One of the problems with applying "appearance of impropriety" rules to Illinois and Chicago politics is that most of the players are swimming in a very small political pond. We're constantly treated to stories about how this or that political insider connected with Chicago Mayor Richard Daley is representing a company that just landed a sweet city contract.
The more one delves into the misinformation that abounds relative to the proposal by Isle of Capri (IOC) to build a 10-story hotel and five-story parking ramp on downtown Davenport's scarce riverfront, the more outrageous the whole concept becomes.
Here is one simple and very powerful idea to help economic development in Iowa: The currently high ordinary income tax on business capital gains needs to be replaced with a capital-gains tax to provide an incentive for entrepreneurs to create more jobs in our state.
You could physically feel the political ground shifting last week as Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley announced he would no longer accept campaign contributions from city contractors and members of their immediate families.
The Mississippi riverfront is Davenport's number-one marketable asset - its front lawn, its Central Park, its Grand Canyon view. Any new or enhanced commercial use of the downtown riverfront requires careful long-range planning that includes comprehensive citizen involvement.
The reaction by the Religious Right to the passage of a gay-rights law in Illinois has been predictably loud and aggrieved. But the law's critics have universally zeroed in on one key argument - a claim that churches and religious institutions will now be forced by the government to hire gays and lesbians.
On February 2, I attended an open-mic session run by Ellis Kell at Mojo's Café in the River Music Experience. My tour through the music museum beforehand was both enlightening and entertaining. Earlier that day I had read in the Reader of both the center's change in focus and the subsequent change in directors.
Red Burchyett is getting his wheelchair and his job back. That's good news for Mr. Burchyett, who was laid off several weeks ago from his mechanic's job at the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
I happened to watch Monday's briefing with the White House press corps and Bush Press Secretary Scott McClellan. The focus was on the Iraqi vote that took place over the weekend. At first, McClellan's responses to what, for the most part, were innocuous, typical questions appeared positive, even uplifting, rooted in the spirit of freedom and democracy.
A quick note to the everyone at the River Cities' Reader. I was shocked to read the articles on the RME issues. (See "River Music Experience's New Direction Dashes Dreams" and "Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes," Issue 513, January 26-February 1, 2005.

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