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Illinois General Assembly

LGBT Rights: The Time Is Now

State Rep. Julie Hamos | Posted 10.29.2009 | Chicago

Read More: LGBT Rights, 10th District, Congress, Don't Ask Don't Tell, Matthew Shepard Act, Hate Crimes, Dadt, Religious Freedom, Illinois General Assembly, Matthew Shepard, James Byrd Jr., Chicago News
State Rep. Julie Hamos

I hope the abolition of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" is immediate. But there is still one crucial step that this country needs to take: We must make civil marriage equality the law of the land.

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Video Poker: A Bad Bet for Illinois

Rep. Jack Franks | Posted 10.16.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Video Poker, Gambling, Illinois, Illinois Budget, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois General Assembly, Video Gaming Act, Illinois Gaming Board, Chicago News
Rep. Jack Franks

I've filed a bill to repeal the Video Gaming Act, which allows places licensed to serve alcohol to have up to five video poker machines for patron use -- the equivalent of 60 new casinos in Illinois.

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The Spirit of the Illinois Constitution

Edwin Yohnka | Posted 10.16.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Budget, Chicago West Side, Pat Quinn, Earmarks, Separation of Church and State, Pat Quinn Budget, ACLU of Illinois, Religion and Politics, Chicago News
Edwin Yohnka

Is it really possible that a school whose mission is based on teaching a specific set of religious values can distinguish which parts of the building are religious and which are not?

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Glaring Omissions in Goldstone Report

State Rep. Julie Hamos | Posted 10.01.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Palestine, Susan Rice, United Nations Human Rights Council, Goldstone Report, Illinois General Assembly, Israel Defense Forces, Iran, Israel Gaza Operation, Iran Nuclear Weapons, Chicago News
State Rep. Julie Hamos

Where is the repudiation of Hamas' refusal to recognize the State of Israel? How can Israel negotiate for a two-state solution when one Palestinian partner is bent on its destruction?

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Quinn Not Sure About Signing Ethics Bills

Chicago Tribune | Monique Garcia | Posted 08.27.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Ethics Reform, Illinois Ethics Legislation, Pat Quinn, Illinois General Assembly, Quinn Ethics, Chicago News

Gov. Pat Quinn is reviewing several major ethics proposals that lawmakers passed earlier this year and says he will decide whether to sign them into l...

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Resolution Honoring Michael Jackson Peeves Lawmakers

Chicago Sun-Times | DAVE MCKINNEY | Posted 08.18.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Michael Jackson, Monique Davis, Jack Franks, Illinois Michael Jackson Resolution, Illinois General Assembly, Michael Jackson Tribute, Kevin Joyce, Chicago News

The Illinois House has put itself on record paying homage to the king of pop, but few lawmakers even realized they had feted the late Michael Jackson....

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Burr Oak Cemetery Reform Legislation Falls By The Wayside In Springfield

Chicago Tribune | Ray Long and Rick Pearson | Posted 08.16.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Cemetery Reforms, Illinois Cemetery Regulations, Burr Oak Cemetery, Pat Quinn, Dan Hynes, Burr Oak Legislation, Chicago News

State lawmakers left the State Capitol until the fall without addressing promised reforms of the cemetery industry spurred by the discoveries of disin...

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Quinn To Reveal $1 Billion In Budget Cuts

AP | DEANNA BELLANDI | Posted 08.07.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget, Illinois Budget Cuts, Illinois General Assembly, Quinn Budget Cuts, Quinn Budget, Quinn Shared Sacrifice, Chicago News

CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn says every state agency, office and even the General Assembly will be hit with budget cuts. Quinn said he will act on ...

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Pat Quinn, Lawmakers Agree on a Key Number in Illinois Doomsday Budget Slugfest

David Ormsby | Posted 08.01.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget, Illinois Politics, Illinois Dooomsday Budget, Michael Madigan, Pat Quinn Budget, Christine Radogno, John Cullerton, Tom Cross, Illinois General Assembly, Quinn Budget Veto, Chicago News
David Ormsby

Gov. Quinn vetoed the only budget plan on the table. But that does not lessen the confusion, much of which the governor has bred.

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QUINN VETOES ILLINOIS BUDGET PLAN: State Without Spending Plan As Fiscal Year Begins

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 08.01.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn, Quinn Veto, Pat Quinn Budget, Illinois Budget Negotiations, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Budget Veto, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn's veto of a makeshift budget Wednesday marks yet another round of uncertainty and frustration for Illinois ta...

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Quinn Vows To Veto 'Half Baked' Budget That Cuts Services, Doesn't Raise Taxes

AP/Huffington Post | Posted 07.31.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Temporary Budget, Video, Pat Quinn, Illinois Budget Cuts, Illinois Income Tax Increase, Pat Quinn Budget, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Budget, John Cullerton, Christine Radogno, Chicago News

UPDATE 7/1 Gov. Quinn's office has announced he will "take veto action." A press conference is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. in Springfield. Check back fo...

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What Happens If Illinois Doesn't Pass A New Budget By Tuesday's Deadline?

AP | JOHN O'CONNOR | Posted 07.30.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget, Illinois Budget Deficit, Pat Quinn, Dan Hynes, Pat Quinn Budget, Illinois Budget Negotiations, Illinois General Assembly, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The state's budget year ends Tuesday, and lawmakers are nowhere near a deal on a spending plan with Gov. Pat Quinn. Does tha...

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Lawmakers Call It A Week In Springfield As Budget, Income Tax Hike Still Unresolved

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 07.25.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget Cuts, Pat Quinn, Illinois Income Tax Increase, Pat Quinn Budget, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Special Session, Illinois Tax Hike, Christine Radogno, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois legislators adjourned Wednesday without taking action on the budget, as Gov. Pat Quinn backed away from threats to ...

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Democratic Senator Meeks On Budget Mess: 'This Is A Failure Of The Democratic Party'

SouthtownStar | Phil Kadner | Posted 07.25.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget Deficit, Illinois Budget Cuts, Illinois Income Tax Increase, James Meeks, Illinois General Assembly, Chicago News

Democrats don't deserve to be re-elected in Illinois. No politician should serve more than eight years in office. It's time to let the entire state go...

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Threat Of Budget Cuts Draws Thousands To Springfield, But No Progress On Tax Hike Talks

AP/Huffington Post | Posted 07.24.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn Budget, Illinois Budget Deficit, Illinois Capitol Protests, Springfield Protests, Special Session, Statehouse Rally, Video, Dan Hynes, Campaign for Illinois Future, Illinois Income Tax Increase, Michael Madigan, Illinois General Assembly, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD (AP) -- Illinois lawmakers returned to the Capitol on Tuesday searching for some way to fill a $9.2 billion hole in the state budget. The...

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Quinn Calls Special Session Of General Assembly To Handle Budget, Capital Bill, Ethics Reform

AP | Posted 07.20.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Pat Quinn, Illinois Ethics Reform, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Capital Bill, Illinois Budget, Quinn Special Session, Chicago News

CHICAGO (AP) -- Gov. Pat Quinn's calling a special session of the Illinois General Assembly to grapple with budgetary and other issues. A proclamatio...

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More Reform Needed in Illinois

Rep. Jack Franks | Posted 07.17.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Reform, Illinois Foia Laws, Illinois Recall, Springfield Reform, Illinois Corruption, Illinois General Assembly, Political Corruption, Chicago News
Rep. Jack Franks

Illinois must re-evaluate its redistricting rules, which currently favor incumbents by allowing them to choose their constituents, rather than the people choosing their legislator.

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Over 800 Possible New Laws Sent To Governor

Chicago Tribune | Ashley Rueff | Posted 07.09.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Springfield, Illinois General Assembly, New Illinois Laws, Pat Quinn, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD --Lawmakers left town with more work to do on the state budget, but they did manage to pass more than 800 bills on everything from keeping...

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House Votes To Fire Employees Hired By Disgraced Governors Ryan And Blagojevich

AP | Posted 06.21.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Madigan Fumigation Bill, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Fumigation Bill, Rod Blagojevich, George Ryan, Springfield-Illinois, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- The Illinois House is trying to get rid of political cronies who were given state jobs by two disgraced former governors. T...

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Legislators Mixed On Reform Commission's Proposals

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 05.29.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Reform Commission Report, Pat Quinn, Illinois Gerrymandering, Michael Madigan, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Reform Commission, Lou Lang, Patrick Collins, Illinois Campaign Finance Reform, Illinois Term Limits, Springfield-Illinois, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- With one governor in prison and another under indictment, Illinois officials must choose between patching holes in current e...

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Blagojevich Fighting Growing Impeachment Threat

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 01.16.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Blagojevich Impeachment Process, Illinois Special Election, Blagojevich Corruption, Blaogjevich, Blagojevich Defense, Blagojevich Lawyer, Blagojevich Scandal, Mike Madigan, Ed Genson, Blagojevich Impeachment Vote, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois General Assembly, Blagojevich Charges, Tom Cross, Blagojevich Impeachment, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois Republicans have launched a political ad campaign demanding a special election to fill the Senate vacancy that Gov....

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Illinois Representatives: "Present" Votes More Than Simple "Gosh, Don't Know"

Lynn Voedisch | Posted 11.23.2008 | Home

Read More: John McCain, Rudy Giuliani, 2008 Presidential Race, Illinois General Assembly, Obama Votes Present, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Springfield Illinois, Home News
Lynn Voedisch

"Maybe you have a budget, and you support that budget, but there are some line items in there that you don't like," Lang said. Rather than vote no and send the wrong impression back to your constituents, "you might vote present because the bill falls short of what you expect."

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Fed Up With Waiting for Blago

Rob Warden | Posted 10.24.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Innocence Project, Rod Blagojevich, George Ryan, George Ryan and Exonerated, Wrongfull Convictions, Illinois General Assembly, Blagojevich and Exonerated, Blago, Chicago News
Rob Warden

The men and women unlucky enough to enough to have been convicted of crimes they didn't commit -- and lucky enough to prove it -- had a champion in former Illinois Governor George H. Ryan. But they don't have one in Rod Blagojevich.

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Springfield Special Sessions: A Ray of Hope

Greg Harris | Posted 09.14.2008 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Lottery, Illinois Lottery Lease, Leasing Illinois Lottery, Special Sessions, Illinois Democrats, Michael Madigan, Gov. Blagojevich, Illinois General Assembly, Chicago News
Greg Harris

The 23rd and 24th Special Sessions of the General Assembly started off much the same as most of the other special sessions called by the Governor. However, following that brief session, some of us met in Speaker Madigan's office to consider the proposed lease of the Illinois Lottery.

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