David Stieper Sends Second Mailing

Republican McHenry County Board District 1 hopeful has sent out his second mailing. The first featured a “gravy train” in which he promised not to sign up for the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund pension (which his running mate Andrew Gasser … Continue reading

McHenry County Board Compensation, Including Retirement Benefits

When I looked at the annual compensation provided to McHenry County Board members made readily available by county government, I noticed that pensions and Social Security were not included. Health insurance was included in the figures, but not the taxpayer-financed … Continue reading

Zane Seipler’s Back Pay, etc.

Dated August 11th, with a stamped July 31st signature from Sheriff Keith Nygren, the man who fired him, a settlement agreement has authorized the payment for the time Zane Seipler was off work, plus medical expenses that would have been … Continue reading

Tryon Reports on Busy Legislative Week including Health Benefit Revision for Retired State Employees

An email from Mike Tryon: Friends, It is our busiest time of the year in Springfield, and I would like to provide you with an update of the key items that were discussed and/or voted on last week: State Retiree … Continue reading

2% Pay Raise for County Highway Workers, Health Benefit Sharing Going Up

Here’s what the recommendation for wages in the contract that is on the agenda toimposed on McHenry County Department of Transportation union employees at Tuesday’s Board meeting: WAGES 1. Effective December 1, 2011, wage rates will increase by 2% (with … Continue reading

Pensions And Health Beneifts Show Up in DuPage County Board Races

In a post, the candidate reveals, “There are now EIGHT Republican candidates in THREE separate districts throughout DuPage County that publicaly support this initiative led by Rafael Rivadeneira for DuPage County Board. “The YouTube pitch from DuPage count Board candidate … Continue reading

MCC None-Faculty Staff 3-Year Contract Summary Released, 2-2.25% Salary Hikes, 14.3-15% Health Care Sharing

CORRECTION When this article was posted, I misread the document below.  It does not apply to McHenry County College faculty.  It applies to the non-certified staff. I have made the corrections. = = = = = Unlike almost all local … Continue reading

Salary and Fringe Benefits for McHenry County Officials Elected Next Year

Here’s what McHenry County Board members will have before them about salaries that they or their successors will earn starting after next fall’s elections: A resolution calls for “compensation beginning December 2012 and fringe benefit options are hereby approved for … Continue reading

Walsh Praises 11th Appeals Court for Knocking Down Individual Health Insurance Purchase Mandate

A press release from Congressman Joe Walsh: Rep. Walsh Issues Statement on 11th Circuit Court’s Obamacare Decision “This is why you do not pass legislation to find out what’s in it.” WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Joe Walsh (IL-08) praised the … Continue reading

Biggest McHenry County Townships Health Care Costs Reported by Daily Herald

The Daily Herald’s Jake Griffin did a piece looking at health insurance costs for major townships in the suburbs. There are often pension benefits as well, as the Rockford Register-Star found. There were four townships examined in McHenry County: Algonquin … Continue reading

CNN Features Joe Walsh’s Refusal of Congressional Health Care Benefits

I first noticed that Congressman Joe Walsh was getting national coverage on his refusal to accept a typical employee fringe benefit—subsidized health insurance—on page 2 of the Chicago Sun-Times in a Scripps Howard News Service article. I figure it could … Continue reading

Sensing an Issue If Jack Franks Challenges Joe Walsh for Congress – Part 1

The Chicago Sun-Times focused in on Congressional health insurance on page of its Sunday edition. It wasn’t a locally written article, however, by one by Bill Straub of the Scripps Howard News Service. It seems congressional Democrats, I an attempt … Continue reading