
Earlier this month in Washington, the House and Senate reconciled two versions of an omnibus spending bill and agreed to appropriate $2.5 billion for high-speed rail next year. While transit advocates were hoping for $4 billion, they were still thrilled by Congress' new commitment to the project. For instance,' [...]
In case you're looking for a followup to the McKenna poll controversy, there's no news, the Chicago Tribune's Rick Pearson tells Republicans statewide. There was a meeting among a few Thursday, we're told, and they're deciding whether "there's anything there" so the rest of us don't have to worry [...]
You go, Al.
We all know these lengthy speeches by the Republicans are an attempt to slow down debate so there is no health insurance reform at all. Let Sen. Lieberman go pout when he finally loses this fight, and all those campaign contributions from the for-profit health insurance industry.
[...]Some health care reform ramblings.
The Republicans are crying about having to read a 2,000 page bill. Locally, Republican Isaac Hayes, challenging Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. for Congress, has lamented Jackson’s support of health care reform. In a strange move, on his campaign blog, Hayes reproduces a press release from [...]
Congress might manage to provide jobless Americans with some help before the end of the year -- unless the Senate Republicans obstruct it, that is.
This afternoon, the U.S. House approved the final version of a defense appropriations bill (HR 3326) that included a $13 billion provision to extend by two [...]
by Mark Silva
Anger among independent voters about the economy and the direction the nation is taking offer Republicans a significant opportunity to reclaim power in the 2010 midterm congressional elections, according to the results of a bipartisan "Battleground Poll'' released today.
A lack of passion among President Barack Obama's core" [...]

While there are a ton of policies on which local Democrats and Republicans disagree vigorously (from tax reform to health care to climate change to election reform), there is one subject that we didn't expect to become a campaign issue this year: high-speed rail. But if' [...]
After talking to several Republicans in Cook County who are challenged by primary opponents that have consistently voted in Democrat primaries, given to Democrats and are unknown to Republicans, it just seemed appropo to start out today's Southtown Star column like this [...]
WASHINGTON -- President Obama ordered the federal government Tuesday to buy the Thomson Correctional Center in northwest Illinois to house Guantanano detainees as the administration revealed that military trials would be conducted at the prison.
Meanwhile, critics of Obama's plan to move the suspected terrorists now at the military prison [...]
The Tribune's Clout St. disparagingly calls it red meat for Republicans but is a shrinking violet when describing terrorist detainees, some of whom have cut people's heads off and bitten Americans to death. I hardly think the usual political cynicism should color the issue. People in Illinois are [...]
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 [...]
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" [...]