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edited by: Douglas Welch,
Illinois Editor
This video says it all.
Over the past year, there has been been more talk than action on comprehensive immigration reform. But that hasn't deterred advocates here in the Prairie State. Members of Illinois' congressional delegation have penned letters to the president and called on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to put an [...]
The taxpayer-funded Metra folks had to apologize today for refusing to allow 135 children on the Union Pacific line for their pre-paid "Polar Express" ride. Seems the Metra bureaucrats couldn't get their signals straight regarding the annual event. However, they were successful in leaving the kids - many in their' [...]
Below are our daily picks from the Illinois blogosphere and media at large:
The Scholarship Scam
Columbia College undergraduate journalism
students spent the past three months examining the century-old state
legislative scholarship program. Steve Rhodes highlights their findings.
A Careful Revamp
The Sun-Times offers some suggestions for improving the way [...]
Hey, if you haven't noticed yet, Illinois Review is privileged to have alongside on your right a new IR sponsor -- this one "E-Voter," a service we hope you'll find helpful up through the February 2, 2010 primary. All you need to to is enter in your address, and E-voter [...]
Consumer advocates picked up a huge win last week when the House passed a package (H.R. 4173) of financial reforms -- including the creation of the watchdog Consumer Financial Protection Agency -- that will strengthen federal regulation of Wall Street and banks nationwide. It's been over a year since [...]
Reason.tv: Red, White, and Sacrebleu: How American Wines Shocked the World!This is the conclusion of blogger Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way, who chides the Peoria media for ignoring business ties of the woman who wants to be the Democrats’ choice to challenge Aaron Schock:
A glaring gap in that press coverage needs to be filled. Democratic candidate Deirdre [...]
(See they look jolly, don't they? )
Still looking for a great green gift for that eco-conscious adult or child? How about a bike from Blackstone Bicycle Works? These "recycled bikes" have been saved from the landfill and meticulously refurbished by kids [...]
The Chicago Sun-Times has an interesting article on high-speed rail and freight traffic delays.
But the promise of faster passenger rail is inextricably linked to the down-and-dirty business of freight. To make passenger and commuter trains move faster, you have to get the boxcars out of the way.
And [...]
Ninth Congressional District Repulican candidate Joel Pollak interview with Stephen Richer, FrumForum. Taking the Fight to the Dems
Former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta on Monday predicted that a health care bill will pass one way or the other--with or without Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) the Independent who objects to a health insurance public option or expanding Medicare to cover certain 55-year olds.
During the next few months, if Gov. Pat Quinn tries to portray himself as tough on crime, remember this:
Repeat drunk drivers, drug users and even people convicted of battery and weapons violations are serving less than three weeks’ total time behind bars under a secret change in policy by [...]
WASHINGTON--"A very strong run so far." That's how former Clinton White House Chief of Staff John Podesta--the native Chicagoan who ran President Obama's transition operation--evaluated Obama Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel.
Podesta, the president of the Center for American Progress, was a guest at a Christian [...]
The below statement comes from the Jim Ryan campaign:by Jim Tankersley
COPENHAGEN - Something is melodramatic in Denmark.
For what felt like the umpteenth time since the international climate summit began here last week, a floor protest briefly shut down the negotiations today - at least in public.
This time, it was a group of African nations, led by [...]
Few Illinois outlets have devoted any energy to covering the fight in Washington to extend unemployment benefits, even though over 400,000 Illinois residents are currently collecting jobless insurance. Even fewer have reported on the looming cutoff for federal subsidies, which could leave almost 200,000 Illinoisans with no income by the beginning [...]
from the Ryan for Governor campaign
Illinois gubernatorial candidate and former Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan reacted today to revelations in an Associated Press story that Governor Pat Quinn secretly released more than 850 inmates since September by immediately awarding them months of good-conduct credit, some of [...]
UPDATE 1x: Thomson's Mayor Jerry "Duke" Hebeler says turning Thomson Correctional Center into a supermax prison to house Gitmo detainees while they await military or civil trial is his "dream." Sure, a few of the 559 locals may be concerned about Gitmo-in-Thomson, but Hebler told the Sun-Times today "they haven't contacted him."
The Village [...]
Look for opportunities to make people feel important.
Don't be afraid to say "I don't know."
Don't be afraid to say "I made a mistake."
Show respect for everyone who works for a living, regardless of how trivial their job.
From H. Jackson Brown [...]
by Nancy Thorner
This week's Pioneer Press publication, the Lake Forester, published an ad that called attention to a group that is about a year old, Docs4PatientCare, a grassroots organization that not only recruits doctors, but is also open to all who are interested in advocating for responsible healthcare reform by' [...]
Good news for American patriots: The Tea Party Express will be thundering across the continent once again. The third incarnation kicks off on March 27 in Senate Harry Reid's hometown, Searchlight, Nevada. The theme is "Just Vote Them Out" and wouldn't you know, the Senate Majority' [...]
Last week, we noted GOP Senate candidate Mark Kirk's latest anti-earmark effort, pointing out that the whole thing sounded rather McCain-esque. The AP, meanwhile, used Kirk's latest demagoguery to recall that he was a fan of earmarks not that long ago. (Indeed, he secured $30 million for various [...]
Sad aftermath of the fire at Winnemac and Glenwood last week:by Rafael Rivadeneira, candidate for 41st State Rep District
Well, we’ve got another case of Power to the Pork brewing among Illinois machine Republicans.
In the past weeks, former governor Jim Edgar and GOP gubernatorial candidates Kirk Dillard and Jim Ryan all refused to close the door on tax increases for [...]
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
by Mark Silva
During the tour of the White House at Christmas that Oprah Winfrey gave viewers last night, she also got the president of the United States to give himself a grade.
After [...]
from Illinois Republican Party:
CHICAGO – Illinois Republican Party Chairman Pat Brady today blasted Democrat Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky for ignoring President Obama’s call for earmark reform and defending millions of dollars in wasteful spending projects.
In 2008, Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk joined then-Senator Barack Obama in declaring a self-imposed moratorium on [...]
from the Adam for Illinois campaign
Last Wednesday, Adam Andrzejewski, Republican candidate for Governor, called on each of his 6 opponents for the Republican nomination for Governor to join him in supporting a new law to prohibit teacher strikes in Illinois. Support for this legislation was voted [...]
The Will County Tea Party Coalition released ratings and seals of approval for U.S. Senate candidates, based on "numerous factors," organizer Tim Kraulidis said, following last Wednesday's candidate forum held in Joliet. Not only did the group focus on which candidates' opinions, beliefs and record most closely aligh with issues [...]
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy
by Mark Silva
Payback is bittersweet.
Actor William Shatner has done enough beat-poetry readings of Sarah Palin's summer farewell address from Anchorage and her newly published memoir that he might have expected the surprise guest' [...]
Kirk Dillard took his gubernatorial campaign to ABC 7's studios this weekend, where he was a guest on their Sunday interview segment NewsViews. Not suprisingly, when asked whether Illinois could dig itself out of this budget crisis without a tax increase, the Republican state senator answered, "Yes .. And I've" [...]
WASHINGTON--First Lady Michelle Obama told Oprah Winfrey the Obama family will celebrate Christmas and New Years this year--as they do every year--in President Obama's native Hawaii. Obama returned to Hawaii last year as president-elect.
Mrs. Obama told Winfrey on her Christmas special, broadcast Sunday, "You know, we're going to spend'" [...]
from the Proft for Governor campaign
Nine is a small number with enormous consequences. Nearly all of our state’s public power and resources are concentrated in the hands of nine people.  Of course, someone has to hold these positions, but it is important to recognize that the [...]
from Rodriguez for Congress campaign
Long Grove, IL - This weekend, Republicans in Libertyville Township voted to endorse Maria Rodriguez in the 8th district Congressional primary. The winner on February 2 will determine who will take on Melissa Bean next November.
In response to the endorsement, Maria Rodriguez stated, "I am thrilled" [...]Some links to consider
If you ask me, putting an environmentalist on the joint Peoria City/County Landfill Committee is akin to putting a member of the Flat Earth Society on the board that oversees NASA.
California conservatives are going to war against of of their own for having the audacity to [...]
by David G. Savage
The Supreme Court said today it would rule for the first time on whether employees have a right to privacy when they send text messages on electronic devices supplied by their employers.
The justices agreed to hear an appeal from a police department in Ontario, Calif., [...]
In addition to examining the gubernatorial and Cook County board president primaries, the Tribune also polled the U.S. Senate race and found that Democratic voters continue to favor Alexi Giannoulias over his rival candidates. The poll found that 31 percent supported Giannoulias, 17 percent supported Cheryle Jackson, 9 percent [...]
The phrase "No good deed goes unpunished" summarizes the ongoing foreclosure crisis. Cleveland performed a lot of "good deeds." by Mark Silva and updated with GOP response.
Slowing the growth of health-care costs - "bending the curve,'' as it's become known - is one of the goals that reformers have in mind.
The bills which Democratic leaders have pushed through the House and are pushing through the Senate do that,'" [...]
Well, it's not TIF-type money, but the City of Chicago is offering a bit of a giveback on 2008 property taxes. The Property Tax Relief Program "is meant to provide relief between $25 and $200 to City homeowners hit hardest by increases to their 2008 property" [...]
Quinn Suspends Early Prisoner Release Program
Gov. Pat Quinn has suspended his early release program, which allowed
hundreds of inmates to be released before the end of their prison terms
by earning credit for good behavior. The decision follows an AP investigation
that found some inmates with past convictions [...]
South Carolina criminal defense lawyer Bobby Frederick has an excellent example today of the scourge of profitable punishment:
Law enforcement agencies receive grants based on the number of DUI arrests they make - if the number of arrests goes down, they are in danger of losing that money. Law [...]
NewsRadio WTAX and the Citizens Club of Springfield bring you a live forum with the Republican candidates for governor in Illinois this Monday night at 7:00 PM. Six of the seven candidates will be participating at the forum at the Hoogland Center for the Arts at 420 South Sixth.Â
WTAX [...]
Unknown to the public--until AP caught wind of it--at hundreds of Illinois prisoners were released from incarceration after just serving a fraction of their sentence.
So when my friend E. and I met for lunch to discuss this year's trip to the Christmas markets in Germany, we had a horrible shock. We peered into our wallets and found that due to the recession that we both had hardly any money! That [...]
from the Dodge for Comptroller campaign
Jim Dodge, Republican Candidate for Illinois Comptroller calls The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees’ endorsement of his opponent an illustration of “business as usual.” Judy Baar Topinka was the only Republican endorsed by AFSCME which has also backed others in the past [...]
WASHINGTON--Democrats are stepping up their attacks on Senate hopeful Rep. Mark Kirk, the front-running Republican, with Rep. Jan Schakowsky, a Democrat from a neighboring Illinois district on Monday planning to lambast Kirk for his flip flop on earmarks.
As part of the coordinated strategy, the Demoratic Senatorial Campaign [...]
Yep, Leo Smith, husband of Illinois State Senator Heather Steans is a goofball. It's safe to say that as a matter of opinion because (a) only a goofball, in my opinion, would marry something like Heather Steans, and (c) Smith proved that he's a goofball [...]
U.S. Treasury Department
Office of Public Affairs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 14, 2009
TREASURY STATEMENT REGARDING CITIGROUP'S INTENTION TO REPAY TAXPAYERS
WASHINGTON -- The U.S. Department of the Treasury today released the following statement regarding Citigroup's announcement to repay taxpayers for the assistance provided' [...]
STUDIO OPEN
As President Obama approaches his first anniversary in the White House, some of the public's enthusiasm for his ambitious agenda at home and abroad is' [...]
from the Put-Back Amendment campaign
Monday at the State Capitol at 1pm, the principal author of the Put-Back Amendment, John Bambenek, will announce that individuals representing all points on the political spectrum have endorsed the Put-Back Amendment including former Republican Congressional and Gubernatorial Candidate Jim Oberweis has endorsed the Put-Back Amendment.Â
In [...]
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
_______________________________________________________________________________________
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 13, 2009
DAILY GUIDANCE AND PRESS SCHEDULE FOR
MONDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2009
In the morning, the President and the Vice President will receive the Presidential Daily Briefing in the Oval Office. This meeting is closed press.
The President will [...]
[...]
