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* Straight Party Voting Dead for This Year

- “I’m really distressed about the high price of gasoline. I want to make sure that if gas prices are going up, it’s because of things we have no control over, not that some of these gas companies are out to take advantage of a situation. I want the public to know somebody is riding herd on this situation.”

- U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood on March 5, 2003. Gas rose to a state average $1.72 a gallon, up 53 cents from the previous year.

* If Rush Retires, Many Are Ready

* Jim Thompson: CS-T editorial makes case for executive clemency for Ryan

* Central Illinois Gazette

Rick Winkel was one of a small minority of Senate Republicans to go along with a $10 billion bond sale proposed by the governor in 2003. But he says today that he would not do it again.

* One plan to fix state’s debt: Get workers to give back

The organizations sent a letter to the governor saying negotiations with state government’s major unions provide the opportunity to scale back pension increases and order new employer contributions for health insurance.

* Read the letter

* State funding for UI included in shaky budget

* Monroe County eyes referendum on tax to pay for levee upgrades

* State’s stance on silence makes no sense

* State says mental heath check system ready to go

* Sen. Jacobs should check his shoe

On May 8 he was quoted thus: “Frankly, if you don’t want politicians selling jobs and you don’t want politicians carrying plastic bags to the Governor’s Mansion full of cash, then you’ve got to pay them.”

* Mike Tryon Tries to Boost Name Identification

* Harmon, Froehlich Bill Provides DuPage Candidates With Equal Ballot Access

* New law may leave some seeing their glass half empty

* Bernard Schoenburg: Ex-state rep fined in ethics panel’s 1st completed case

* We’re mired in standoffs

* Chicago tries to ease traffic mess around train stations

* He zones. She sells. And it’s legal.

* Cook County Board President Todd Stroger names new chief of staff

* Feds raid union boss’ farm

* Possible Fermilab cuts could have major impact

* City Desk: Rep. Peter Roskam

posted by Kevin Fanning
Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 6:18 am

Comments

hmmm, I didn’t see anything in those nice little charts ‘in the letter’ that explained why pension cost is so high. It’s one thing to ’show the cost’, but now where is the ‘why’ the state owes such high amounts. Raid the funds and borrow against them, then blame the worker for the problem?

Comment by Princeville Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 8:34 am
The Monroe County levee issue is a direct result of the mass transit bailout last year. Pandora’s Box is now open: Allowing ‘temporary’ sales tax hikes to pay for ongoing issues will soon become as common as TIFs are now. At least Monroe County is asking voters their opinion; St. Clair and Madison are ready to declare the ‘emergency’ and start the taxing.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 8:47 am
I’m sure it’s just coincidence…but Monroe is Republican leaning while Madison/St. Clair are notoriously Democratic.

Comment by Vote Quimby! Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 8:47 am
If George Ryan’s medical issues are related strictly to diabetes, I would like to point out that there are millions of people afflicted with this disease who are not in imminent danger of death. This is simply a case of an advocate making he strongest case possible to allow a client to evade the consequences of his actions. Nice try Mr. Thompson

Perhaps Jim Thompson could stand in for George Ryan to finish out his term of incarceration. That would be a fair trade.

At least he would do less damage to the State of Illinois behind bars. (e.g. Sports Authority still trying to acquire Wrigley Field)

Comment by Plutocrat03 Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 9:30 am
Re: Jacobs Should Check His Shoe Story–Barb Ickes really hit the nail on the head when she said that Jacobs “borrows a page from his father’s political playbook and shoots from the hip, he often hits his own foot. He comes off as arrogant and condescending, and the difference between father and son never has been as evident as it has during the past month.”

I applaud her honesty and her bravery for telling it like it is. Mr Jacobs is a an embarrasment to all of his constituents and to the General Assembly.

Comment by Just a Citizen Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 11:24 am
Senator Jacobs and his Moline office were a big help to me a while back. I am a constituent.

If you knew Ms. Ickes, you would know what a true ambarrassment is.

Comment by Barb Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 2:02 pm
How do the authors determine which obligations are “unfunded” vs. which ones are “funded?” That seems to be a question of priorities — you could as well say the obligations are funded and the daily operations are unfunded or any combination.

Comment by NoGiftsPlease Monday, Jun 2, 08 @ 6:15 pm