Cigarette taxes and the Republican right

By Rich Miller

As state legislative support for a cigarette tax hike grew in late May, anti-tax crusader Grover Norquist and other conservatives stepped into the Illinois fray.A top House Republican said over a week

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, May 24,2012

Quinn may be softening on gambling expansion

By Rich Miller

An often tense and confrontational meeting over gaming expansion last week ended with Gov. Pat Quinn not explicitly saying “no” to adding slot machines at horse racing tracks. That might b

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, May 17,2012

Cullerton may end legislative session May 31

By Rich Miller

Senate President John Cullerton has been telling some of his members for weeks that he was resigned to an overtime session. The General Assembly likely wouldn’t be able to adjourn by the schedul

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, May 10,2012

Smith may give us an embarrassing circus

By Rich Miller

Call it “Blagojevich Lite,” or whatever else you want, but it became pretty darned clear last week that state Rep. Derrick Smith’s attorneys are planning the same sort of mockery of

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, May 3,2012

Legislature dawdles while public opinion tanks

By Rich Miller

State Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) may have more legal troubles than his federal bribery indictment. U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has told the House’s Special Investigating Committee that

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, April 26,2012

Quiet before the Statehouse battle

By Rich Miller

“It’s so quiet,” sighed Pippin in The Fellowship of the Rings. “It’s the deep breath before the plunge,” counseled Gandalf. “I don’t want to be in a bat

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, April 19,2012

Lyons of the House

Issues aside, a respected and fair legislator will be missed

By Rich Miller

Retiring state Rep. Joe Lyons, D-Chicago, said a debate on the House floor last month was his “finest hour.” He was probably right.Lyons successfully fought off five hostile floor amendmen

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, April 5,2012

Jesse White reflects on the mess he made

By Rich Miller

I’ve been pretty rough on Secretary of State Jesse White lately. I have no regrets about it, and I believe I had good reason to put the onus on him to correct his mistake of appointing state Rep

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 29,2012

Jesse White takes a tumble

By Rich Miller

It’s difficult not to contemplate how Secretary of State Jesse White has screwed up lately on so many fronts.Secretary White has managed to mostly avoid scandals throughout his life and as a res

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 22,2012

Rep. Genius, and a kickback scheme gone awry

By Rich Miller

Appointed state Rep. Derrick Smith, D-Chicago, hasn’t been in the House very long, but few would ever have picked him as a future legislative star. He stumbles badly during debates, isn’t