31 Dec 2016

Illinois in Danger of Becoming a “Failed State”

By Rich Miller

Let’s take a look at headlines from just one day in December.

25 Dec 2016

E-mails Illustrate Governor's Hard-Line Outlook

By Rich Miller

If you want to see how Governor Bruce Rauner's mind works, you should skim through the vast trove of e-mails from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's private account that a Better Government Association lawsuit finally forced into public view last week. 

18 Dec 2016

Mud Already Flying in 2018 Gubernatorial Campaign

By Rich Miller

“This will be the most expensive race of our lifetime,” a Republican friend assured me last week about the apparently-already-begun 2018 gubernatorial campaign.

If Democratic billionaire J.B. Pritzker pulls the trigger and decides to run, we can expect that significant campaign spending could begin as early as next month – on both sides. And if last week is any indication, this is gonna be one nasty contest.

11 Dec 2016

Poison and Promise Cloud Prospects for Legislative Progress

By Rich Miller

Top folks in the governor’s office said they didn’t quite understand last week why the Senate Democrats and the spokesperson for House Speaker Michael Madigan were so upset with them about canceling last Thursday’s leaders meeting to discuss ending the long Statehouse impasse and finishing up a budget.

04 Dec 2016

Chicago Public Schools Bill a Veto Looking for an Excuse

By Rich Miller

As Senate President John Cullerton sees it, Governor Bruce Rauner “needed an excuse” to veto a bill last week that would’ve given the Chicago Public Schools $215 million for its June 30 pension payment. And Cullerton believes he turned out to be that excuse.

20 Nov 2016

Democrats Wavering in Their Support for Madigan

By Rich Miller

On election night, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan started making his usual post-election calls to his Democratic members asking for their support for his re-election as speaker. But at least a couple said they’d like to sit down with him before providing a firm answer.

13 Nov 2016

Democratic Losses in Illinois a Bad Sign for Madigan, Party

By Rich Miller

There’s been a lot of spin from the Illinois House Democrats about how Tuesday’s losses were not that big a deal. Don’t believe it.

06 Nov 2016

Vile, Mysterious Mailer Caps Off Foul Campaign

By Rich Miller

The innocuous-looking mailer began arriving November 2.

30 Oct 2016

Candidates Buying TV Ads in Unlikely Places

By Rich Miller

During any given campaign season, one or maybe two state-legislative campaigns wind up running ads on Chicago broadcast-television stations. But in the age of Governor Bruce Rauner’s gigantic campaign contributions, it may be easier to count the number of Chicago-area candidates who aren’t running any city broadcast ads.

23 Oct 2016

State Republicans Hedging Their Bets with “Rigged” Election Talk

By Rich Miller

Democratic House candidate John Bartman was appointed to the ballot in July when Representative Jack Franks (D-Marengo) dropped out of the race to run for McHenry County Board chair. Bartman is not getting help from the House Democrats, who appear to have all but conceded.

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