(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
(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
(Chicago, IL) — November 2, 2010. There are enough election returns in Illinois state house races to be able to call the House for the Democrats, keeping Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) in his chair. House GOP Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) would likely remain leader of the GOP caucus. Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — October 13, 2010. With 19 days remaining until the November 2, 2010 election, State Rep. Candidate Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) is leading GOP foe Hamilton Chang (R-Wilmette) in the final campaign fund-raising 30-day dash. Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn on Tuesday stretched his executive authority—along with his goodwill with Illinois lawmakers—and rewrote legislation to eliminate the requirement that Illinois residents must declare a party affiliation when voting in a primary election, and in doing so likely guaranteed its doom. Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — May 26, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today vetoed portions of the McCormick Place reform legislation, but the Illinois General Assembly is widely expected to brush aside Quinn’s action and override the veto. “The General Assembly has taken only half a step toward reforming our state’s convention industry,” said Governor Quinn in his … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — March 21, 2010. House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) wants House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) to deep-six his constitutional amendment to require Illinois judges to have at least 10 years of experience as a lawyer. Madigan’s plan, Constitutional Amendment 57, would require that a judicial candidate be a licensed attorney for at … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — March 16, 2010. From the Department of Wishful Thinking, more than 200 mostly Democratic women have sent a letter to Governor Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego), and Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno (R-Lemont) demanding that they pass a “comprehensive tax reform” package. In the … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — March 4, 2010. The Illinois budget is a game of kick-the-can for grown ups. In advance of Governor Pat Quinn’s budget address next week, House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) teamed-up with ultra-conservative Illinois Policy Institute President John Tillman to outline a familiar-looking agenda on jobs, spending, and accountability at a Springfield … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) – February 18, 2010. The Illinois House yesterday overwhelming approved legislation that would ban child sex offenders from working at local municipal fairs. The bill, House Bill 4675, sponsored by State Rep. Carol Sente (D-Vernon Hills), zoomed through the House, 90-16-6, with bipartisan support. However, the opposition, tiny as it was, was bipartisan, … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) – February 16, 2010. Move over Illinois human services, Illinois school districts are the next big thing in the Illinois budget cuts drama. Last year, Illinois budget cuts and budget pain fell disproportionately on human service programs, causing grief principally for Democratic lawmakers and some Republicans, but to a lesser degree. But that … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 30, 2009. State tax revenues nationwide to continue to evaporate. Tax revenues dropped at least $14.3 billion nationwide in the most recent fiscal quarter, according to a study by the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. The Rockefeller Institute compiled data from states and it shows major tax sources were $119.7 … Continue reading
“It would be irresponsible for a governor to move forward on something of this magnitude. without having a debate on it,” Tom Cross said Monday. “What if he says tomorrow that he’s going to sell Lincoln’s Tomb?” Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) – November 12, 2009. According to a new analysis of Illinois government data, the number of women receiving state-supported treatment for drug or alcohol addiction between 1995-2007 jumped 41%, compared to 21.7% for men. “The face of addiction is changing across Illinois—and it is increasingly a woman’s face,” said Sara Moscato Howe, CEO … Continue reading