12 Jul 2009

Lisa Madigan's Move Reveals Mike's True Agenda

By Rich Miller

"You guys are going to have to come up with a new conspiracy theory," Attorney General Lisa Madigan told Rockford Register-Star columnist Wally Haas last week about her decision to go for re-election and forgo runs for governor or U.S. Senate.

"I had it from a pretty good source as recently as Friday that she was going to run [for governor]," state Senator Brad Burzynski (R-Clare) told Haas about Ms. Madigan, adding: "It makes me wonder: What's [House Speaker Michael] Madigan's end game?"

So many people have assumed that Mike Madigan had sent this legislative session into overtime to somehow help his daughter become governor that they neglected to remember his long history as the House speaker.

Former House GOP leader Lee Daniels summed it up best to me not long ago: "Mike Madigan is Mike Madigan. He's one of the brightest leaders the state has ever had, but he's Mike Madigan. He's always been the way he is today."

08 Jul 2009

Not Immune to the Struggle

By Administrator

There are few plot lines in any good book or movie that don't evince man's age-old struggle against tyranny. These tales nearly always depict their heroes championing whatever battle needs fighting for freedom to prevail.  Why does this theme permeate all cultures of every generation since storytelling began? I think it is because this timeless struggle against tyranny is, at its core, man's struggle against original sin - man's innate need to dominate all things, most especially his own kind.

06 Jul 2009

IL Senator 2

By OpenCongress.org

Sen. Richard Durbin

Official website: http://durbin.senate.gov
309 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-2152 Fax: 202-228-0400
Contact Dick Durbin via web

06 Jul 2009

IA 1st Congressional District

By OpenCongress.org

Rep. Bruce Braley

Official website: http://braley.house.gov/
1408 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-2911 Fax: 202-225-6666
Contact Bruce Braley via web

06 Jul 2009

IA Senator 2

By OpenCongress.org

Sen. Charles Grassley

Official website: http://grassley.senate.gov
135 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3744 Fax: 202-224-6020
Contact Chuck Grassley via web

06 Jul 2009

IL 17th Congressional District

By OpenCongress.org

Rep. Bobby Schilling

Official website: http://schilling.house.gov/
  507 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-5905
Fax: (202) 225-5396

Contact Bobby Schilling via the web

06 Jul 2009

IL Senator 1

By OpenCongress.org

Sen. Mark Kirk

Official website: http://kirk.senate.gov/
524 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-224-2854

Fax:  202-228-4611

Contact Mark Kirk via web

06 Jul 2009

IA Senator 1

By OpenCongress.org

Sen. Thomas Harkin

Official website: http://harkin.senate.gov/
731 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-3254 Fax: 202-224-9369
Contact Tom Harkin via web

05 Jul 2009

Is Quinn Finally Learning the Game?

By Rich Miller

As with any state legislative overtime session and possible government shutdown, "job one" right now is making sure somebody else gets the blame.

Last week, Governor Pat Quinn dramatically vetoed an appropriations bill and then held a press conference to lay full blame for the overtime deadlock at the General Assembly's feet. The bill, he said, would create too many hardships for social-service agencies, spark never-ending lawsuits, prevent his administration from hiring much-needed contractors, etc.

Quinn also blamed House Speaker Michael Madigan for the impasse over extending the budget by a month or so to help buy more time to cut a deal.

Unbeknownst to many, Madigan was still in Springfield during Quinn's press conference, so it was quite a surprise when he announced his own presser shortly after Quinn finished talking to reporters.

04 Jul 2009

Iowa Politics Roundup: Culver Says Special Session Unlikely, but More Cuts Could Be Coming

By Lynn Campbell

Governor Chet Culver said Thursday he's "very confident" the state can balance its budget for Fiscal Year 2009 with no special session but warned that it's "very possible" he'll have to order an across-the-board cut in state government as early as next month for Fiscal Year 2010, which started July 1.

Culver said he'll likely ask the Revenue Estimating Conference to meet early - in August instead of September - so he can make any necessary cuts as early as possible.

"Based on what they tell us about the first quarter of fiscal year 2010, we will have nine months to react," Culver said. "It is very possible that I'll have to do additional cuts, and we're going to take that step as quickly as we know the facts."

When asked if an across-the-board cut was his preferred approach to a budget shortfall, Culver said: "I think that's fair to say. That is certainly a tool that we have. ... The more that we can do early in Fiscal Year 2010, the better. The less pain, if you will, that we'll have to implement in '11."

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