John Sullivan, a Democrat from Rushville, was the biggest surprise winner of the 2002 election in Illinois. Political observers still wonder how Sullivan beat Laura Kent Donahue, a popular Republican state senator, in a Republican-leaning district. Sullivan was a factor in why Senate Republicans refused to cooperate with the Democrats during last year’s session: They […]
Rich Miller
Rich Miller publishes Capitol Fax, a daily political newsletter, and CapitolFax.com.
Posted inOpinion
Seeking inspiration
Despite easily winning two consecutive statewide elections, a recent Chicago Tribune poll has Comptroller Dan Hynes at just 14 percent in the U.S. Senate race. Even worse, Hynes is tied with two of his opponents, Maria Pappas and Barack Obama. How can Dan Hynes possibly be polling just 14 percent in this race? And how […]
Posted inOpinion
Small potatoes
“A prosecutor once described political corruption as a ‘time-honored tradition’ in Illinois, but the scandal outlined in a 91-page indictment against former Gov. George Ryan might be the worst yet,” the Associated Press claimed last week. At the risk of sounding like an apologist for this state’s Public Enemy Number one, gimme a break. Most […]
Posted inOpinion
Remembering Paul Simon
My father is a Barry Goldwater Republican. He never voted for a Democrat — until 1984. To this day, dad sports a “Goldwater for President” campaign sticker on his prized 1963 Cadillac convertible. But in the year of the Ronald Reagan landslide, my dad voted for his first Democrat, U.S. Senate candidate Paul Simon. My […]
Posted inOpinion
Like a rose
Every year, at least one big corporation hires top lobbyists, signs up a PR firm, cuts a deal with pliable and influential third parties, and descends on Springfield with a clever proposal in hand. And every year, the big corporation wins. The media scream, reformers lament the influence of money on government, and nothing changes. […]
Posted inOpinion
The circuit breaker
Up until the afternoon of Nov. 18, it looked like Commonwealth Edison had it made in the shade. House Speaker Michael Madigan had signed off on what was thought to be the final draft of ComEd’s bill to help it purchase Decatur-based Illinois Power Co. Everyone was all smiles, including the Citizens Utility Board. CUB […]
Posted inOpinion
Ruffled feathers
You’ve probably heard that Gov. Rod Blagojevich is fighting with state legislators again. This time, he’s claiming the General Assembly is on a “spending orgy” and tossing around taxpayer money like “drunken sailors” who have “run amok.” We’ve seen this time and time again. The governor often tries to control the General Assembly’s behavior by […]
Posted inOpinion
Power play
Commonwealth Edison has come a long way from the bad old days when it was constantly trying to find underhanded, sneaky ways to bill consumers for its overpriced, and then-unfinished, nuclear power plants. ComEd’s service territory was infamous for having the highest electric rates in the Midwest, and the third highest rates in the country. […]
Posted inOpinion
Battle royale
Addison Township was once king of the state’s Republican hill. The Illinois Senate President (James ‘Pate’ Philip), House Republican Leader (Lee Daniels) and state attorney general (Jim Ryan) all lived in the eastern DuPage County township. When people talked about the power of DuPage County Republicans, they were really speaking of Addison’s enormous strength. But […]
Posted inOpinion
Reality bites
A fascinating month-long political standoff may finally be coming to a close in Kankakee County. The trouble started when Gov. Rod Blagojevich promised state Rep. Phil Novak (D-Bradley) a seat on the Illinois Pollution Control Board. Rep. Novak, who has specialized in environmental and utility issues during a House career that has spanned three decades, […]
Posted inOpinion
What I did on vacation
I can only take so much of Illinois politics before I begin to go a little crazy. Don’t get me wrong, Illinois politics is my life. I truly enjoy my job. But, eventually, the bickering, the corruption, the pettiness starts to infect my soul and I gotta stop for a while. The last real vacation […]
Posted inOpinion
Roadside attraction
I spent much of my childhood on a farm in rural Iroquois County. One of my most pointless chores was mowing the ditches. It was dangerous work. The mower–or the tractor, depending on the ditch–could tip over while you were negotiating the steep inclines. I heard lots of harrowing stories about farmers (my granddad included) […]
