Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Major education proposal

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The governor announced a new, $6-billion education plan that could be paid for by selling or leasing the Illinois Lottery. The $10 billion ...
Monday, May 22, 2006

More background

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Last week I said most state positions are supposed to be protected from political influence, but the courts have ruled that some jobs, such ...
Thursday, May 18, 2006

More stressors

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This week has got to be a long one for the governor’s office, but the stressors likely started back in November when Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s ...
Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Buckle up

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State legislators will soon start talking about another way to bring fast cash to Illinois - privatizing the state's tollways. Indiana l...
Monday, May 15, 2006

Pick your poison

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Chicago politicians have had a tough week battling public perception, and it’s only Monday. Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s main re-election platform...
Friday, May 12, 2006

State employees fired

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Two state employees have been fired after a year-long investigation into the hiring practices of the state’s main administrative agency, Cen...
Thursday, May 04, 2006

School's out for summer

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The Senate approved next year’s state budget at about 10 p.m. Thursday. Leading up to the vote, Senate Republicans echoed the concerns hea...

Interesting 45 minutes

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There was a lot of hurry up and wait in the Capitol Thursday, as lawmakers tried to smooth out wrinkles in the pending budget. But one 45-mi...
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

House passes budget

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Rep. Edward Acevedo pushed the “yes” button along with every the other House Democrat to pass next year’s budget – without their Republican...
Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Not all on board

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The Latino caucus would push the “no” button if the budget were called for a vote as it stood Tuesday evening. Democratic Rep. Edward Aceved...

Not all on board

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The Latino caucus would push the “no” button if the budget were called for a vote on the House floor as proposed Monday. Democratic Rep. Edw...
Monday, May 01, 2006

Budget proposed

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A Democratic budget proposal became available online Monday afternoon, meaning lawmakers could take a vote by the end of this week. It also...
Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Closer ... but ...

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There’s likely an agreement on the governor’s college tuition tax credit, but there’s no telling whether a slew of pet projects will prevent...
Tuesday, April 25, 2006

Repeat offenses

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The state agency that is supposed to reduce bureaucracy again has been cited for mismanaging state contracts and failing to provide proof of...
Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Playing politics with money

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Rep. Ron Stephens, a Greenville Republican, repeatedly compared the state’s budget to a sinking ship and a half loaf of bread Wednesday. Dur...
Monday, April 17, 2006

Scandal fatigue

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A federal jury found former Gov. George Ryan, a Kankakee Republican, guilty of using public office for personal gain during his tenure as s...
Wednesday, April 12, 2006

No joking matter

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House Minority Leader Tom Cross began Wednesday’s brief day of business with a question about what was going on with the legislative schedul...
Tuesday, April 11, 2006

The wait just got longer

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The governor can check off a few items from his to-do list, but many more remain as the Senate adjourned until Tuesday, April 25. That’s mor...
Thursday, April 06, 2006

Stalemate on construction bonds

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Put another bucket under the leaky roof. Construction projects for nearly 300 schools and for numerous state roads will have to wait, at lea...
Wednesday, April 05, 2006

Governor in Springfield

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Gov. Rod Blagojevich met with two Democratic leaders in the Statehouse today to discuss the delayed budget. House Speaker Michael Madigan em...