22 Apr 2003

Is the U.S. Senate Calling Former Illinois Governor?

By Rich Miller
Republicans have waited a long time for some good news in this state, and it finally arrived last week. U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced he wouldn't run for re-election, and former Governor Jim Edgar hinted that he just might enter the race.
15 Apr 2003

Educators and Boats Gripe About Illinois Budget Proposal

By Rich Miller
The cacophony of angry voices has started rising to a fever pitch in the wake of Governor Rod Blagojevich's state budget address last Wednesday. Most of the complaining is coming from three areas: riverboat owners; elementary and secondary educators; and higher-education institutions.
08 Apr 2003

Stock Traders Buy Their Own Reporters in the Illinois Statehouse

By Rich Miller
A new source of cash fell into the laps of Springfield lobbyists this past week. Several New York-based stock-trading firms have hired statehouse lobbyists. But they don't want the lobbyists to lobby for or against anything.
01 Apr 2003

Illinois Governor's Administration Becoming a Comedy of Errors

By Administrator
The state's new deputy governor, 29-year-old New York native Bradley Tusk, evidently has a lot to learn. Tusk was appointed to the important job not long ago even though he has absolutely no Illinois political experience and has never managed anything larger than a tiny staff.
25 Mar 2003

Governor's Borrowing Plan Could Be Bad for Illinois

By Administrator
You might have heard that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich wants to "re-finance" some state debt, which will supposedly free up $1.9 billion to help close the state's massive $4.8-billion budget deficit. But the media coverage of this plan has been ill-informed, at best, mainly because the governor has done a good job of obfuscating the issue.
18 Mar 2003

Legislator Pays the Price for Fighting Illinois House Speaker Madigan

By Rich Miller
Back in the day, Ray Frias was one of the sharpest political operators at the Illinois statehouse. The Chicago south-sider was first elected to the Illinois House in 1992 after securing the unlikely support of the Illinois State Medical Society, a usually Republican-leaning group with very deep pockets.
09 Mar 2003

Illinois' New Deputy Governor Faces a Rough Ride

By Administrator
The general reaction to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of Bradley Tusk as his new deputy governor to replace Doug Scofield is not exactly drawing rave reviews. Scofield resigned as deputy governor to "spend more time with his family" after less than two months on the job.
04 Mar 2003

Illinois Governor Stacks Deck for Telecommunications Giant

By Rich Miller
Just when you think you've seen it all, Pat Quinn hits the mute button - a device nobody ever thought he possessed. Lieutenant Governor Quinn, a self-styled consumer activist, has for well over 20 years raged against the political clout wielded by the company formerly known as Ameritech, then Ameritech/SBC, and now just plain ol' SBC.
25 Feb 2003

Legislator Learns to Say "No"

By Administrator
Illinois State Representative Julie Hamos (D-Chicago) begged me last week not to make her out to be some kind of lone-wolf hero or get her in trouble with her fellow legislators. But what she did rates a notice.
18 Feb 2003

Illinois Governor Hits the Ground Stumbling

By Rich Miller
Just one month into his term as governor, Rod Blagojevich has already alienated legislators and other politicians who should be completely in his corner. Last Tuesday, a group of 20 elected African-American officials from Chicago's west side, including U.

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