Illinois Review

Hultgren Introduces Legislation to Protect Main Street from Dodd-Frank

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today released the following statement after introducing legislation to ensure that entities such as farmer cooperatives, utilities, and public power authorities are exempt from regulations included in the Dodd-Frank Act passed by the last Congress. Rep. Hultgren’s bill, the Protecting Main Street End-Users From Excessive Regulation Act, introduced with bipartisan support, narrows the Dodd-Frank definition of a “swap dealer” to ensure that Congressional intent is realized and that costly and burdensome regulations intended for the largest financial institutions are not imposed on hundreds of end-users.

Topinka: Proposed increase in spending needs revenue source

Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka on Wednesday released the following statement in response to General Assembly discussion of a tax package aimed at assisting employers and residents in need:

“As members of the General Assembly consider moving forward with a proposed tax package for employers and low-income residents, I encourage them to add an item to the discussion: revenue. At minimum, any tax package being considered would total $250 million annually, and that’s on top of already-growing state liabilities. Those escalating costs cannot just be ignored.

McGlynn announces candidacy for Appellate Judge

Circuit Judge Stephen McGlynn announced his candidacy for a seat on the Appellate Court in Illinois' 5th District. The district is made up of the southern 37 counties of Illinois. McGlynn was appointed to his current seat in the 20th Judicial Circuit by a unanimous vote of the Supreme Court of Illinois after recommendation by a bipartisan merit panel. He had previously served on the Appellate Court by appointment with a unanimous vote of the Supreme Court in 2005.

"I love being a judge because it has allowed me to help so many people from so many different walks of life throughout Southern Illinois," McGlynn said. "I believe justice is the foundation of a healthy community. If people feel they can't get a fair shake, they begin to have contempt for the law in general. When companies feel they can't get a fair shake they take their business -and the jobs they create -somewhere else."

City of Evanston decriminalizes pot

It's no longer a crime to be caught smoking pot in Evanston, Illinois, just north of Chicago.  Monday night the city council unanimously decriminalized cannabis possession. Now if caught with small amounts of pot, offenders will only get fined, similar to speeding offenses.

If a person is found in possession of 10 grams or less of marijuana, police can fine him or her $50 to $500. Before, if a person possessed between 2.5 and 10 grams, one would face six months in jail and/or up to a $1,500 fine. Evanston's mayor said decriminalizes pot will increase employment in the area.

Video: Chuck Woolery - Let's Tax The Amish

Roskam Hosts "Exports Mean Jobs Forum" for Chicago-area Business Leaders

from Congressman Peter Roskam's office

CHICAGO - Today, Rep. Peter Roskam (IL-06) hosted the Exports Mean Jobs Forum in Chicago for over 100 area business people. Participants heard featured remarks about the value of trade and specifically the three new pro-export trade agreements from Rep. Roskam, House Majority Whip Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA-22), Rep. Bob Dold (IL-10), and Tom Downey, Senior Vice President of Communications, The Boeing Company. The event was held at the Illinois Institute of Technology's Stuart School of Business.  

Walsh announces he's lactose 'price' intolerant

Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-8) recently introduced the ‘Dairy Deregulation Act’ to phase out the government's milk price setting regime, called the "Federal Milk Marketing Orders (FMMO)". This program was established in pre-refrigeration 1937 to guarantee that there were no shortages of milk across the country. Today 74 years later, milk is the only major agricultural product with government-mandated prices that differ according to product use.

Walsh stated: “Most taxpayers are unaware that they are paying for their milk twice. Currently American families are taxed to pay for a federal program that directly increases the cost of their milk. This is outrageous. Innocent taxpayers are being taken advantage of on a daily basis by another out-dated, pointless government program.

CME-Sears deal at "temporary impasse"

"We're at a temporary impasse," State Rep. John Bradley (D) told Illinois House colleagues Tuesday night concerning a deal providing tax breaks to keep the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Sears from leaving the area.  Bradley went on to say the Illinois House overwhelmingly rejecting the Senate's version of the CME/Sears deal would likely not be settled until after the first of the year.

CME and Sears have threatened to decide whether to bite the bullet of the higher corporate taxes the Illinois legislature passed last January or accept alluring offers from neighboring states.

GOP Candidates' debate on security very frustrating

by Fran Eaton

Chances are one in 10 that you watched the Republican presidential debate last week in Washington, D.C., where the eight candidates responded to audience questions about foreign policy and homeland security.

I was fortunate enough to watch the debate, sitting among Capitol-covering media. To my right, an Associated Press reporter submitted stories, and to my left, a Talking Points Memo staffer blogged.

Chicago Bears' Hanie works with FBI on Child ID program

Positive or if it's intrusive?  What do you think?

Robert D. Grant, Special Agent in Charge of the Chicago office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI,) was joined today by Caleb Hanie of the Chicago Bears Football Club in unveiling a new digital version of the paper child ID kit as distributed by the National Child ID Program (NCIDP).