Illinois State Sen. Daniel Biss appears to be the first Democrat to actively float his name for the 2016 special election for state comptroller. The Evanston Democrat is known as a policy wonk around the Statehouse, but he’s also a prodigious fundraiser, ending the fourth quarter reporting period with $721,000 in the bank. The special […]
Capitol Fax
Posted inOpinion
Illinoisans want Statehouse peace
A solid majority of Illinoisans want newly inaugurated Gov. Bruce Rauner to find common ground with the Democratic legislative majority rather than be confrontational, a new poll finds. However, most aren’t confident that the state’s leaders can avoid gridlock, and a majority believes the Democrats will be to blame. “Do you think Republican Gov. Bruce […]
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Remembering Judy Baar Topinka
Judy Baar Topinka PHOTO BY GINNY LEE As you already know, Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka passed away last week. Topinka had a stroke the morning of Dec. 9 but that’s not what killed her. In fact, by the afternoon, she announced she was going to walk to the restroom. Her Chief of Staff Nancy Kimme […]
Posted inOpinion
Low-wage laborers deserve better
Months ago, Emanuel scheduled a vote on raising Chicago’s minimum wage for the week after the General Assembly’s annual fall veto session. After the election though, retailers, restaurant owners and other business groups agreed to an eventual $11 an hour statewide minimum wage but only if Chicago and other home rule municipalities were not allowed […]
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Nobody is a sure thing in Rauner administration
Whenever a new governor is about to be sworn in, one of the most popular Springfield “parlor” games (which are usually not played in parlors, but in taverns, restaurants and friendly offices) is figuring out who is on their way out and who is on their way in. Of course, when a new governor is […]
Posted inOpinion
Will Rauner compromise or compete with Madigan?
Last December, Bruce Rauner appeared on a WLS Radio talk show program and revealed that he planned to form a new campaign committee to counter the power of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. “We’re gonna raise a PAC, we’re gonna raise a fund dedicated to the state Legislature, members of both parties who take the […]
Posted inOpinion
A two-faced race
Some of you will read this column before the election, and some of you will read it after. I suppose I could’ve written two columns, but I’ve been kinda busy, so let’s talk about one of the weirdest things that happened this campaign season. Earlier this year, ultraconservative activist Jack Roeser told me that his […]
Posted inOpinion
The demotion of Dave McKinney
Perhaps the worst thing to happen to journalism over the years is its simplistic overreliance on the mere “appearance of impropriety” to justify big, splashy stories. No actual wrongdoing need ever be found, just something that might look a bit fishy to a reporter’s overly suspicious eyes. It’s one of the nation’s most anti-democratic trends […]
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Rauner’s tax fantasy doesn’t add up
The most important question asked of Bruce Rauner during last week’s gubernatorial debate in Peoria was posed by Jamey Dunn-Thomason of Illinois Issues. My pal pointed out that Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) had cut taxes across the board on the theory that it would boost the state’s economy. His idea hasn’t worked. What’s happened […]
Posted inOpinion
The shape of Illinois leadership to come
OK, so what we’re gonna do today is discuss some congressional races that you may or may not care about in order to talk about the governor’s race, which you probably do care about since you’re reading this column. First up, let’s look at freshman Democratic Congressman Brad Schneider, who is leading former one-term Republican […]
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And the race continues
Just a quick note to Bruce Rauner: The next time you try to claim that Gov. Pat Quinn is “personally” under federal investigation (an allegation that, as far as anyone can tell, is not true), it’s probably best not to say it while standing next to a different governor who actually is “personally” under federal […]
Posted inOpinion
The early campaigner gets the numbers
The Illinois House Democrats launched their direct mail and TV program weeks earlier than the House Republicans in an attempt to knock the GOP candidates down before they even had a chance to stand up. The mail started going out not long after the mid-August Illinois State Fair. Four years ago, during a national Republican […]
