Illinois Legislature

Link Rape Crisis Funding to Strip Clubs

Sheila Simon | Posted 05.26.2012

Read More: Illinois Senate, Rape Crisis Center, Illinois, Sheila Simon, Sexual Abuse, Illinois Legislature, Strip Club Tax, Legislation, Domestic Violence, Strip Clubs, Illinois Politics, Chicago News
Sheila Simon

Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year. Those are the hours that rape crisis centers work the phones and respond to victims of rape and sexual assault across Illinois. We do not want to see a day when those phone calls go unanswered.

Read Post

Unions Will Unite to Win Back Congressional Seats

Nick Kaleba | Posted 05.23.2012

Read More: Raja Krishnamoorthi, Illinois Politics, Illinois Primary, Tammy Duckworth, Unions, Illinois Legislature, Chicago Unions, Chicago News
Nick Kaleba

The chance to put a dent in the Republican control of the House and run up the score for hometown President Barack Obama gives local unions more than enough reason to unite around candidates who can win back seats.

Read Post

Silvana Tabares, Chicago Journalist, Pursuing Open Seat In Illinois Race

Olivia N. Castañeda | Posted 05.13.2012

Read More: Silvana Tabares, Chicago, offthebus2012, Election 2012, 21st Congressional District, Illinois Legislature, Offthebus, Illinois Primary 2012, Springfield-Illinois. The 2012 Project, Illinois Primary, Politics News
Olivia N. Castañeda

For 10 years Silvana Tabares used the tools of journalism to have an impact on her community. In September, Tabares left that career to pursue the open seat for Illinois State Representative of the 21st District, outside Chicago.

Read Post

State In No Rush To Pay Huge Backlog Of Unpaid Bills

AP | By CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 12.22.2011

Read More: Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois Budget, Human Services Funding, Illinois Bills, Illinois Human Services, Pat Quinn, Illinois Unpaid Bills, Illinois Bill Pay, Chicago Impact, Illinois Legislature, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- Don't look for quick action to reduce Illinois' huge backlog of unpaid bills, despite universal agreement among state leaders tha...

Read Whole Story

Quinn Moves To Abolish Controversial Legislative Scholarships

Posted 10.11.2011

Read More: Legislative Scholarships, Pat Quinn Legislative Scholarships, Illinois, Robert Molaro, Pat Quinn, Abolish Legislative Scholarships, Illinois Legislature, Illinois Legislative Scholarships, Chicago, Chicago News

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has used his veto pen to abolish the state's controversial legislative scholarship program. On Wednesday, Quinn used hi...

Read Whole Story

Lawmakers Pass Measure To Trim Their Own Pay

Posted 08.23.2011

Read More: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Senate Pay Cut, Illinois Senate, Illinois, Illinois Legislature, Illinois Legislators Pay Cut, Chicago, Chicago News

The Illinois Senate reconvened Wednesday to vote on a handful of measures, including a 4.6 percent cut in their own pay. Four senators voted agains...

Read Whole Story

$30 Million "Mistake" May Cost 20,000 Illinois Residents Mental Health Care Services

David Ormsby | Posted 08.22.2011

Read More: State Senator Heather Steans, Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois Mental Health Care, State Rep Sara Feigenholtz, c4, Leader Christine Radogno, Frank Anselmo, Senate President John Cullerton, Tony Kopera, Community Behavioral Healthcare Association, Mental Health Care, Illinois Legislature, Chicago News
David Ormsby

It's a $30 million "oops." It's an "oops" that can only be fixed by the Illinois Senate within the next 24 hours. How's that for a political thriller plot? Except it's not a plot line. It's true.

Read Post

Republican Claims Democrat Punched Him On Illinois Senate Floor During Debate

Posted 08.01.2011

Read More: Commonwealth Edison, Sen. Mike Jacobs, Pat Quinn, Kyle McCarter, Mike Jacobs, Illinois Senators Fight, Illinois Senator Fist Fight, Illinois Legislature, Partisanship, Video, Chicago News

Illinois lawmakers argued late into the night Tuesday as they tried passing (or blocking) many big pieces of legislation before the midnight session d...

Read Whole Story

Lesbian Activist Appointed To Illinois Legislature

Posted 06.18.2011

Read More: Illinois State Representative, Lgbt, Lesbian Activist 14th District, Illinois 14th District, Kelly Cassidy, Illinois Legislature, Chicago News

By Tracy Baim, courtesy of the Windy City Times Long-time lesbian activist Kelly Cassidy has been appointed to fill Illinois' 14th District state rep...

Read Whole Story

As Clock Ticks Down, Legislature Should Pass Teacher Strike Reform

Paras Bhayani | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Teachers Unions, Illinois Education, Teacher-Strikes, Illinois Legislature, Chicago Teachers Union, Chicago News
Paras Bhayani

In the waning days of the legislative session, legislative leaders are still searching for a grand tax bargain that might involve dramatic reforms to the state's education system.

Read Post

Veto Session Starts Today: Death Penalty, Civil Unions Could Be Discussed

Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Springfield, Illinois Politics, Michael Madigan, Illinois Legislature, Illinois Death Penalty, Illinois Veto Session., Death Penalty, Gov Pat Quinn, Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois Gambling, Illinois Civil Unions, Illinois Tax Hike, Chicago News

Today, Illinois lawmakers begin their six-day veto session before breaking for Thanksgiving--and they have a lot on their plate. Many Illinois resid...

Read Whole Story

Illinois Still Behind $5 Billion In Payments To Vendors, Nonprofits

St. Louis Post-Dispatch | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn, Illinois Bills, Illinois Budget Crisis, Illinois Legislature, Governor Pat Quinn, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. -- As a provider of in-home assistance for seniors, St. John's Home and Community Care of Collinsville partners with the state of Il...

Read Whole Story

Quinn Back To Springfield To Sort Out Budget Mess

Chicago Public Radio | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Pat Quinn, Illinois Legislature, Chicago, Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn Budget, Illinois, Illinois Budget Crisis, Pat Quinn Tax Increase, Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago News

The governor says increasing the cigarette tax would help fund education. But he's received little support for his proposed income tax hike. ...

Read Whole Story

Chicago School Vouchers: State House To Vote On Plan

Chicago Tribune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois State House, Illinois, Chicago Vouchers, Vouchers, School Vouchers, Illinois Legislature, Chicago School Vouchers, Chicago, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD - Kids in Chicago's poorest and most-overcrowded schools could get vouchers to help cover costs at private schools under legislation a Hou...

Read Whole Story

Quinn 'Not Excited' About Democrats' Redistricting Plan

Chicago Public Radio | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Pat Quinn, Redistricting, Illinois Legislature, Kwame Raoul, Illinois Fair Map Coalition, Illinois Redistricting, Chicago, Illinois, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn, Fair Map, Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago News

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn says he does not like his party's plan to overhaul the way boundaries for legislative districts are drawn. The Illinois ...

Read Whole Story

Blagojevich Portrait: New Bill Says Taxpayers Shouldn't Pay The Tab

Chicago Tribune | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Mike Jacobs, Illinois, Illinois Legislature, Blagojevich Portrait, Rod Blagojevich, Blagojevich, Rod Blagojevich Portrait, Chicago, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD --- Taxpayers won't have to pay for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's portrait to hang alongside his predecessors in the Capitol if Gov. Pat Q...

Read Whole Story

Illinois Budget Crisis: Lawmakers Head Back To Springfield To Work On Budget

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn, Pat Quinn Budget, Chicago, Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Budget Crisis, Illinois Legislature, Legislative Session, Gov. Pat Quinn, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers are going to take another stab at passing a new state budget. Democratic legislative leaders said Thursd...

Read Whole Story

Secret Meeting Of Illinois Senators: Was It Illegal?

WBEZ | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois Senate, Illinois, Illinois Legislature, John Cullerton, Illinois Senate Secret Meeting, Chicago, Chicago News

In a meeting legislators are describing as a first of its kind in the Illinois Senate, Republicans and Democrats got together to hear a presentation o...

Read Whole Story

Barack Obama, Pragmatic, Compromise Prone, Moderate Democrat: Clear in 2009, Already Clear in 2007.

Myriam Miedzian | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Obama, Interest Charge Cards, Nuclear, Lieberman, Political Campaigns, Obama Young People, Illinois Legislature, Barack Obama, Politics News
Myriam Miedzian

While much of his voting record, especially in the Illinois legislature was very good, some of his actions were disturbingly contrary to the rhetoric and the idealistic image he conveyed.

Read Post

Sam Stein

Schakowsky: Hold Election Even If Burris Doesn't Resign

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Jan Schakowsky, Pat Quinn, Illinois Legislature, Barack Obama, Schakowsky Senate, Obama Election, Burris Resign, Burris Seat, Schakowsky Obama, Schakowsky Burris, Quinn Burris, Politics News

Illinois Rep. Jan Schakowsky, who publicly expressed her interest in replacing Barack Obama in the Senate back when that process wasn't entirely taint...

Read Whole Story

Friday Talking Points [59] -- New Year's Resolutions (For Democrats)

Chris Weigant | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Left, Lefty, Senator, Transition Team, Al Franken, New Years, Illinois Legislature, New Year's Resolutions, Blagojevich, Pelosi, Transition, Senate Seat, Clinton, House Democrats, Midotw, Nancy Pelosi, Senate Democrats, Most Disappointing Democrat of the Week, Legislature, Most Impressive Democrat of the Week, Bloggy Left, Reid, Illinois, Blogosphere, Bill Clinton, House, Franken, Democrat, Democrats, 2008 Election, Blogger, Constitution, Mddotw, Hillary, Cabinet, Chris Weigant, Obama Transition, Harry Reid, Hillary Clinton, Senate, Blue Dog Democrats, Politics News
Chris Weigant

Happy New Year 2009! Because I've always felt it is more amusing to make new year's resolutions that others should follow, today's Friday Talking Poin...

Read Post

Blagojevich's Race Card Appointment Was Inevitable

Earl Ofari Hutchinson | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Bobby Rush, Political Appointments, Illinois Legislature, Barack Obama, Roland Burris, Racial Politics, Blagojevich Senate Appointment, Roland Burris Race Card, Blagojevich Race Card, Bobby Rush Race, Rod Blagojevich, Politics News
Earl Ofari Hutchinson

The idea that there are seats and appointments specially reserved for blacks and minorities in Illinois or anywhere else is hardly an aberration. Politicians shuffle the race card all the time.

Read Post

Blagojevich Impeachment Panel Adjourns Until Monday, Waiting On Prosecutor Fitzgerald

AP | DAVID MERCER | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Blagojevich Impeachment Hearings, Patrick Fitzgerald, Blagojevich Corruption, Blagojevich Impeachment Panel, Rod Blagojevich, Blagojevich Charges, Blagojevich Scandal, Illinois Legislature, Blagojevich Impeachment Probe, Blagojevich Impeachment, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Lawmakers studying impeachment of Gov. Rod Blagojevich heard Monday from a political watchdog who said she sees strong links...

Read Whole Story

Methods to Remove Our Bleeping Governor

Greg Harris | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Politics, Impeachment, Rod Blagojevich, Blagojevich Corruption, House Impeachment Committee, Blagojevich Charges, Blagojevich Scandal, Illinois Legislature, Blagojevich Impeachment Committee, Blagojevich Impeachment, Blagojevich Investigation, Impeachment Process, Chicago News
Greg Harris

We are at a historic moment in Illinois government and all of these actions as they are applied to a sitting governor are without precedent.

Read Post

Illinois Lawmakers Meet To Consider Impeaching Blagojevich

AP | CHRISTOPHER WILLS | Posted 05.25.2011

Read More: Illinois House, Blagojevich Corruption, Madigan Blagojevich, Illinois Legislature Blagojevich Impeachment, Rod Blagojevich, Michael Madigan, Blagojevich Scandal, Blagojevich Step Down, Illinois Legislature, Blagojevich Impeachment, Blagojevich Investigation, Chicago News

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers took the first step Monday toward removing Gov. Rod Blagojevich from office as the disgraced Democrat hir...

Read Whole Story