Written by John Biver
Over the weekend veteran Chicago news reporter Bill Cameron had Pat Brady as a guest on his weekly program and podcast. Yes, that Pat Brady — the disgraced former chairman of the Illinois Republican Party, who was hired by the radical ACLU to convince weak-kneed and malleable Republicans to vote for marriage redefinition in 2013. On Monday, a friend brought it to my attention in an email and asked:
“Why does Bill Cameron go to a disgraced Republican who was chased out as GOP chairman for a supposedly conservative reaction to Donald Trump’s first few months as POTUS?
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Written by John Biver
J. B. Pritzker is a billionaire venture capitalist, philanthropist and attorney from Chicago–and as of a few days ago, he is an announced candidate for governor of Illinois. He is heir to the Hyatt Hotel fortune and a guy who can compete with millionaire Chris Kennedy when it comes to campaign dollars. In fact, Pritzker has said that he will self-fund.
Pritzker, 52 years old, is estimated to be worth about $3.4 billion dollars.… Continue Reading
Written by Carol Ostrow
Even as Gov. Bruce Rauner continues to strive toward a potential state budget solution, House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) “delays and offers nothing,” the Chicago Tribune recently reported while continuing its coverage of Illinois’ hemorrhaging finances.
Editors at the newspaper have bemoaned the probability that the ringing in of the spring legislative session means “still more menacing news to Illinois,” stating that the newest proof of systemic breakdown lies neither in the impotent stopgap spending plan, nor in the recent mass outmigration from the Land of Lincoln, where population losses recently exceeded those of any other state.
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Written by John Biver
Last time we discussed Democratic Party declared gubernatorial candidates Bob Daiber and Chris Kennedy, before that Daniel Biss. Rounding out those formally in the race at this point are Alex Paterakis and Ameya Pawar.
We noted previously that candidate Daniel Biss is young — but he’s not the youngest candidate in the race. That position is held by Alex Paterakis, born in 1987 — and as we go to press he hasn’t seen his 30th birthday yet.… Continue Reading
Polls are open from 6 a.m. – 7 p.m. today!
Written by John Biver
Back on March 1st the Illinois Family Action held a staff meeting and before getting to the business of the day, executive director Dave Smith asked me if I heard that Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s choice for Mayor of Aurora had lost the previous day.
That’s when I remembered that February 28, 2017 was Consolidated Primary Election day.
I forgot to vote!… Continue Reading
Tags: 2017 Election, Cody Holt, Consolidated Election, Enoch Essendrop, Jean Forrest, Joe Walsh, Katherine David, local elections, Ralph Bonatz, Renata Sliva, school board races
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
April 4, 2017 5:00 AM | 
Comments Off on Today is Election Day — Get Out and Vote!
Written by John Biver
Last time we wrote about Daniel Biss, an Illinois state senator who has declared his candidacy for governor in the Democratic Party’s primary. Today we’ll introduce two more:
- Bob Daiber of Marine, Illinois, former teacher, current Madison County Regional Superintendent of Schools.
- Chris Kennedy of Kenilworth, a real estate investor, former Chairman of the University of Illinois Board of Trustees and member of the Kennedy family.
Bob Daiber, 60 years-old, from downstate Marine, Illinois (just east of Edwardsville), entered the race for governor back in February.… Continue Reading
Written by John Biver
Twenty months is a long time in politics. Like it or not, here in Illinois, that is how long the campaign for governor will be. In November 2018, Illinoisans will once again be going to the polls to elect or re-elect someone to run the executive branch — and that race is already underway. There are five Democrats who have announced their candidacy, and several more are rumored to be considering a run.… Continue Reading
Tags: Alex Paterakis, Ameya Pawar, Bernie Sanders, Bob Daiber, Bruce Rauner, Chris Kennedy, Daniel Biss, Donald Trump, Mike Madigan, Robin Kelly
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | March 29, 2017 11:30 AM | Comments Off on Illinois Democrats Line Up to Run for Governor
‘Transgender’ Use of School Locker Rooms
Policy on the April 4th Ballot
Written by John Biver
Early voting has already begun in some locations. On the ballot will be candidates for municipal, township, park district, school board and other local governing bodies.
Too many voters think these races are not important, so turnout is typically very low. When turnout is lower – every vote carries much more weight. We have the chance to make a greater impact if we vote and encourage like-minded family, friends and neighbors to also vote.… Continue Reading
Written by Carol Ostrow
Illinois lawmakers are using a seemingly surreptitious way to give themselves pay raises: creating new and useless committees for which they are automatically paid an extra $10,326 as chairmen, a Chicago-based think tank is arguing.
The Illinois Policy Institute (IPI) says that legislation enacted in the House in January created 12 new standing committees, bringing the total to 45.
“In Illinois, bloat doesn’t discriminate,” senior writer Austin Berg wrote on the group’s website.
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Written by Austin Berg
Illinoisans are struggling to pay the highest property taxes in the nation, and that’s largely due to unfair overspending in local governments.
But you wouldn’t know it by asking your local elected officials. Especially not now.
“Free money” that local governments get from the state could be on the chopping block, and that means bureaucrats within Illinois’ nearly 7,000 taxing bodies would finally be held accountable for their spending choices.
Take Quincy, where Mayor Kyle Moore said that a property tax freeze and cuts to giveaways of state income tax dollars would necessitate cutting city services.… Continue Reading
