Written by Russ Stewart
The “Laquan McDonald Monster” has surfaced, and unlike the Loch Ness Monster, it is tangible, palpable and deadly. Those 16 bullets will be remembered by black voters in 2016, and a torrent of rage — and votes — will be directed in the March 15, 2016, Democratic primary against both Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez and any non-black candidates closely associated with Mayor Rahm Emanuel and police superintendent Garry McCarthy.
Over the past 50 years, there have been periodic “galvanizing” moments among local black voters, precipitating an electoral eruption and the defeat of candidates deemed hostile.… Continue Reading
Tags: Andrea Zopp, Anita Alvarez, Barack Obama, Barb McGowan, Bernie Carey, Black Panthers, Christian Mitchell, Cook County, Donna More, Dorothy Brown, Ed Burke Jr., Ed Hanrahan, Election 2016, Garry McCarthy, Harold Washington, Hillary Clinton, Jane Byrne, Jason Van Dyke, Joe Berrios, Josina Morita, Karen Yarbrough, Ken Dunkin, Kim Foxx, Laquan McDonald, Mariyana Spyropoulos, Michelle Harris, Mike Madigan, Richard M. Daley, Roderick Sawyer, Todd Stroger, Tom Dart, Tom Greenhaw, Toni Preckwinkle
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | 
December 10, 2015 7:21 AM | 
Comments Off on LaQuan Backlash Will Devour Alvarez in 2016
Written by Austin Berg
Chicago City Council passed the largest property-tax hike in modern city history by a vote of 36-14 on Oct. 28, approving Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2016 budget proposal.
The budget includes a $588 million property-tax hike to be phased in over the next four years.
In short: Chicagoans are likely to take a closer look at their upcoming tax bill, as homeowners and small-business owners will need to see just how large a hit their family’s bottom lines will take.… Continue Reading
Written by Heather Niemetschek
On June 4, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 1287, including three amendments that made up the Democrats’ version of a workers’ compensation reform package. But the overarching theme of the debate was whether the amendments could be called “reform” at all.
A careful review of HB 1287 shows the House passed a bill lacking the cost-saving reforms Illinoisans desperately need.
Gov. Bruce Rauner has remained adamant for months that reform of the workers’ compensation laws in Illinois is one of the most important structural changes the General Assembly must address this session before the governor will consider revenue increases.… Continue Reading
Written by Russ Strewart
“Not Rahm.” “Anybody But Rahm.” “Any Alderman Who Is Not A Stooge For Rahm.” Those were the clear victors in the Feb. 24 municipal election.
Chicago’s heretofore esteemed mayor, Rahm Emanuel, has been absolutely, totally, completely humiliated. His gargantuan ego has shriveled. The scope and size of his rejection is breathtaking.
Chicago has 1,421,430 registered voters and a population of 2,695,598. On Feb. 24 in the nonpartisan mayoral election, 472,126 people voted.… Continue Reading
Written by Russ Stewart
Remember that old verity, you get what you pay for? Often, you don’t. In Illinois politics, however, you pay for what you get, and the candidate who pays the most is the candidate who gets.
Bruce Rauner is Illinois’ governor because during 2014 he raised $78,191,560 and spent $58,426,802. Roughly $25 million of his receipts came from his own pocket. Self-funding, in essence, bought him the governorship.
Rauner beat Pat Quinn 1,823,627 to 1,681,343, getting 50.3 percent of the vote and winning by a margin of a margin of 142,284 votes.… Continue Reading
Tags: Bill Brady, Bruce Rauner, George Ryan, Jim Edgar, Jim Thompson, John Cullerton, Marty Moylan, Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, Rosemary Mulligan, Scott Walker, Susan Sweeney
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | February 26, 2015 3:30 PM | Comments Off on “Spend-To-Stay” Alive and Well in Illinois
Written by Russ Stewart
The Nov. 4 election, for Democratic politicians in Chicago, will be a “UPS moment.” Which committeemen among the 50 Chicago wards will deliver, and will their delivery be decisive and intimidating?
With Chicago politicians already heavily focused on the Feb. 24, 2015, municipal election, and those with statewide ambitions intensely pondering the state landscape for 2016 and 2018, the 2014 vote will, to use that old expression, “separate the men from the boys.”… Continue Reading
Tags: Bill Brady, Bill Lipinski, Bob Fioretti, Bob Shaw, Bruce Rauner, Gery Chico, Howard Dean, Jesse White, John Cullerton, John Daley, Karen Lewis, Lisa Madigan, Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, Paul Schrimpf, Rahm Emanuel, Richard Daley, Tom Hynes
Illinois Politics | David E. Smith | October 2, 2014 7:45 AM | Comments Off on November Election Result will be “UPS Moment”
Written by Dan Proft, IllinoisOpportunity.org
This week two Chicago Democrat politicians who are farther out over their skis than Eddie “The Eagle” Edwards ever was (I’ve got Winter Olympics fever) will tell us their version of the state of United States of America, and the state of the State of Illinois.
They will explain to us that with just a few structural tax increases, and a price control or two, we could be living in a modern Utopia not even H.G.… Continue Reading
