Governor Pat Quinn Authorizes Grafton Township Hall-Senior Center

The following language was signed into law (Senate Bill 3010) by Governor Pat Quinn on Thursday. July 29th: “Notwithstanding any provision of this Section to the contrary, any township may, by ordinance or resolution, build, purchase, or lease a township … Continue reading

Republicans Hold Play Day Fundraiser

Yesterday was one of the biggest fundraisers for the McHenry County Republican Central Committee. My guess is that parking along the road during previous golf outings has led to the “No Parking” signs there now. Time was that late comers … Continue reading

Franks Ranked 45% by Business Group

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce has released its latest legislative rankings and State Representative Jack Franks (D-Marengo) has come up with the lowest score. 45% is what McHenry County’s Democrat got. Pretty liberal. But Franks always has had support from … Continue reading

Bicyclists Get Special “Share the Road” License Plate, “Choose Life” License Plate Supporters Get Shaft from Jack Franks

Why not? I saw one from another state on our vacation in June, but the photo didn’t turn out. July 5th, Governor Pat Quinn signed a bill to allow “Share the Road” license plates. A minimum of 1,000 would have … Continue reading

Beaubien, Duffy, Franks and Tryon Vote Against Stripping Employee Performance Standards from Freedom of Information Act

Yesterday I frothed about our local very junior college’s playing games with the Freedom of Information Act. Two weeks ago I requested the performance evaluations for former McHenry County College President Walt Packard. I was told there was only one, … Continue reading

Legislators Explain Votes on “Township Hall/Senior Center Construction without Referendum” Bill’s Passage – No Grafton Township Implications, Supporters Say

A week ago, I published an article Legislators Dissing Voters about the passage of Senate Bill 3010, a bill that took away the power to approve new township halls and senior centers at the ballot box. As I, a non-lawyer … Continue reading

Legislators Dissing Voters

It has happened time and time again. Uppity voters prevent elected officials from doing something they dearly desire. Or uppity voters punish elected officials and those officials don’t like it. What do the elected officials do? They ask their state … Continue reading

Franks Joins Majority in Defeating Voucher Bill for Poor Chicago Kids

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

Incinerator Boom or Blues

As the Illinois House passed legislation to define the burning of tires in the poverty-stricken Ford Heights as green, renewable energy, an incinerator in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, defaulted on a bond payment of $425,000. The legislative action on Senate Bill 380 … Continue reading

Schools Pull the Wool over 226 Illinois House Eyes

“It’s just a little nothing bill.” I can hear the words coming out of House Sponsor Roger Eddy to colleagues asking privately what the bill was all about. Not that I know Eddy. I just know the process. When you … Continue reading

Mike Tryon’s “Chairman’s Circle” Raises $9,945, Meets for Breakfasts

McHenry County Republican Party Chairman (and State Rep.) Mike Tryon formed a political action committee separate from the Central Committee. I thought you might find the contributors and expenditures of interest. They are included in the PAC’s campaign disclosure filing … Continue reading

Senator Matt Murphy Gains His Senate Republican Leader’s Endorsement

The following press release has been received from the campaign of State Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine). He is running for the lieutenant governor spot on the Republican ticket in the February 2nd primary. He has endorsed gubernatorial candidate Andy McKenna.  … Continue reading

8th District Watch – Joe Walsh Shakes Up Campaign Staff

The Daily Herald blog by Joe Ryan and John Patterson reports that 8th District Republican congressional candidate Joe Walsh has replaced campaign manager Keith Liscio with McHenry County resident Jim Thacker and Sheila Morgan. Thacker made his reputation managing 16th … Continue reading

Pro-Life Endorsement for Zane Seipler for Sheriff, County Board Candidates

Illinois Citizens for Life, a statewide pro-life group, has endorsed Zane Seipler for McHenry County Sheriff. Seipler is challenging incumbent Sheriff Keith Nygren in the February 2nd Republican primary election. The organization is also endorsing candidates for county board. In … Continue reading

Video Slot Machine Vote Tuesday

Leaves are still waiting to be raked this last week that my Village of Lakewood picks them up, so I won’t be in Woodstock for the McHenry County Board meeting vote on video slot machines. Proponents, of course, will describe … Continue reading

Jack Franks Comes Out on Top of "Taxpayer Friends" List

McHenry County State Rep. Jack Franks is the only Democrat who made the “Taxpayer Friends” list of National Taxpayers United of Illinois. He scored 69% on NTU’s Tax Survey, tying with Republicans Sandy Cole, Bill Mitchell,  Ruth Munson, Dennis Reboletti, … Continue reading