Read the following September 28, 2018, 1:58 PM email from Regional Superintendent of Schools Leslie Schermerhorn to McHenry County Board members and tell me that McHenry County Board member Jack Franks doesn’t have an anger control problem: Happy Friday County … Continue reading
Category Archives: James Meeks
Contributions from the Chicago Teachers Union are next in line. Again, thanks to commenter Mark for organizing the data. The following article and those linked to it may be of interest to those wishing to link legislative votes with special … Continue reading
Since moving to Illinois in 1958, I’ve been following Chicago schools. The first reason was because Benjamin Willis, my mother’s Queen Anne’s County School Superintendent, was then in charge of the Chicago Schools. Those were the days when trailers were … Continue reading
Well, actually, a TV story. This time it is on his favorite station–Fox Channel 32. Franks says that the State Board of Education will not reopen its Superintendent’s contract, even though Dr. Tony Smith told Franks’ committee that he was … Continue reading
A press release from Governor-Elect Bruce Rauner: Rauner Announces First Batch of Appointments Governor-elect Bruce Rauner announced today the first in a series of cabinet secretary, agency director and boards and commissions appointments. Today’s appointments cover the Department of Transportation, … Continue reading
Turnberry Country Club was the location of Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner’s introduction to the business community of McHenry County. The Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce’s Executive Director Gary Reece made a glowing introduction: “The first time I saw this … Continue reading
The fund raiser that I enjoy most each year is the Family PAC Cruise. This year’s is July 30th, a Tuesday night. The Rev. and former State Senator James Meeks will be the guest of honor. The invitation is below: … Continue reading
Just happened to look at the campaign disclosure page of unopposed Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks and found that the Chicago Teachers Union has donated $1,500. It may just be coincidence that Franks got such a large contribution from Chicago … Continue reading
Regular readers may remember my extreme disappointment with liberal Democrat Jack Franks’ vote to sentence poorly-educated Chicago children to more of the same. Chicago Pastor and State Senator James Meeks got a bill through the State Senate that would have … Continue reading
Michael Medved interviewed Steven Brill today about his new book, “Class Warfare.” He is a big proponent of performance pay for teachers. Brill cited a school building in Harlem in which half was occupied by a regular public school and … Continue reading
The next mailing from Democrat Jack Franks touts his ability to “stand up to special interests and the COURAGE to vote against EVERY job-killing tax and fee increase.” Too bad he didn’t have the courage to stand up for Chicago … Continue reading
During the 1970’s State Rep. Harold Washington managed to form a coalition with suburban Republicans like myself over the issue of how Chicago Park District money was spent. He discovered that more was spent in white than in black areas … Continue reading
Teachers unions want legislators who are automatic votes for what they want, when they really want it. Jacks Franks is one of those automatic votes for the Illinois teachers unions. For ten years he has tried hiding this position. Where? … Continue reading
The Rev. and State Senator James Meeks’ voucher bill (Senate Bill 2494 ) to allow Chicago Public School students from failing and overcrowded schools to attend the private school of their parents’ choice with a relatively small portion of the … Continue reading
Senate Bill 2494 went down to a preliminary defeat Wednesday, twelve votes short of the 60 needed. One of the missing votes was teacher union-supported Democrat State Rep. Jack Franks. No voting for anything involving school choice of something like … Continue reading
It has taken a long time for the Reverend and State Senator James Meeks to gain the courage to tell the truth about Chicago schools and point out paths to improving student performance. Knowing the influence of Chicago school teachers, … Continue reading
Seeing the above editorial in the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday was the first I knew that there was a movement to ban video slot machines in unincorporated Cook County. The editorial pointed out, “The Chicago Outfit is on record as embracing … Continue reading
Apparently I missed some tension while having dinner at the Crystal Lake Country Club. I admit to raising the body temperatures of some club members by asking if they were ready to pay a 6.25% state sales tax on their … Continue reading
Yesterday I wrote more stories about Springfield than I ever have before in one day. I covered Mike Tryon’s campaign sign bill, Jack Franks’ recall constitutional amendment and the John Cullerton/James Meeks’ 67% income tax hike/ services sales tax imposition … Continue reading
A 50% income tax hike was not high enough. Slot machines in every convenience store and tavern wouldn’t tempt enough people. Senate Democrats caved into the Rev. and Senator James Meeks’ goal and voted 31-27-1 to raise income tax rates … Continue reading