problematic convenience stores that sell liquor, 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith earlier in the week had already won approval of a measure by a Chicago City Council panel to crackdown on expanded liquor sales on a slice of North Avenue. Continue reading
Chicago GOP Committeemen Races See 4 Upsets, 27 New Faces
(Chicago, IL) – April 11, 2012. The March 20 GOP primary races for Chicago Republican Ward Committeemen witnessed four incumbent upsets out of 13 contested seats where incumbents were running, and saw a total of 27 new faces enter the GOP committeemen ranks, plus a jump in GOP voters going to the voting booths in Chicago. Continue reading
Ex-Employee Hits Art Institute of Chicago Executives with $300,000 Sex Discrimination Lawsuit
(Chicago) – April 11, 2012. Special Report: The Art Institute of Chicago may display fine art on its walls, but behind closed doors allegations are flying that top officials have displayed less than fine behavior. A former Art Institute employee has filed a lawsuit against the institution claiming she was the victim of employment sex discrimination … Continue reading
Illinois 2012: Tammy Duckworth Issues 3rd Challenge to Joe Walsh on Super PAC Spending
(Chicago) – April 11, 2012. Tammy Duckworth today took a third swing at GOP opponent U.S.Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), calling again on him to sign a pledge to reject Super PAC spending in the general election. Walsh has ignored Duckworth’s challenges. Before she won the March 20 primary, Duckworth challenged the Tea Part’s favorite lawmaker … Continue reading
Bending to Parents, Mayor Rahm Emanuel Sets Chicago Grade School Day Length to 7 Hours
(Chicago) – April 10, 2012. After getting an ear-full from parents, Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard today announced that Chicago elementary schools will shrink their original expanded school day to a 7-hour day next year and high schools will adopt a 7 1/2-hour day. Continue reading
Late Night: A.G. Lisa Madigan Reports Investigators See 3,200 in Illinois Trading Child Pornography Online… and More
(Chicago) — April 10, 2012. As part of crackdown on traffickers who are trading child pornography online, Attorney General Lisa Madigan revealed on Friday that her office’s investigators have monitored in the last 120 days 3,200 Illinois IP addresses trading child pornography. Continue reading
Late Night: Beaubien Widow Reportedly to Launch Independent Challenge to GOP’s David McSweeney for House Seat… and More
(Chicago) – April 7, 2012. A conservative on-line newspaper is reporting that Dee Beaubien, the widow of State Rep. Mark Beaubien (R-Barrington), intends to run for the Illinois House as an independent against GOP nominee David McSweeney in the November 2012 election. Continue reading
Aon, Chrysler, Ford Logon to Gov. Pat Quinn’s New “Help-Wanted” System
(Chicago) – April 5, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn announced on Wednesday a new “help wanted” system that connects job seekers with job hunters. Continue reading
Clout Heavy Chicago Firm Gets $3.2 Million Contract to Rebuild Rosenblum Park… and More
(Chicago, IL) – April 6, 2012. The Board of Commissioners of the Public Building Commission of Chicago just announced last week on March 28 a nearly $3.2 million contract award to a clout-heavy firm for the redevelopment of Rosenblum Park on the city’s south side. Continue reading
Mayor Rahm Emanuel Converting Springfield Pumping Station to Electricity, Saving Taxpayers $7.5 Million
(Chicago, IL) – April 5, 2012. Electricity is replacing steam power at the City of Chicago’s Springfield Avenue Pumping Station, as part of “Building a New Chicago”, a comprehensive $7.3 billion infrastructure renewal program put forward by Mayor Rahm Emanuel. In a network of 12 pumping stations, the Springfield Station, at 1725 N. Springfield Avenue … Continue reading
74,000 in Illinois to Lose Food Stamps in Republican 2012 Farm Bill, Nutrition Advocates Say
(Chicago) – April 5, 2012. Special Report: Indiana U.S. Republican Senator Richard Lugar reintroduced legislation last month to cut $40 billion from federal farming support and federal nutrition assistance funding, which could eliminate food stamps for 74,000 already hungry Illinois residents, including 15,000 in Chicago. Those estimates come from a Chicago-based nutrition group which helps … Continue reading
Late Night: Chris Welch Declares Illinois House Primary Victory–Finally… and More
(Chicago, IL) – With a 36-vote victory margin in his pocket, Emanuel “Chris” Welch finally declared victory on Tuesday over Rory Hoskins in the Democratic primary for 7th District House seat in western Cook County. Welch was waiting for Cook County Clerk David Orr to finish counting all the mail in and provisional ballots. Orr … Continue reading
With Gay Smoking Prevalence 12% Points Above General Population, Mayor Rahm Emanuel Rolls Out New Chicago Gay Health Plan
(Chicago, IL) – April 3, 2012. Mayor Rahm Emanuel has launched a Community Action Plan outlining strategies to address the specific health needs of Chicago’s gay community, including targeting well-above average smoking habits. Continue reading
Who Are The Top 10, Bottom 10 Cook County Township Democratic, GOP Committeemen?
(Chicago, IL) – April 2, 2012. Like the City of Broad Shoulders, the 30 Cook County suburban townships collaring Chicago have their own elected Democratic and Republican committeemen who aim to push, pull, and drag voters to the polls like their city cousins–some doing it better than others. Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn Rolls Out New Cabinet Appointments
(Chicago, IL) – April 2, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn on Monday at 12:01 a.m. rolled-out new appointments to his administration, including a new Illinois public health chief and new budget and economic development directors. Quinn tapped Dr. La Mar Hasbrouck, who most recently served as public health director and commissioner of mental health in upstate … Continue reading
At 50th Birthday Bash Capitol Fax Publisher Rich Miller Roasted, Charred
(Chicago, IL) – April 1, 2012. After nearly 20 years of being impaled by the rhetorical javelin hurled relentlessly by Capitol Fax Editor & Publisher Rich Miller, Illinois’ political elite gathered in phalanx formation at Maggiano’s in Chicago on Saturday evening and served up, along with the mostaccioli, heaps of steaming revenge. Continue reading
Greg Harris: “Illinois Budget Choices Before Us Are Dire”
Editor’s Note: State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) is the Chairman of the Illinois House Human Services Committee and a member of the House Appropriations Public Safety Committee. By Greg Harris Last week, the Illinois House voted to pass House Joint Resolution 69 and House Resolution 706, which are the House proposals to divvy up available … Continue reading
David Ormsby, Editor
Gov. Pat Quinn
- McHenry County Blog | Pat Quinn Tells Truth about Pension ... Cal Skinner
- Illinois General Assembly, Gov. Pat Quinn Must Reconcile ... Marge Berglind
- Pat Quinn Criticizes Scott Walker On Jobs The Huffington Post News Editors
- Will Governor Pat Quinn Sign Illinois Budget on Thursday? « Child ... Marge Berglind
- Quinn: Lawmakers Must 'Show Some Fortitude' On Pension ... Todd Feurer
- Governor Pat Quinn Puts His Foot Down On Gambling Expansion ... Mark
- Senate narrowly backs Quinn on facility closures - Capitol Fax.com Rich Miller
- Democurmudgeon: Gov. Pat Quinn exposes Scott Walker as a fake ... Democurmudgeon
- Advocates Seek Illinois Child Welfare Vision from Governor Pat Quinn Marge Berglind
- Chicago News Bench: No, Really, Pat Quinn Still Sucks More Than ... TM-1000
IL General Assembly
- General Assembly puts health exchange bill on back burner - Crain's Chicago Business May 10, 2012
- IL educators react to proposed state budget cuts - WREX-TV May 11, 2012
- Violence Against Women Act Survives Partisan Fight, Quinn Told Not To Close ... - Patch.com May 9, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - MarketWatch (press release) May 1, 2012
- You Paid For It: IL General Assembly Scholarship Program - FOX2now.com May 7, 2012
- Our Opinion: Anti-bully bill should get OK - The State Journal-Register May 10, 2012
- Illinois State University considers 4.4 percent tuition increase - Herald & Review May 10, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - PR Newswire (press release) May 1, 2012
- Asian-Americans to have state caucus - WBEZ May 8, 2012
- Suburban mayors also urge state to pass pension reform - Chicago Sun-Times May 10, 2012
The Capitol Fax Blog
- Question of the day May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Political cover or political payback? May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Illinois Needs Private Sector Jobs Now! Why Labor Leaders Support Senate Bill 1849 May 10, 2012 Advertising Department
- Senate narrowly backs Quinn on facility closures - Chamber backs Quinn pension reforms May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- House approves bill to effectively end free employee health insurance premiums May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 - VIDEO *** Smith hearing resumes today (LIVE Coverage and Video) May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 *** Not a big deal at all, but it’s probably time to delegate a bit more May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Morning Shorts May 10, 2012 Owen Irwin
- *** LIVE SESSION COVERAGE *** May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - COWL review, supplement to today’s edition and a Statehouse roundup May 10, 2012 Rich Miller