Why the U.S. Attorney Wants to Keep George Ryan in Jail

This is a long one and for that I apologize. But I want to have the basics of the U.S. Attorney’s case against former Governor George Ryan on McHenry County Blog and this seemed a good way to put it … Continue reading

Looks as if Libertarians Will Be on Fall Ballot

An email from the Illinois Libertarian Party appears below: Illinois Libertarian Party Statewide Slate Survives Challenge, Seems to Have 33,545 Valid Signatures The Libertarian Party statewide slate of candidates in Illinois submitted approximately 45,000 signatures at the end of June, … Continue reading

Manzullo Gets Letter Saying Thomson Supermax on Way, Whether or Not Gitmo Prisoners Transferred

16th District Congressman Don Manzullo received an encouraging letter yesterday, March 18th. Assistant Attorney General Ronald Weich wrote, “With respect to your suggestion to move forward whether (or not) detainees from Guantanamo are moved there, the President has directed the … Continue reading

Thoughts About the Governor’s Race

If you looked at the front page of the Chicago Tribune Sunday, you saw five candidates on top of the page. They are ones that the Tribune’s poll found leading in both the Democratic and Republican Party primaries. It was … Continue reading

Jack Franks to Enter Pat Quinn Revolving Prison Door Political Scandal

Never let it be said that McHenry County’s State Representative Jack Franks (D-Marengo) doesn’t have a good eye for what will attract media attention. Think of his four-year fight to get cheaper prescription drugs for seniors. Think of his many … Continue reading

Pam Althoff Still Flirting with Voting for an Income Tax Hike

McHenry County Blog relayed the Sunday before last that Jeff Berkowitz had discovered that McHenry County’s State Senator Pam Althoff was a weak link in the Republican opposition to the Democrats’ income proposed 50% tax hike. Now, Pete Gonigam’s First … Continue reading

"Lawmaker Attacks Road-Fund Formula"

That’s the headline of Tribune reporter Jon Hilkevitch’s article about Chicago State Senator Martin Sandoval’s press conference taking on the disproportionately low proportion share of Motor Fuel Taxes that the Chicago metropolitan area has been getting since 1999. As I … Continue reading

MCC Student Peace Group Sponsoring Death Penalty Forum

This press release tells of an April 8th meeting at McHenry County College on the death penalty sponsored by the McHenry County College Student Peach Action Network: MCC STUDENT PEACE GROUP TO HOST DEATH PENALTY FORUM The McHenry County College … Continue reading

Recreating the Repealed Personal Property Tax – Part 1

First it was Republican Governor George Ryan who decided that increasing drivers license fees was the way to finance his Illinois FIRST in 1989. I didn’t support that bill because it took about 56% of its money from the six-county … Continue reading

Bear Steans’ Nick Hurtgen Pleads Guilty

One of former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson’s “Wunderkinds” has plead guilty to federal charges concerning the Edwards Hospital Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board scandal. Nicholas Hurtgen, who at the time was Managing Director of the Chicago office of Bear Stearns, … Continue reading