This part of Tribune columnist John Kass’ Golden Moutza of the Month piece might interest local readers when put into juxtaposition with with what State Rep. Jack Franks did years ago: “Kifowit the Nitwit deserves a huge moutza!” said Sheila Kelly … Continue reading
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
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
How would you like to live in Marengo and have your grade school board members ask whether you would allow them to increase part of your tax bill by 3¾ times? Forever. That’s the way I read the language on … Continue reading
Year after year, when the choice came down to pump more money into State Aid to Education or pay pay the state’s share of pension payments, teacher unions took the money and ran. As far back as the 1970’s, current … Continue reading
I was more than fed up with the way the McHenry County Conservation District had borrowed $39 million without asking for permission at the ballot box after Lee Daniels and Pate Philip passed the tax hiking bill numbered Senate Bill … Continue reading
Without early voting totals folded into the results, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by one percentage point. After adding those early votes in, Obama’s lead leaped to 5.3 percentage points: 51.75% to 46.45%. House Speaker Mike Madigan will have … Continue reading
Without early voting totals folded into the results, Barack Obama was leading John McCain by one percentage point. After adding those early votes in, Obama’s lead leaped to 5.3 percentage points: 51.75% to 46.45%. House Speaker Mike Madigan will have … Continue reading
The Associated Press highlighted the well-funded Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund yesterday. You know why it has enough resources to pay the pensions local government employees have earned? One reason is that forty-some years ago, it required participating governments like McHenry … Continue reading
The Associated Press highlighted the well-funded Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund yesterday. You know why it has enough resources to pay the pensions local government employees have earned? One reason is that forty-some years ago, it required participating governments like McHenry … Continue reading
Last week the Chicago Sun-Times ran a story about how a large proportion of truck drivers probably have sleep apnea. (Sorry, I can’t find it for a link.) It’s a condition I have and, boy, can I relate to the … Continue reading
Last week the Chicago Sun-Times ran a story about how a large proportion of truck drivers probably have sleep apnea. (Sorry, I can’t find it for a link.) It’s a condition I have and, boy, can I relate to the … Continue reading
The Federal Bureau of Prisons web site reports that Michael Tristano is scheduled to be released from Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on July 14th. Tristano was chief of staff for long-time Republican House Leader Lee Daniels. If you are interested … Continue reading
The Federal Bureau of Prisons web site reports that Michael Tristano is scheduled to be released from Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center on July 14th. Tristano was chief of staff for long-time Republican House Leader Lee Daniels. If you are interested … Continue reading
It’s certainly not unusual for tax dollars to be used to lobby Illinois legislators. Former legislators, whether that way through retirement or ouster, often get contracts from local tax districts to influence their former colleagues. The Regional Transportation Authority, now … Continue reading
It’s certainly not unusual for tax dollars to be used to lobby Illinois legislators. Former legislators, whether that way through retirement or ouster, often get contracts from local tax districts to influence their former colleagues. The Regional Transportation Authority, now … Continue reading
Last April, “The Wrong Lizard,” was posted on a blog called “Thoughts of a Regular Guy.” Here’s the beginning, but I would encourage you to read the application to Illinois politics. Sunday, April 02, 2006 The Wrong Lizard In … Continue reading
House Republican Minority Leader (and once Speaker) Lee Daniels’ chief of staff Mike Tristano is enjoying his last days of freedom this year. It’s off to Federal prison at the end of the month–but not for long. Assuming good behavior—and … Continue reading
There is so little in the plea agreement of Michael Tristano. Tristano’s 13-page plea agreement reveals almost nothing, except the promise of things to come. Tristano agreed to cooperate fully with federal authorities. What doors will Tristano unlock? What does … Continue reading
