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* Post-Dispatch: In their roughly six months of legislating this year, state lawmakers couldn’t come to an agreement on how to ease the impact of skyrocketing electricity rates, rein in the state’s campaign laws, nor put the state budget on sound long-term footing. But before adjourning for the year last week, they did manage to significantly raise their own pay, maintaining one of the highest legislative salaries in America - and the very highest among similar part-time legislatures.

* Marin: Clout or no clout, rats a real problem

* Steinberg: Mayor Daley constantly touts his support of breast cancer awareness, but city retiree health coverage won’t pay for mammograms

* Press release: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich Announces New Study Shows Illinois Leading The Nation In Health Improvement

* Robert Steele chosen to replace mother

* Commissioner wants to know if Stroger can vote

* Davlin coy about running again - Says he will announce his decision within a week

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 8:37 am

Comments

Well, the cook county voters will stand for Stroger, they will Stand for Blago, they will stand for Steal. These rats will do anything they want and the voters don’t care.

Comment by Wumpus Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 8:51 am
Take a look at this news. Get used to it. With this governor, we will continue to see useless PR stunts issued while Illinois burns down. With this Cook County “leadership”, we will continue to see robber barons enriching themselves at the expense of Chicago’s future. If Daley goes, the last adult in Chicago will let the unaccompanied minors run the show - God save us all!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 10:36 am
Legislators aren’t going to limit their own salaries. That’s why we need tools like binding initative and referendum.

Comment by Squideshi Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 10:37 am
I don’t know how anyone can say that Illinois is leading in Health improvement. It may be for the low income/poverty level individuals and families. But what about the middle-class income providers? Health benefits are being cut at a certain State Agency. Co-Payments for doctor visits, and so have prescriptions have increased. The only people who benefit are those individuals/families in low income areas and in the Chicago-Cook County area. In the long run, the middle-class people of the State of Illinois are paying for this “free” health care services. I’m all for providing health care, but it should be for everyone, no matter who you are or how much your income is. There is one exception, those individuals who are in the upper income bracket of $60,000 or more. There, I’ve said my peace. More later:)

Comment by The Babe Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 3:36 pm
Try looking at the report itself.
http://www.unitedhealthfoundation.org/ahr2006/states/Illinois.html
Whatever you might think of these kinds of ratings, or this system in particular, it doesn’t look real good for Illinois or this administration. We went from 28th last year to 25th this year, with the reasons cited as:
“The prevalence of smoking declined from 22.2 percent to 19.9 percent of the population, the percentage of children in poverty declined from 18.0 percent to 15.6 percent of persons under age 18 and the infant mortality rate declined from 7.2 to 7.0 deaths per 1,000 live births.”

Meanwhile, our high school graduation rate went down and childhood obesity went up despite the best efforts of our education governor and his great plans to get rid of junk food in schools.

Comment by Anon Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 8:14 pm
Bobbie Steele gets a huge pension increase for a couple months of work.
Her son becomes the Commissioner (what do we know about him?)
Todd Stroger gets a vote when he is not a Commissioner.

The election machines did not work. We are to trust that the election is fair.

Taxes are going up and up and up.
More indictments.

IS THIS GOOD?

Comment by Ricky Wednesday, Dec 6, 06 @ 10:13 pm