Judy Baar Topinka

GOP Lawmaker: Illinois Economy Continues To Deteriorate

Posted 04.12.2012

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-Ill.), standing in for the still recovering U.S. Senator Mark Kirk, on Wednesday delivered a report on the state's financi...

New Website Highlights State's Dismal Financial Situation

Posted 04.03.2012

We all know that the Illinois budget situation is a mess, but llinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka wants us to know just how messy it really is. ...

Report: Tollway Funds Used To Balance State Budget Under Blago

Posted 03.23.2012

A report released Thursday revealed that tens of millions of dollars of revenue taken in by the Illinois Tollway were illegally diverted to state coff...

Rahm: Tax Returns Seized From 'Deadbeats' Will Benefit Chicago Youth

Posted 03.07.2012

Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced Monday that revenue seized from state tax returns from so-called "deadbeats and cheaters" who owe the city money will pay...

Is Illinois 'Taxing And Spending Itself Into Oblivion'?

Posted 02.02.2012

One day after Democratic Illinois Governor Pat Quinn delivered his second State of the State address, it would be difficult to find a single state leg...

Report: Governor, State Legislature 'Must Act Now' On Unpaid Bills

Posted 01.30.2012

A budget watchdog group that has repeatedly criticized the state's handling of its finances once again called on lawmakers to do something about Illin...

State Owes $8.5 Billion In Overdue Bills

Posted 01.20.2012

Republican Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka this week delivered more troubling, if not surprising, news concerning the state's financial health....

In Illinois, Bills Get Paid Faster When A Lawmaker Is On Your Side

AP | By JOHN O'CONNOR | Posted 12.20.2011

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- If you plan on doing business with the state of Illinois, you'd better learn to beg – preferably to an influential politici...

Watchdog Group: Despite Cuts, Illinois's Deficit Still Daunting

Posted 11.26.2011

A new report released Monday by the Civic Federation says that, even though the state has made some serious cutbacks and increased its income tax rate...

Illinois GOP Disses Quinn's Borrowing Plan

Posted 10.19.2011

Illinois' four top Republican leaders in Springfield came out strong at Thursday's Republican Day at the State Fair against Democratic Governor Pat Qu...

Critter Beat: Peacock Named 'Fluffy' Reunited With Family & More

The Huffington Post | Joe Erbentraut | Posted 09.11.2011

Our first round-up of animal-related news two weeks ago received so much positive feedback that we've decided to bring the feature back on a semi-regu...

What's On Your Candidate's iPod?

Posted 05.25.2011

These days, it's not enough to know where your candidate stands on the issues. You want to get to know the candidate as a person -- everything from hi...

Rod Blagojevich Trial: Will It Affect Voters In November?

Chicago Public Radio | Posted 05.25.2011

The corruption trial of former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich begins next week. The Chicago Democrat insists he's innocent. Still, the drama is exp...

Big Field Of Republicans Look To Turn Around Party's Fortunes

Daily Herald | Joseph Ryan | Posted 05.25.2011

Even as the economy sputters and calls for tax hikes ring across the state, few apparently want to challenge incumbents in their own political party....

Judy Baar Topinka's Political Comeback Revs Up

Chicago Sun-Times | DAVE MCKINNEY | Posted 05.25.2011

Judy Baar Topinka, once the main face of the Illinois Republican Party, is staging a political comeback after being defeated in the 2006 governor's ra...

Judy Baar Topinka Mulls Political Comeback

Lee Newspapers | Kurt Erickson | Posted 05.25.2011

Former state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka is looking to return to state government. The Riverside Republican is eyeing a run for state comptroller, a p...

Joe Birkett Announces Bid For Attorney General (VIDEO)

Huffington Post | Posted 05.25.2011

DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett is making another bid for Illinois Attorney General. Birkett, a Republican, announced Thursday that he wil...

Patti Blagojevich Kicks Up Political Dust On "I'm A Celebrity," Topinka Bites Back (WATCH)

AP | Posted 05.25.2011

Patti Blagojevich called on a lesson learned from one her husband's political campaigns to help fellow jungle dweller on "I'm a Celebrity ... Get Me O...

Pay To Play: New Man in Springfield

Elizabeth Brackett | Posted 05.25.2011

Elizabeth Brackett

Standing in the governor's office, toe to toe with Blagojevich, Jesse White fumed, "Governor, for whatever you think of [former governor] George Ryan... I've known him for thirty years. He never lied to me once. You've lied to me 15 times in six months."

Judy Baar Topinka May Run Again In 2010

Crain's Chicago Business | Greg Hinz | Posted 05.25.2011

Confirming chatter among GOP insiders, former state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka says she has been asked and is considering running in the 2010 electio...

GOP Chairman: Party Can't Have Another Bitter Primary In 2010

Chicago Tribune | Rick Pearson | Posted 05.25.2011

llinois' Republican chairman acknowledged today that his party's often-bitter 2006 primary for governor "was not constructive" in helping nominee Judy...

Blagojevich Indictment Reaction: Burris, Durbin, Quinn, Rush, GOP Leaders

AP | Posted 05.25.2011

The reactions of leading Illinois politicians to the Blagojevich indictment, as assembled by the AP: CHICAGO -- Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn says it's a s...

Topinka: Voters Deserve Blagojevich

Chicago Public Radio | Rob Wildeboer | Posted 05.25.2011

As the impeachment trial of governor Rod Blagojevich gets underway today in the Illinois Senate we get insights from a politician who's got a special ...

Burris Aided Blagojevich In 2006 Re-Election Campaign

Chicago Tribune | David Kidwell and John Chase | Posted 05.25.2011

Just days after Gov. Rod Blagojevich accepted his party's nod for re-election in 2006, a letter arrived at state Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka's office ...

Blagojevich Charged Lobbyists $10,000 To Meet: Former Rival Topinka

WJBC | Jim Anderson and Eric Stock | Posted 05.25.2011

Former state treasurer Judy Baar Topinka says lobbyists had to pay $10,000 to get to see Governor Blagojevich. Topinka says lobbyists who found the go...