Before last Friday’s horrific school shooting in Connecticut, people on both sides of the concealed carry debate were saying privately that they did not expect Attorney General Lisa Madigan would appeal her major loss at the hands of the U.S. Court of Appeals. As you already know, a 7th Circuit panel in Chicago voted 2-1 […]
Capitol Fax
Posted inOpinion
Facts about State senator’s bust for carrying
One of the most fascinating things about the media frenzy surrounding state Sen. Donne Trotter’s arrest last week was that not one of his Democratic 2nd Congressional District opponents immediately jumped in front of the cameras to comment publicly about the matter. They stayed silent even when Trotter, D-Chicago, announced after he was bonded out […]
Posted inOpinion
Driver’s license bill revived by huge Latino vote
Five years ago, most Illinois House Republicans, including House GOP Leader Tom Cross, voted against a bill which would’ve allowed undocumented immigrants to obtain state driver’s licenses. The conservative rhetoric against the legislation was very harsh. Even so, it was approved by the House, but was never called for a floor vote in the state […]
Posted inOpinion
Fahner goes too far trashing pension reform
For the past few years, the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago has been one of the most feared participants in the state’s pension reform debate. Ty Fahner, a former Illinois attorney general who heads the Civic Committee, managed to convince both parties to elbow each other for a position of favor with […]
Posted inOpinion
Latino voting soars in Illinois
Back in 1992, Latinos made up about 8 percent of Illinois’ population, yet only 1 percent of that year’s total Election Day voter pool was Latino. The trend continued for years. Latinos just didn’t vote. Twenty years later, things have changed in a big way. According to exit polling, 12 percent of Illinois voters last […]
Posted inOpinion
Madigan machine moves heaven and earth
There’s nothing quite like the spectacle of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan when he’s out to get somebody. Just ask state Rep. Skip Saviano, R-Elmwood Park. The two men used to be allies, even friends. Saviano supported Madigan’s daughter when Lisa ran for state attorney general. But then Lisa turned against Saviano’s political mentor, the […]
Posted inOpinion
Illinois’ escalating super PAC arms race
Independent expenditures in state legislative races are closing in on the $2 million mark since July 1, with most of that spending coming in the month of October, Illinois State Board of Elections records show. Last March, a federal judge struck down Illinois’ law capping contributions to so-called state super PACs. Since then, according to […]
Posted inOpinion
Campaign committees dodge money cap law
One way of getting around the state’s new campaign contribution caps is by forming a lot of different campaign committees. State law forbids people from forming more than one committee (except for independent expenditures, political parties and state legislative leaders), but nothing in the law prevents “friends” and allies from forming their own committees to […]
Posted inOpinion
Polls blind to state representatives’ shenanigans
I have two poll results to tell you about today. One is about an alleged criminal; the other is about a proven liar. Expelled state Rep. Derrick Smith (D-Chicago) is leading his only opponent by 38 points and is close to the 50 percent he’ll need to reclaim his seat. According to a poll of […]
