We've got to agree with the Chicago Tribune's assessment of how things can get done in Springfield when the right people want it to ... this session it's protecting banks from losing millions in interest overcharging. Last year, it was video poker supporters:
This seems like a good time to remind everyone about what happened last year with legislation to legalize video gambling machines in bars. A bill came zipping out of the House, steamed through the Senate and skidded onto Gov. Pat Quinn's desk. Video gambling is unpopular with voters, but they barely had a chance to blink before the governor signed the bill as part of a plan to fund capital spending.
Why so quickly? The right people wanted it ...
Continue reading "Springfield coziness and how things get done" »
House Republican Leader Tom Cross presented the Illinois Fair Map Amendment before a House Committee on Tuesday. Fair Map has received the endorsement of nearly every major newspaper throughout the state. It was suggested by Governor Quinn's reform commission and championed by a plethora of reform groups including the League of Women Voters, the Illinois Farm Bureau, and the Better Government Association.
Proposals with such an abundance of support from good government groups would normally be looked upon in a favorable view. However, here in Illinois nothing can be taken for granted, as was evident when Democrat committee members voted against the reform proposal and instead chose to continue the inherently flawed process of allowing legislators to hand pick their constituents through Senate Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 121.
Continue reading "House Democrats Block Fair Map Amendment" »
SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Policy Institute, a non-partisan free market think tank, is urging the Illinois House of Representatives to reject the campaign of misinformation being used by union lobbyists who are opposed to landmark school voucher legislation that would allow more than 22,000 children the opportunity to receive the quality education they deserve.
A fact sheet being circulated by the Illinois Education Association (IEA) and their allies incorrectly claims that $100 million would be cut from suburban and downstate schools. On Thursday, the House Executive Committee amended the bill by a 10-1 vote, creating a firewall between Chicago Public Schools and the rest of the state and ensuring that the legislation does not negatively impact the finances of suburban and downstate schools. The Institute points out that the IEA's misinformation campaign is focused on keeping the unions in control of the schools rather than providing the best education possible to the children in the City of Chicago. SB 2494 is sponsored by Rev. Senator James Meeks (D-Chicago) and Rep. Kevin Joyce (D-Chicago).
Continue reading "Union Lobbyists Running Misinformation Campaign on Voucher Bill" »
Voter support for both major party candidates for governor of Illinois remains basically unchanged since the contest began.
The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of Likely Voters in the state finds incumbent Democratic Governor Pat Quinn with 38% support and his Republican challenger Bill Brady earning 45% of the vote. This is the identical level of support both earned earlier this month. Five percent (5%) favor some other candidate in the race, and 11% are undecided.
Brady posted a 47% to 37% lead over Quinn in early March just after the former was officially declared the GOP nominee by a 193-vote margin out of 750,000 cast.
The two are battling most notably these days over an income tax hike the governor has proposed as an alternative to a $1.3 billion cut in education funding.
Forty percent (40%) of voters in the state now approve of Quinn’s handling of the governorship, down three points from the previous survey. Fifty-eight percent (58%) disapprove. This includes seven percent (7%) who Strongly Approve and 28% who Strongly Disapprove.
Continue reading "Election 2010: Illinois Governor - Brady leads 45/38" »
by Ghost of John Brown
The non-partisan Cook Political Report (subscription required) says that Rep. Bill Foster is the most vulnerable House Democrat from Illinois and has declared the race to be a “Toss Up.” Cook has previously given Foster a slight advantage with a “Lean Democrat” designation.
Here’s what Cook’s House Editor David Wasserman wrote about the seat’s move towards the Republican column:
Continue reading "Bill Foster "Most Vunerable House Democrat From Illinois"" »
from the Illinois Policy Institute
On April 21st, up to 15,000 government workers from the IEA, IFT, AFSCME, and SEIU unions rallied at the Illinois statehouse to urge the legislature in favor of a 33% income tax hike.
They shouted, "Raise
my taxes, Raise my taxes, Raise my taxes!"
- Do they speak for you?
- What are you going to do about it?
- Want to make your voice heard?
Join the Illinois Policy Institute for our Liberty Leaders Capitol Day on May 5. It’s an opportunity to show legislators that we can balance the state budget without tax hikes that target struggling taxpayers, hurt our state’s business climate, and hamper job creation.
You can read more details in our Budget Solutions 2011 report.
Continue reading "May 5: Liberty Leaders Capitol Day in Springfield" »
Wednesday night at a townhall meeting held in the 8th CD, Republican candidate Joe Walsh told supporters that he was aware of an 85-page public records report with negative information circulating among various media sources, sent to them by an anonymous source. Walsh reportedly shrugged off the information as dirty campaign tactics to be ignored.
Illinois Review referred to the 85-page report in a post Wednesday, so we contacted the campaign to ask for a response to be published. At 7:45 AM, we wrote to Whitney Schlosser, Walsh's communications director:
Has Mr. Walsh issued a statement about the 85 page public report many of us in the media received anonymously late Tuesday night?
Please advise.
Continue reading "Walsh campaign responds to 85-page public record report" »
