Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 24,2011

Backing away from legalized video poker

A big question on a lot of Statehouse minds right now is: Why would Senate President John Cullerton all of a sudden decide to string out his members yet again on a dollar a pack cigarette tax hike whe

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 17,2011

Taxing retirement income won’t fly

By Rich Miller

One of the main reasons the Democratic Party did so poorly across the nation last year and lost ground in Illinois was the defection of senior citizens to the Republican Party. On election day, 2006,

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 10,2011

Bad news on the budget just keeps coming

By Rich Miller

If you thought that Illinois government might get a tiny breather after raising income taxes, think again.The Illinois House’s new revenue projection for next fiscal year, which begins in July,

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, March 3,2011

Madigan’s new idea: Let members have a say

By Rich Miller

After decades of dominating every tiny aspect of life in his legislative chamber, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan now appears to want his members to grow up a little and do some things for them

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 24,2011

Budget politics: What was Quinn thinking?

By Rich Miller

Child care advocates thought they had avoided $400 million in threatened cuts to the state’s child care services budget after speaking with top officials in Gov. Pat Quinn’s office earlier

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 17,2011

Outspoken Topinka isn’t shy about budget cuts

By Rich Miller

“Is it weird that I’m kind of glad to have Judy Baar Topinka back?” a Democratic friend of mine asked me the other day.No, I replied. It’s not weird. I’m glad she’s

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, February 10,2011

Quinn makes shameful cuts to child care

By Rich Miller

The state’s Secretary of Human Services met with a group representing child-care providers Jan. 31 and gave them some bad news. Prepare for $100 million in cuts to child-care programs, Secretary

Politics - Rich Miller | Tuesday, February 1,2011

Capital plan invalidated, now hinges on state Supreme Court

By Rich Miller

Billions of dollars worth of badly needed state construction projects on roads, bridges, schools and transit were abruptly halted last week when a state appellate court tossed out Illinois’ enti

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, January 27,2011

Stand for Children shows up with big bucks

By Rich Miller

An out-of-state education reform group raised a whopping $2.8 million in the days leading up to historic state caps on campaign contributions. All of the money raised by Stand for Children’s Ill

Politics - Rich Miller | Thursday, January 20,2011

Stormy weather ahead for tax-increase Democrats

By Rich Miller

Whether they admitted it or not, a large majority of Statehouse denizens was relieved last week when the General Assembly approved the income tax hike. Ironically enough, Republicans may have been the