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
Pat Hughes from “Upstream Ideas” recently recorded a scathing short video slamming state Senate Republican Minority Leader Christine Radogno for her participation in the crafting of a budget “compromise” which includes a tax increase on Illinois families. That video can be seen here: ‘Republican’ Minority Leader Radogno Looking Out For Herself Not You.
It should be noted that Sen. Radogno has been the senate GOP leader since 2009, and was recently reelected to that position by her fellow Republicans.… Continue Reading
It’s bad enough that, after decades of Mike Madigan’s leadership, the state can’t pay its bills. But now, his daughter, Attorney General Lisa Madigan, wants to take away the ability of state workers to pay their own bills.
Throughout the bitter dispute over the state budget, Madigan-Nemesis Governor Bruce Rauner has worked to keep the state government running so that core services are not completely shut down. The Governor has made clear that paying state workers for work that they do, while working to pass a balanced budget, is a top priority.… Continue Reading
The Illinois Policy Institute is proposing a budget conservative group leaders contend would put an end to the state’s nearly two-year impasse, closing a $7.1 billion deficit without adding any new taxes.
The Budget Solutions 2018 plan calls for comprehensive property tax reform — which Illinois Policy Institute execs insist amounts to $3.4 billion in savings — by taking simple steps like freezing property taxes over the next five years and putting an end to state subsidies and mandates that, the group argues, needlessly drive up the cost of government.
Illinois Politics | Admin | February 3, 2017 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Think Tank, State Reps Propose Budget Solutions 2018 Plan to Close $7.1 Billion Deficit
The state where both Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton used to live is still reliably Democratic when it comes to picking a president.
But drill a little deeper and it’s clear the political map changed, with more counties flipping from Democrat to Republican just as they did in states like Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, helping Donald Trump become president.
While Trump won a smaller percentage of the state’s overall vote than Mitt Romney did in 2012 due to dismal support in Chicago and its suburbs, he won a dozen more counties than Romney.… Continue Reading
Monte Larrick and Dave Smith discuss Governor Bruce Rauner’s recent signing of SB 1564 and note how winnable some political battles are if only more of us stepped into the public square. After detailing our civic responsibilities and why those duties are placed on citizens’ shoulders, Monte and Dave go over some ways we can impact our communities and our leaders.
Former Governor Pat Quinn, a fixture on the Illinois political scene for decades, has been on the statewide ballot many times, and also served as State Treasurer and Lt. Governor. Earlier this month, Reboot Illinois’ Matt Dietrichwrote this:
Before serving as governor from 2009 to 2015, Pat Quinn was known as a rabble-rousing reformer who, most famously, led a 1980 citizen initiative that cut the membership of the Illinois House by one-third.
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | June 30, 2016 6:00 AM | Comments Off on Term Limits: While Not A Panacea, Quinn & Rauner Advance Worthy Proposals (Part 2)
Former governor Pat Quinn agrees with Bruce Rauner, the guy who made him a former governor, when it comes to term limits. While Rauner continues to press for term limits for state legislative and statewide offices, Quinn has launched an effort aimed at the City of Chicago’s mayor. More on those proposals later. First, a few comments on the issue itself.
Limiting the years a person can serve in important political offices isn’t new.… Continue Reading
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | June 27, 2016 4:00 AM | Comments Off on Term Limits: While Not A Panacea, Quinn & Rauner Advance Worthy Proposals (Part 1)
This has been a theme of Miller’s since shortly after Rauner was inaugurated. [Recently] in a guest column at Reboot Illinois, he used the loss of two high profile Rauner-backed primary candidates to renew his call. Miller begins with this sentence:
It’s almost impossible to make a deal with somebody who won’t accept reality.
Let’s talk about reality.
Miller is correct that Rauner lost two races where he had made a significant investment. … Continue Reading
“Throughout history, it has been the inaction of those who could have acted; the indifference of those who should have known better; the silence of the voice of justice when it mattered most; that has made it possible for evil to triumph.” ~Haile Selassie
When it comes to the voice of pro-life leaders and legislators in Illinois, it’s not a cat that’s got their tongue, it’s an 800-pound elephant named Bruce Rauner.… Continue Reading
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
March 29, 2017 11:30 AM | 
Comments Off on Illinois Democrats Line Up to Run for Governor 
