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* Illinoize: The ‘bright side’ of the overtime session

* Editorial: Woe is the poor, overworked state politician

* Lawmakers finalizing deal on electric rate relief

* Approved bill could save money on energy costs

* Electric rate deal said to be close

* Editorial: Funding for the RTA with firm conditions

* New rules adopted for malpractice cases

Doctors saw their insurance premiums skyrocket just a few years ago, and dozens of physicians closed shop in the area. Insurance companies readily blamed the aggressive Metro East trial bar. Many lawyers, however, still contend that the courts were never at fault. Instead, they say, greedy corporations were simply looking for a scapegoat to justify their unfair rate hikes during tough economic times.

* Campaign reformers targeting Illinios

* WurfWhile: GOP Mayor Kevin Burns forming 14th Congressional District exploratory committee; more here

* Tribune Editorial: The drip, drip, drip on Obama

* Obama calls memo about India ’stupid’

* County’s health system faces an ax

Critics have seized on his decisions that involve closing 10 community-based clinics, shrinking specialty departments and focusing on urgent care services tied to the system’s three hospitals. Dr. Quentin Young, who chaired Stroger’s health-care transition team, said Simon’s reduction in primary and preventive care is costing the county patients and staff. “If you want to be a huge ER, he did it,” Young said.

* Opinion: Cook Co. joining city as immigrant haven?

* Chicago Public Radio: Doctors hitting the exits at Cook Co. hospital

* Daley stands pat on environment

* Southern Illinois’ Rend Lake piling up honors

posted by Paul Richardson
Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 7:40 am

Comments

rend lake honors? GIVE ME A BREAK. What a dump. Either the resort/conference center (?) has undergone a HUGE transformation, or they are trying to turn a pigs ear into a silk purse by creating awards and honors to make themselves feel good

Comment by The Horse Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 8:02 am
Kevin Burns (Mayor of Geneva) is considering a run for Congress in the 14th District. Does he plan to run as a Republican or a Democrat?
He endorsed a Democrat in a countywide race and is pro choice, pro gun control.
He is probably running as a Democrat.

Comment by Earl Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 8:16 am
The issue with Rend Lake (and to a greater degree Carlyle Lake) is the numerous restrictions the Corps of Engineers have placed upon development around those lakes. They really could be engines of economic development if the Corps would allow more homes and businesses to sprout along the shores.

As they are, however, they are wonderful natural resources set in areas that have more than their share of natural resources. An easing of development restrictions would make them so much more.

Comment by Fan of the Game Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 8:20 am
Rend Lake would be ok if there were any fish in it, or maybe there are and they just don’t like Chicago worms.

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 9:05 am
Given that the Chicago metropolitan area has multiple hospitals and clinic systems (as I sit here in my near West suburb I can think of 7 within 10 miles, one of those four blocks away,
and four of the seven very highly rated) I wonder why we need a public hospital in Chicago at all.

Cook County Hospital no longer sits in the middle of an impoverished West side population. The West side hospital corridor has gentrified. Most people couldn’t afford to live near CCH. Patients come to CCH from habit, even though they have insurance which would allow them to be treated in many other hospitals in the city, or because they are illegal and think it’s their only option (it isn’t) or from other counties who don’t bother to fund a public health hospital.

It would make far more sense to sell it to one of the other mega-hospital systems in the area than continue to shower hundreds of millions on patronage and waste. Despite all the recent news accounts, the hospital’s billing system still fails to bill many patients with insurance. And patronage continues apace, with acres of bureaucrats (who do not provide medical care) consuming hundreds of millions a year in taxpayer dollars.

Remember, the poor already have Medicaid. They have choices. The uninsured would be better served in terms of quality of care if those billions were transferred to the private sector, with expectations of service attached.

At least the billions that we pay into CCH would go for somebody’s medical care instead of for propping up a huge Democratic patronage bureaucracy, as is the case now. The docs and nurses may be leaving, but the bureaucracy is growing in cost and numbers.

Comment by Cassandra Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 9:12 am
As an Obama backer I’m very upset that his campaign does not follow the announcement statement that Obama stated it would not be a dirty traditional campaign.
There are many hard working individuals from India that have come to America and have advance. Now, the Senator has taken a page from the Bob Flider campaign blasting away at India.
Once again Obama proves he is human and not the great hope of change. He is still better than H. Clinton.

Comment by decaturboy Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 9:27 am
Cassie,
There is no such place as Cook County Hospital. You must be talking about John Stroger Hospital!

Comment by Bill Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 10:45 am
Earl - nice post Senator. From what I know of Kevin Burns he’s going to be a formidable candidate and I think he will beat Lauzen and win the seat.

Comment by Napoleon Has Left The Building Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 10:46 am
It’s nice to see that Kevin McDermott didn’t include Cindy Canary in his story on judicial fundraising reform. Anyone with any knowledge of the state’s political nuances and trends can make the same comments she makes.

Comment by Team Sleep Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 11:24 am
I is interesting to see that the Tribune is trying to polish the image of Sen. Obama that it has created. Sen. Obamais a creature of Illinois and Chicago quid pro quo politics. The fact that the National media is not versed in the the Chicago game of ‘who sent ya’ is not surprising. However the Tribune is fully aware of how the appointment process in Illinois works and has championed him as a paragon of ethics. Sounds like an ethical problem of their own….

As far as Mr. Obama’s use of the word ‘Punjab’ in a recent memo we need to be consistant with how we treat other politicians who make similar gaffes. When Sen Allen extemporaneously used the word ‘Macaca’ at a public appearance, one would have thought that the world had ended and this was used as a tool to attack Sen. Allen for the rest of his campaign. Sen. Obama used is ‘Punjab’ remark in a written statement which should have several layers of vetting before it is released to the press. By my judgement, if it is a purjorative statement, (I do not know the bona fides of the Indian organizations who have asserted this) the it is a more egregious act than Mr. Allen’s because is was deliberate rather than spontaneous and should be treated the same way the matter was treated in 2006.

Comment by Plutocrat03 Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 11:24 am
I don’t think Sen Obama used the word Punjab in a memo, nor did he utter it.

Comment by steve schnorf Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 1:19 pm
Hey Nap, You actually think a mayor with a low profile can win the 14th? Look at the district it goes almost to Iowa. Burns will be crushed. He is obviously doing this for another future office. C’mon, Kevin as a congressman.

Comment by grotberg's spirit Tuesday, Jun 19, 07 @ 3:04 pm