49 Comments - Ahoy - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:16 pm: Thank you for giving us something to keep coming back to. - 47th Ward - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:18 pm: You’re welcome. But it’s because this is consistently the best site for political and government news. Your outstanding coverage, constant updates, accurate reporting and interesting delivery is what drives so much traffic here. So thank you. Plus, this lame duck session is like a mini-Con-Con. It’s not just the income tax debate either. The GA is advancing some of the most sweeping, structural reforms in a generation. If most of this stuff gets enacted, it will forever change state government in Illinois. That’s no exagerration either. Thanks for giving it to me here and saving me the trip to Springfield. - Publius - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:23 pm: No problem, my phone hated me for constantly refreshing your site for information about the tax bill - Because I say so - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:26 pm: I rely heavily on the information from your newsletter and this blog for my personal interest and also for my job. Thanks for providing us with the most up to date, accurate info on Illinois government. - jerry 101 - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:31 pm: No Rich, Thank you. We come back because of the good work that you do. We, your readers, owe you a debt of gratitude. - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:31 pm: Thank you, Rich. Thank you, also, for offering support to us public-sector workers in your recent editorial piece in the Chicago Sun Times. You advocate for compromise yet at the same time you do not approve of wholesale bashing of us. Thank you for pointing out that the CEO of the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago–I’m assuming this is R. Eden Martin–had a whopping salary last year ($15+ million, according to Forbes), and that the Chicago Tribune editorial page has all but given the CCC free rein to scapegoat us. I have your article posted on my wall at work and on a bulletin board. - drew - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:33 pm: Wow, congrats. You’ve earned it. - Irish - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:34 pm: The thanks are from us to you for providing us with a place to go to get the most accurate and up to date information on what is happening in our State, for your insight into that information and for sometimes smacking us in the back of the head when we get a little crazy. - Leave a light on George - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:36 pm: You ain’t seen nothing yet. Wait til Rezko takes the stand this spring! - Ray del Camino - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:39 pm: Go get ‘em, Rich. And remember to give Barton time to get his homework done. - Objective Dem - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:40 pm: I also echo the thank yous. I frequently tell people I know to read your blog if they really want to understand what is happening in the State. Plus they will always be a day or two (or maybe even a week) ahead of the stories in the Trib and Sun Times. - just sayin' - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:44 pm: Good to have a business that’s counter-cyclical to state government. Kudos. - Liandro - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:49 pm: Thanks for giving a site worth coming back to time and again! - amy brennan - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:52 pm: Thank you Rich — we heart you too!! (using my real name because someone keeps using my favorite alias — “just sayin’”!!!) :) - zatoichi - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:53 pm: Thanks goes to you Rich. CapFax = best place for good info and debates to understand the impact of the issues. - Fed up - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:55 pm: Great work Rich. You deserve the page views. - davidh60010 - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:55 pm: Thank you for producing this site and providing a moderated, intelligent forum. It is a beacon of light in these contentious times. - washedmyhands - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:56 pm: …and to you Sir. Where else would I go to figure out whether time gets suspended on the floor of the House or Senate? - Grandson of Man - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:57 pm: Thank you for enforcing civility here and yanking us back into line when we go overboard. This blog is so much better than the Internet message boards, in which people from all sides spew stuff they probably wouldn’t dare say in public. - Davey Boy Smithe - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 12:59 pm: I believe it was the Beachwood Reporter that linked you one day this past April. I’ve been coming on here ever since. I don’t work in IL politics, just a guy from the western suburbs of Chicago, that now lives in Chicago that works at the CBOE. I learn more about our state on here than I would from the local news. - MrJM - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:04 pm: Rich, Thanks go to you for PWNing this beat. Representative democracy needs damn good journalists to keep it viable — and for Illinois politics you’re simply the damn finest. – MrJM - Jack Darin - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:05 pm: Thanks - when do those private briefings start? - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:07 pm: LOL, Jack. - Louis G. Atsaves - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:18 pm: No Thank YOU! I also use your site for quick links on looking up bills, and other matters along with reading the news feeds. Just don’t try to improve the layout again for a while! - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:22 pm: I first became a fan of Capitol Fax about twenty years ago when my father subscribed to it. This is the best place to find out the inside scoop on Illinois politics or we wouldn’t be here. On top of that, we get to argue with some of the most intelligent and/or opinionated people around. Nobody does it better. It’s that simple. - TimB - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:22 pm: Thank You! (I think) for making me a fledgling political junkie. Now, if you’d run a “lame duck” special so I could justify a membership, all would be great!! Seriously, keep up the good work. TimB - Cuban Pilot - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:23 pm: I think many fans of this site could say the following: My favorite website. Well, that is easy, it is Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax, obviously. Rich Miller’s best blog post, probaly, is a tie between, all of them. I do a Rich Miller impression, “ooff and sheesh”. That is pretty much from every blog post about the budget problem. Am I obsessed with capital fax, I don’t know, I think obsessed is a strong word. I think I am a devoted fan. The capital fax is just perfect for me because with one click of a button I can find out about all the corruption and financial problems in Illinois. For instance, lets just say I happen to be in the mood for a story about a rebellous teen livig in a town where dancing is illgal. poof, I get everything I need to know about Aaron Shoock. I check cap fax all day long. My wife said if I keep reading Rich Miller’s capitol fax, I am going to turn into Rich Miller. Fingers crossed. - Just Because - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:25 pm: thank You - Rod - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:30 pm: Really Capitol Fax serves as a check on the rummors that fly about the halls of the General Assembly. I am not surprised at the number of hits. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:40 pm: ==I first became a fan of Capitol Fax about twenty years ago when my father subscribed to it.== LOL - Fan of Cap Fax - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:43 pm: You’re the best, most handsome Captain of Facts out there. My sincere thanks to you, Rich Miller! - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:43 pm: Yeah, that was a little troubling, Anonymous. - Anonymous - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:45 pm: Anonymous to Anonymous He really did. It came as a fax and he’d always save it so I could read it. - Bill - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:46 pm: Sorry, that was me. Here’s another laugher. == most handsome Captain of Facts out there== It must be the tux. lol - 10th Indy - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:46 pm: When my NJ nephew decided to pick the IL Senate race to follow for his AP History project I told him this site would be his best resource. The kid earned an A. Thanks Rich. - Rich Miller - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:47 pm: You gotta admit, Bill, I did look awful good in that tux last night. Or, as good as a guy who looks like me can look. - Lefty Lefty - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:49 pm: I don’t post much lately but I’m still lurking around. This site is indispensable if you want to understand what’s going on in Illinois politics. You’re a tribute to your profession, Mr. Miller. - Jake From Elwood - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:51 pm: Congrats Rich. My friends in low places say you are one of the hardest working guys in Springfield. Given your competition, I am not sure how much of a compliment that really is but keep it up. - wordslinger - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 1:58 pm: The product is exceptional, the viewpoints are stimulating and the rules of engagement are civilized. Splendid behavior. - Secret Square - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 2:37 pm: This is my one-stop shop for all state news. I learn more in a few minutes here than I do from hours of watching talking heads on TV. It’s an honor to be able to join in the discussion too. Thank YOU, Rich - collar observer - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 3:16 pm: No - THANK YOU! - Sgt Schultz - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 4:17 pm: Thank you, Rich, for educating those of us who know nothing about politics but find the process both facinating and infuriating. While you can limit the majority of your content to subscribers, you remain generous to little folk like me, and for that I am incredibly grateful. - Wensicia - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 4:51 pm: I’ve only been here a few months, but I think it’s a great blog, very informative. And the quality of the comments from your readers is exceptional. As are the blog owner’s. - Boone Logan Square - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 5:15 pm: People know where to go when there’s big state news afoot. Thanks for the good work. - last bureaucrat standing - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 6:01 pm: Rich, honestly your’s is the only site where timely and important information is available. You are the value proposition. - Stephanie - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 6:38 pm: Your blog is the best site for the most authoritative, relevant, current, and reliable political news and insight! More than once, I’ve encouraged my Facebook friends to follow your blog for the latest news. Thank you for keeping us abreast of Illinois political news! - Just The Way It Is One - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 7:45 pm: As I myself have said more than once before, Thank YOU Rich…this is always a great, insightful, informative, and, yes, even fun blog to participate in at times, especially if one is even mildly interested in Illinois politics and/or government, which they should be if they live in our (the best in the U.S. on the whole) State! And in a healthy democracy, (and I’m sure our Founding Fathers would agree that) when it comes to the citizenry gaining relevant information and voicing varied opinions, the more the merrier!!! - Javor - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 7:52 pm: Rich you have provided years worth of insight about Illinois politics, you were my fax client when these were actually being FAXED…That was about a decade ago, you’re no longer my client, rather I’m yours, and a happy one. Thanks and keep up the great reporting. - amalia - Tuesday, Jan 11, 11 @ 11:28 pm: ugh, how did I miss this thread! Rich, this blog is a source of information, a way to work out thoughts, and I believe that decision makers read and are provided with paths for action that they may not develop themselves. Also, it’s just plain cathartic. thanks so much for doing this work for Illinois and for all of us. Sorry, comments for this post are now closed.