Page 4 of today’s Chicago Tribune features a story about outgoing State Rep. Barbara Wheeler’s bill to legalize most fireworks. She introduced it on July 3rd and sent out a press release. While it is unlikely that the legislation will … Continue reading
Category Archives: John Cullerton
Dennis Byrne picked up on a comment made by Senate President John Cullerton that I and most readers of the Chicago Tribune missed. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton suggested Thursday that paying down more of the bills would require raising taxes … Continue reading
Friday the Chicago NPR station, WBEZ-FM, interviewed formed Republican Govenror Jim Edgar about the tax hike. The most interesting thing said was Edgar’s comment that current Republican Govenror Bruce Rauner could “have his cake and eat it, too.” I hadn’t … Continue reading
It took fifteen years for my third party suggestion that the problem with Illinois politics was the lack of new legislative leaders to bear fruit. When Jim Tobin and I announced our candidacies for Lt. Governor and Governor on the … Continue reading
A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney: House Committee Advances Cullerton-McSweeney Bill to Promote Local Government Consolidation Springfield, IL…The Illinois House Counties and Townships Committee today approved a proposal to help reduce the number of units of local government … Continue reading
John McCarron is a part-time columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Nice enough fellow, but, based on his columns, I doubt he would object to my labeling him as a “liberal.” McCarron has come up with a suggestion that will make … Continue reading
Thursday, the Senate Executive Committee approved by a 17-0 vote State Rep. Jack Franks government consolidation bill. A memo from the McHenry County Council of Governments says, HB 229 – the Consolidation Bill that applied to McHenry and Lake Counties … Continue reading
Part of the deal to cope with the gaping hole that Illinois Democrats passed onto Republican Governor Bruce Rauner resulted in the raiding of various earmarked funds. The Road Fund was one of them. The Democrats have raided it repeatedly … Continue reading
Bruce Rauner has released eleven pages of suggestions for reforming state government: His ten “key reforms” include: Making government spending more transparent and accountable. Ending the shuttle service and selling state planes. Eliminating political slush funds. I’ll take no salary and … Continue reading
ABC Channel 7 is reporting a bill that would require Congressmen to fly coach. How about Illinois State Reps. and Senators? They would have little choice out of Springfield’s Capitol Airport, but I doubt any use it. Instead the legislative … Continue reading
A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy: Duffy Bills Blocked in Senate SPRINGFIELD – A number of legislative measures sponsored by State Senator Dan Duffy (R-Lake Barrington) intended to make government more efficient, transparent, and effective have been blocked … Continue reading
I’ve been to a lot of Republican Party functions since I came back from Washington to run for McHenry County Treasurer in the spring of 1966. The meeting at the Woodstock VFW Thursday night, however, had more energy than any … Continue reading
Read what I have enlarged on the front page of the Chicago Sun-Times today: The emphasized part of the front page says, “Madigan rips ‘lack of leadership’” But the media has steadfastly ignored the role that House Speaker Mike Madigan … Continue reading
Chicago Sun-Times reporter Dave McKinney was following statewide legislative results while I was looking at the McHenry County Board. The short of it is that the legislative maps worked as well or better than did the Congressional maps. Losing Joe … Continue reading
The annual Pro-Life Pig Roast was held again at Irene Napier’s farm on Valley View Road. There was a goodly crowd of supporters of the Pro-Life position. Old friends renewed acquaintances. Candidates from Lake courted voters. Lake County Republican Bob … Continue reading
A press release from State Senator Dan Duffy: On the last night of legislative session in Springfield, when the clock was ticking towards midnight, President Cullerton called his “pension reform” bill for a vote. President Cullerton’s pension reform bill didn’t … Continue reading
State Senator Dan Duffy, who spoke forcefully against the Democrats 67% income tax hike bill, has issued the following statement in which he asks people to email House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton. The statement follows: “In … Continue reading
30-29-0. That was the vote in the Illinois State Senate at about 1:20 AM. Senate Bill 2505 passes with the minimum number of votes required. The bill was sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton. The roll call is below: … Continue reading
Again State Rep. Jack Franks is asking Republicans from outside his legislative district to add their names to his supporter list. He seems to have had his people call most, if not all, of McHenry County’s attorneys. And others. Even … Continue reading
Apparently my little article on State Senator Dan Duffy’s impeachment speech and parking space relocation found its way to Springfield. And, from the reaction from Senate President John Cullerton’s office, I guess I didn’t pay enough attention to the coverage … Continue reading