By Stacy St. Clair and Sara Olkon - Chicago Tribune - 7/3/09
When a politically connected Greek Orthodox priest wanted help getting the daughter of a family friend into the University of Illinois, he reached out to a campaign adviser to state Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias.
Giannoulias' political director came through, getting the applicant into the university's...
Gov. Pat Quinn, House Speaker Michael Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton, do you think the people of Illinois expect too much of you?
They elect you to provide for their well-being and public safety. They urge you to thoughtfully spend the tens of billions of dollars they send to you every year. They ask you to resolve your...
SPRINGFIELD - Setting up a showdown over tax increases, Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday vetoed part of the state budget lawmakers had approved, saying it would have forced "disgraceful and shameful" cuts to Illinoisans who need state help the most.
As a result, Illinois currently has no budget as it heads into...
By Rick Pearson and Ray Long Chicago Tribune July 2, 2009
SPRINGFIELD -- The state's new budget year got off to a politically dubious start Wednesday when Gov. Pat Quinn vetoed what he called an inadequate plan to fund human-services programs and vowed a renewed push for an income tax increase.
The governor's move jeopardizes future payments to social-service...
Investigators from the Cook County state's attorney's office wrapped up a raid early this afternoon at the Suburban Cook County Regional Office of Education in Westchester . They arrived with a search warrant early this morning in connection with an ongoing investigation into Supt. Charles Flowers.
By Rick Pearson and Ray Long Chicago Tribune 6/1/09
SPRINGFIELD -- State government limped into a new budget year Wednesday without a solid spending plan and rookie Gov. Pat Quinn threatened to drag the fight out all summer until he gets an income tax increase.
For the third year in a row, Democrats who control Springfield failed to reach agreement...
By Monique Garcia - Chicago Tribune - June 30, 2009
Gov. Pat Quinn this afternoon scolded state lawmakers, saying he will veto any state budget that doesn't provide enough money to keep social services going.
"If this General Assembly sends me a partial budget that decimates the social safety net of our state, I will veto that budget," said Quinn, addressing...
Citizens, congratulations. Your relentless pressure on Democrats in the Illinois legislature has kept them from greasing a big tax increase without doing the difficult work that needs to come first. This is a moment of great opportunity: Keep demanding reform in ethics and spending from those Democrats -- and from Republicans who...
SPRINGFIELD - Illinois House Republicans want embattled U.S. Sen. Roland Burris to resign. They have introduced a resolution calling for him to quit the job he was given by ousted former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
House Republicans tried to get immediate action on the resolution Wednesday, but the Democratic majority wouldn't...
