Roland Burris Ties for Last in Pension Fund Board Election

Elected officials can’t seem to retire. The Illinois General Assembly Retirement System had an election of members recently to fill a board vacancy. All receiving pensions from the system were eligible to vote. The winner was former State Rep. and … Continue reading

Mike Skala Decides to Serve on Both Huntley School and County Board Despite “Incompatabilty”

I missed the Northwest Herald article about newly-elected McHenry County Board member Mike Skala deciding to stay on the Huntley District 158 School Board until after a suit with contractors is settled. And, it seems that former McHenry County College … Continue reading

Pension Winners in the General Assembly Retirement System

Jim Tobin’s National Taxpayers United of Illinois has revealed the top 50 pensions for the General Assembly Retirement Fund. It doesn’t have many pensioners, but the legislative retirement fund has some big payouts. Part of the reason is that statewide … Continue reading

Lecturing on Ethical Behavior in Illinois – Part 1

Most of us would start chuckling or laughing if someone told us a current Illinois politician was lecturing people about ethics. Illinois is synonymous with corruption.  On average a Chicago alderman gets convicted about every year (literally). So while there … Continue reading

Government Summarizes the Rod Blagojevich Indictment Update

Here is a summary of the changes in the government’s indictment changes in its case against impeached Governor Rod Blagojevich. They were presented to Judge James Zagel today. Discussion. At the status hearing held on December 16, 2009, the Court … Continue reading

The Night the Lights Went Out While Jason Plummer Was Speaking

Last night at Crystal Lake’s 1776 restaurant will be a night that Jason Plummer, an aggressive Downstate candidate for lieutenant governor, will remember forever. How do I know? Because I’ve been on the same route he took twice, once in … Continue reading

Chicago Tribune – Six Days Late on ACORN, Seven, If You Count Internet Stories

I read the Chicago Tribune pretty thoroughly. This week after the Fox News expose on community organizing group ACORN Friday, a week ago, I was watching for stories. The TEA Party folks had ACORN’s number. You can see that from … Continue reading

"Bring on the Gitmo Terrorists"

That’s what former Illinois State Representative Roscoe Cunningham says in a front page letter to United States Senator Roland Burris in his Sumner Press. Cunningham, with whom I served in the 1970’s before he, like I, caught congressional fever, continually … Continue reading