The Hype

SEEING GREEN The political dynamics of Illinois’ 115th House District are somewhat unusual. A former Democratic stronghold, the 115th elected conservative Mike Bost as their state representative in 1995. However, Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, many believe, provides a solid base of liberal-minded folk in the district as well. So in 2002 when Carbondale attorney Rich Whitney, running on […]

Betting on a gamble Not long after Gov. ROD BLAGOJEVICH announced his proposal to fund education by leasing the state lottery for $10 billion, the wordplay began. “Governor takes gamble on funds,” read one headline. Chicago Sun-Times columnist MARK BROWN announced that the “plan looks like a bad bet for schools.” Even state Treasurer JUDY […]

ILLINI NOISE Illinois lawmakers want entities that regulate intercollegiate sports to stay out of schools’ beeswax in terms of athletic nicknames, mascots, and logos. Earlier this month, Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Republican U.S. Reps. Tim Johnson, Ray LaHood, and Mark Kirk, along with Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerry Costello, co-sponsored the Protection of University Governance […]

Opportunity knocks State Republican and Democratic candidates made huge symbolic statements at last week’s annual meeting of the Illinois Association of Minorities in Government — the GOP by showing up, the Dems by, well, not. State Sen. Christine RADOGNO, a Lemont Republican vying for the job Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka is leaving, made an appearance. […]

It’s in the stars It’s official — there’s no love lost between JUDY BAAR TOPINKA and ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Astrologically speaking, Blago, a Sagittarius, and Topinka, a Capricorn, are a match made in hell. The Sagittarius, incumbent Democrat Blagojevich, is easygoing, in no rush to work out state fiscal matters, whimsical, always jumps headfirst into new […]

Drinking, competition Just think: apple martinis at Apple River Fort; Jack-and-Cokes at Cahokia Mounds — delicious, educational, and an additional source of revenue for Illinois. Senate Bill 2454, which allows booze to be sold at private soirees at facilities under the purview of the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is awaiting the signature of Gov. Rod BlagojevicH. […]

Bean Counting Last July, U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean was one of 15 Democrats who voted in favor of the Central American Free Trade Agreement. After CAFTA passed by two votes, some labor unions, who fought the bill’s passage and played a key role in Bean’s ouster of 17-term Republican Phil Crane in 2004, vowed to yank […]

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION MICHAEL ZIRI can now enjoy his summer. At last week’s meeting of the Capital Township — whose borders overlap those of the city of Springfield — township electors agreed to place an advisory referendum on the November general-election ballot giving residents the opportunity to take a stand on the occupation of Iraq. […]

Where’s the fire? Nowhere. Gov. Rod Blagojevich picked up a major endorsement this week from the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois — for whom, as first responders, a few seconds can be the difference between life and death. The governor arrived 23 minutes late. At least he didn’t disappoint. The governor’s notorious for being fashionably late. […]

AN ISSUE IN 2007? Now that spring has arrived, Capt. Deon Oliver, head of the Salvation Army in Springfield, says that, unfortunately, folks have moved on and forgotten about homelessness in the city. However, Oliver hopes that they’ll remember this time next year, when Mayor Tim Davlin goes up for reelection and five city wards each […]

COMIN’ OUT HARD Not a full day after locking up the Democratic nomination for governor, Gov. Rod Blagojevich came out swinging, unveiling ads attacking his opponent, GOP hopeful Judy Baar Topinka, and inviting her to participate in a series of debates. That’s funny, given that throughout the Democratic primary campaign Blago claimed that he was […]

PARTY TIME If Springfield’s election-night parties are at all indicative of how energetically followers will stump for their political parties, it’s a good thing Gov. Rod Blagojevich has $15 million in the bank. The Democratic, um, party at the Carpenters Union Hall on Tuesday night was about as exciting as the governor’s hair — and […]