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Illinois Politics

Is Illinois Republican Governor Candidate Bill Brady a True Fiscal Conservative?

David Ormsby | Posted 11.04.2009 | Chicago

Read More: 2010 Illinois Republican Governor Primary, Illinois Politics, Dan Hynes, Pat Quinn, Adam Andrzejewski, Chicago, Bob Schillerstrom, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft, Bill Brady, Andy McKenna, Paul Wood, Jim Ryan, Chicago News
David Ormsby

When Bill Brady's 2006 campaign expenses exceeded campaign income he borrowed, just like the State of Illinois has done to pay its bills. What's the difference?

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

Daily Herald | Joseph Ryan | Posted 11.03.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois GOP, Illinois Politics, Dan Proft, GOP Candidates, Mark Kirk, Gop, Jim Ryan, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Judy Baar Topinka, Illinois Republican Party, Chicago News

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....

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Will Dan Hynes Drop Out of Illinois Governor's Race?

David Ormsby | Posted 10.29.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Pat Quinn, Dan Hynes, Rasmussen Poll, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, Jan Schakowsky, Michael Madigan, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Ken Lambert, Christine Radogno, John Cullerton, Tom Cross, Illinois 2010 Governor Race, Ibew, Illinois Politics, Chicago News
David Ormsby

A few weeks ago, questions began to bubble on whether Hynes would or should drop out of the race against Quinn. The governor was on a roll. He was piling up union endorsements. No more.

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Dan Hynes' Tax Plan Would Shield Illinois Legislature, Governor From Tax Hike and Other Campaign News

David Ormsby | Posted 10.15.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Income Tax Increase, Bridget Gainer, Debbie Halvorson, United Republican Fund, Chicago News, Pat Quinn, CTA Fare Hike, Robin Kelly, Terry Peterson, Illinois Politics, Michelle Malkin, Richard Daley, Cta, Dan Hynes, Todd Connor, Julie Hamos, David Hoffman, 2010 Illinois Democratic Primary, Sara Feigenholtz, Jeff Smith, Chicago News
David Ormsby

If Hynes ultimately were to become governor and enact his plan, the entire Illinois governing class would be exempt from an Illinois income tax increase. Oops.

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Will Obama Intervene in Illinois Gubernatorial Primary Between Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes?

David Ormsby | Posted 09.28.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Politics, Thom Serafin, Dan Hynes, Pat Quinn, Kurth Lampe, Kevin Lampe, Serafin and Associates, Barack Obama, David Paterson, Jeff Schoenberg, 2010 Illinois Democratic Primary, Illinois Governor 2010, Illinois Governor Race, Chicago News
David Ormsby

Will the White House attempt to show Gov. Pat Quinn the door à la David Paterson?

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Kip Kirkpatrick Drops Out Of State Treasurer's Race

Chicago Tribune | Rick Pearson | Posted 10.18.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Robin Kelly, Kip Kirkpatrick, Dan Rutherford, Illinois Politics, Illinois State Treasurer, Chicago News

Political newcomer Kip Kirkpatrick, the co-founder of a private health-care equity firm, pulled the plug on his nascent bid for the Democratic nominat...

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Wanted: Suitable Senate Candidate

Marcel Pacatte | Posted 10.17.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Corruption, Paul Douglas, Illinois Politics, Abner Mikva, Illinois Senate 2010, Rod Blagojevich, Peter Fitzgerald, Senate Races, Patrick Collins, Illinois Senate Race, Adlai Stevenson, David Hoffman, Dawn Clark Netsch, Chicago News
Marcel Pacatte

No one in the race has the resume, experience or heft required of a U.S. Senator. In fact, the bench in Illinois is pretty weak right now, among both Democrats and Republicans.

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Andy McKenna Abruptly Resigns As Illinois GOP Chairman

Huffington Post | Posted 09.20.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois GOP, Illinois Republican Party, Illinois Politics, Andy McKenna, Andy Mckenna Resigns, Pat Brady, Chicago News

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Andy McKenna abruptly resigned Thursday. "I reach this decision recognizing that I do not intend to seek re-electi...

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Candidates Lining Up For Lieutenant Governor: Why?

NBC Chicago | Steve Rhodes | Posted 09.19.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Terry Link, Art Turner, Rickey Hendon, Pat Quinn, Brad Cole, Sandi Jackson, Kevin Joyce, Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Justin Oberman, Illinois Politics, Chicago News

Blame it on Pat Quinn: the job formerly known as Lieutenant Governor of Bored Out-of-My-Mindistan is suddenly drawing interest from a wide-range of po...

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Illinois Video Gambling Legalization Stirs Controversy in Campaigns, Counties

David Ormsby | Posted 09.13.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Jim Madigan, Illinois Politics, Pat Quinn, Illinois Video Gambling Legalization, Carol Trumpe, Kirk Dillard, Heather Steans, Jeff Schoenberg, Bob Schillerstrom, Chicago News
David Ormsby

In his quest for a state Senate seat, gay rights activist Jim Madigan focuses his campaign fire against incumbent Sen. Heather Steans' vote to legalize video gaming.

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Why I Support Dan Hynes for Governor of Illinois

Adlai Stevenson III | Posted 09.12.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Adlai Stevenson Endorses Dan Hynes, Adlai Stevenson Endorsement, Adlai Stevenson, Illinois Governor, Illinois, Illinois Politics, Dan Hynes Governor, Dan Hynes, Dan Hynes Endorsement, Illinois Governor 2010, Illinois Governor Race, Chicago News
Adlai Stevenson III

Dan Hynes can restore the politics, little remembered, that made the Land of Lincoln a great state rather than an object of national mockery.

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GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Dan Proft Proposes Income Hike for State Lawmakers, Grabs Crackpot Crown

David Ormsby | Posted 08.31.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Fitch Ratings, Illinois Politics, Dan Proft, Illinois Bond Downgrade, Rod Blagojevich, Illinois Governor 2010, Illinois Governor Race, Illinois Bond Rating, Illinois Bonds, Dan Proft Governor, Chicago News
David Ormsby

Perhaps Proft will be successful. After all, the Illinois governor's office has been a welcoming place for crackpots.

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Greg Harris Endorses Heather Steans Over Gay Rights Activist Jim Madigan in State Senate Race

David Ormsby | Posted 08.27.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Jim Madigan, Illinois Politics, Suzanne Elder, Greg Harris, Heather Steans, Carol Ronen, Illinois Senate Races, John Cullerton, Madigan Steans, Chicago News
David Ormsby

The endorsement is a huge plus for the freshman senator whose north lakefront district includes a heavy concentration of gay and lesbian voters. Madigan's climb to the state senate just got a little steeper.

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Pat Quinn's Office Says 86% for Human Services in New Illinois Budget Is 'Speculative'

David Ormsby | Posted 08.20.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Politics, Pat Quinn, Michael Madigan, Elizabeth Austin, Steve Brown, Illinois Budget Cuts, Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn Budget, Chicago News
David Ormsby

Whatever the human services spending percentage may be, Quinn's real -- and thankless -- job is to cut the budget. A lot.

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Republicans Call For Eliminating Lieutenant Governor Post

Lee Newspapers | Mike Riopell | Posted 08.10.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Lieutenant Governor, Pat Quinn, Illinois Politics, Illinois Budget Deficit, Rep. Bill Mitchell, Chicago News

A group of Republicans in the Illinois House said Thursday that one of their plans to save the state money is eliminating Gov. Pat Quinn's former job...

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Joe Birkett Announces Bid For Attorney General (VIDEO)

Huffington Post | Posted 08.02.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Politics, Joe Birkett, Illinois Attorney General Race, Illinois Attorney General 2010, Joe Birkett Attorney General, Lisa Madigan, Video, Judy Baar Topinka, Chicago News

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

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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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Lee Daniels, Former State GOP Leader, Eyes Political Comeback

Chicago Sun-Times | DAVE MCKINNEY | Posted 07.12.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Politics, Dupage County Board, Lee Daniels, Chicago News

Former House Speaker Lee Daniels is weighing a political comeback after a federal investigation into the misuse of state-paid House Republican staffer...

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Madigan Predicts 'Very Significant' Layoffs After Meeting With Quinn

AP | DEANNA BELLANDI | Posted 07.05.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Christine Rodogno, Illinois Budget, Pat Quinn, Illinois Politics, Government Layoffs, Michael Madigan, Chicago News

CHICAGO (AP) -- An idea to raise the state income tax took a back seat when Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders met Thursday to continue negotiatin...

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Calling Out The Real Crybabies

Marcel Pacatte | Posted 06.28.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Illinois Political Corruption, Patrick Fitzgerald, Mike Jacobs, Patrick Collins, Illinois Reform Commission, Roland Burris, Illinois Politics, Pat Quinn, Illinois Senate, Chicago News
Marcel Pacatte

What the bunch in Springfield had better realize is that there are a lot more people lined up with reform than there are with the political status quo.

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Senator Meeks To Chicago Aldermen: 'Don't Come See Me, I Ain't Got No Money'

Huffington Post | Tim Taliaferro | Posted 06.27.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Meeks Aldermen, Carrie Austin, James Meeks, Freddrenna Lyle, Jessica Dixon, Illinois Politics, Chicago Clout, Chicago News

Illinois Sen. James Meeks told visiting Chicago aldermen not to come see him while they were in Springfield Wednesday, saying to the Windy City lawmak...

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Julie Hamos Aims to Boost Pat Quinn's Reform Agenda and Gets Undercut by Pat Quinn

David Ormsby | Posted 06.27.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Julie Hamos, Illinois Politics, Illinois Reform Commission, Pat Quinn, Patrick Collins, Illinois Campaign Contribution Caps, Michael Madigan, John Cullerton, Quinn Fundraising, Chicago News
David Ormsby

The Quinn episode exposed the inevitable collision between a reformer's principles and the practical politics of an election system that relies on private dough to finance the campaign beast.

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Illinois Senate Democrats Talk Ethics Record to New Media, Push Back on Old Media Complaints

David Ormsby | Posted 06.18.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Stuart Levine, Pat Quinn, Rod Blagojevich, Kwame Raoul, Don Harmon, Patrick Collins, Illinois Politics, John Cullerton, Jeff Schoenberg, Barack Obama, Illinois Political Reform, Illinois Reform Commission, Public Financing, Chicago News
David Ormsby

Kwame Raoul introduced legislation for public financing two years ago. His predecessor, Barack Obama, sponsored the same legislation in 2005. What did Chicago newspapers editorialize at the time at the time on the Obama bill? Nothing.

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The Changing Face of Illinois Politics

Hermene Hartman | Posted 06.15.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Jesse Jackson Jr., Danny Davis, Rickey Hendon, Chris Kennedy, Chicago Politics, Todd Stroger, Cheryle Jackson, Cook County Politics, Toni Preckwinkle, Roland Burris, Illinois Politics, Chicago-Illinois, Chicago News
Hermene Hartman

The political landscape of Chicago and Illinois is destined to change in its black representation. Todd Stroger has been a disappointment. He should go home and not waste the public's time with another run.

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One Man's Vote, One Man's Elected Pain

Derrick K. Baker | Posted 06.14.2009 | Chicago

Read More: Corruption, Illinois Politics, God Complex, Illinois Political Corruption, Barack Obama, Rod Blagojevich, Political Corruption, George Ryan, Chicago News
Derrick K. Baker

I've come to conclude that akin to the God complex that suits many law enforcement types is a certain gene that is part and parcel of how people who aspire to public office are wired.

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