tagged w/ Illinois Politics
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Illinois legislators took the first step this week toward legalizing civil unions for same-sex couples.
The bill squeaked through a legislative committee in Springfield Wednesday.
The measure would not legalize same-sex marriages, but it would grant gay couples many of the benefits of marriage. They would have the right to visit their partners in hospitals, make medical decisions and more.
HB2234 creates the Religious Freedom Protection and Civil Union Act.
Rep. Deb Mell, who is gay, said 648 state laws -- on topics from inheritance to health care -- help married couples.
"I find it very strange that I can be elected to the General Assembly and vote on rules and laws, but these don't apply to me and my family," said Mell, D-Chicago. "We're not protected." (Good Point)
State Rep. Greg Harris, the chairperson of the committee and the sponsor of the measure, said in a statement published on the Windy City Media Web site that “this is legislation about fairness and establishing equal rights for everyone in our great state. At the heart of the debate over this bill is a fundamental question: Do the people that this bill applies to deserve the same rights as evreyone else? The answer is ‘absolutely.'”
Opponents argue that civil unions amount to gay marriage by another name.
The House Youth and Family Committee approved the bill by a 5-4 vote, according to the Associated Press. The Chicago Tribune reported the vote was 4-3.
It now heads to the House floor.Illinois legislators took the first step this week toward legalizing civil unions for... more
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On March 4, 2009, the Illinois House gave the green light to bill HB2514, which would allow people who suffer from debilitating illnesses (e.g., Cancer, HIV/AIDS, MS, and more) and chronic pain conditions upon a doctor's permission---acquire a state registry card that would allow the person to possess up to two ounces of "usable cannabis" and also allow up to seven marijuana plants growing within their own homes.
Though the bill has passed the House Committee by a 4-3 vote, the bill still needs grass roots support from the people of Illinois in order to make it a reality. There are still a lot of people who, for one reason or another, don't agree with this kind of "compassion". Many people begin the anti-medical marijuana rhetoric through throw-backs to the Nancy Reagan "Just Say No" days.
For education and more information on this subject, visit the Marijuana Policy Project website: www.mpp.org.On March 4, 2009, the Illinois House gave the green light to bill HB2514, which would... more
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In the latest blow to workers in the struggling financial services sector, Bank of America (BAC) on Thursday said it will eliminate as many as 35,000 jobs in the next three years, to better position itself in a recession that already is hurting business.
In the latest blow to workers in the struggling financial services sector, Bank of America on Thursday said it will eliminate as many as 35,000 jobs in the next three years, to better position itself in a recession that already is hurting business.
The bank says it will also eliminate many redundant positions after it completes its merger with brokerage firm Merrill Lynch on Jan. 1.
WHAT BofA SAYS: Read the release
“Clearly, there will be duplication of positions, and there are many high-cost employees on the investment banking side that won’t be needed,” says Eric Boyce, a portfolio manager at Hester Capital Management in Austin.In the latest blow to workers in the struggling financial services sector, Bank of... more
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The firestorm surrounding Governor Blagojevich is putting some heat on Barack Obama’s transition team. White Cult News has learned about possible conversations between a top Obama aide and the governor regarding the open senate seat. The White Rabbit Cult has the exclusive.The firestorm surrounding Governor Blagojevich is putting some heat on Barack... more
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Move over Steve Martin… we have a new person to star in the remake of the classic comedy movie… “The Jerk“. And this person Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich!!!Move over Steve Martin… we have a new person to star in the remake of the... more
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It has all finally caught up to this crooked Politician.
Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was arrested this morning by federal agents, according to the Chicago Tribune. The paper, which cites a single unnamed source, says it couldn't confirm the information with a spokesman for the Democratic governor or federal prosecutors.
The charges have not been disclosed.
The FBI has been conducting a wide-ranging investigation of corruption in the Blagojevich administration.
Earlier this morning, the Trib reported that federal investigators were authorized to surreptitiously record the governor while he was choosing a replacement for President-elect Barack Obama in the U.S. Senate.
Update at 9:26 a.m. ET: The Chicago Sun-Times says it has confirmed the Blagojevich arrest with an unnamed source of its own. A news conference is expected later today.
Update at 9:34 a.m. ET: The Associated Press says Blagojevich and his chief of staff were taken into custody.It has all finally caught up to this crooked Politician.
Illinois Gov. Rod... more
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After more or less running the state of Illinois (except, of course, for the city of Chicago) from the mid-1970s until a few years ago, the state’s GOP is in an overwhelmingly sorry state. They currently have zero statewide elected officials…They are the minority party in both the state House and Senate…And there aren’t even any up-and-coming figures in the party that average Illinoisans could identify (or have even heard of). But the first strike back may be coming – AND from an unexpected source.
In 1996, education administrational superstar Paul Vallas was appointed by Mayor Daley to help bail out the city’s troubled school system. He succeeded, but not without occasionally stirring up trouble with his powerful one-time booster on the 5th Floor of City Hall. In 2001, after the latest clash with "Da Mare," he resigned, eventually going on to prominent school-district positions in Philadelphia and New Orleans.
But, first, in 2002 in Illinois, he dipped his toes into electoral politics. In that year’s Democratic Gubernatorial primaries, Vallas ran a close second to eventual Governor Rod Blagojevich. It looked as if he might have a strong chance in the ’04 Senate primary or even another shot at Governor in ’06…but, instead, he moved along to the other school-leadership positions.
Today, Vallas has moved his family back into the state (into Cook County, in fact) and is commuting to New Orleans as he apparently wraps thing up in that position. The initial thought was that he might have been eying the 2010 Governor race, where Blago – if he even chooses to run again – looks very weak and beatable. In fact, The Obama campaign – undoubtably channeling ideas and concerns from Daley and Sen. Durbin and other prominent IL Dem leaders – invited Vallas to appear in Denver and even speak at the Democratic Convention (in one of the early-in-the-day, lesser speaking spots).
However, Vallas turned down the offer...
Read the rest at: http://stonecipher.typepad.com/the_stonecipher_report/2008/09/illinois-gop-se.html
After more or less running the state of Illinois (except, of course, for the city of... more
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Welcome to Illinois politics, home of Lincoln, Stevenson, Dirksen, Daley, Obama…as well as a crapload of other, lesser figures who are often professional and cagey, but also often…uh...just crappy.
Sure, we may well be providing the US with its next President, but we also are to blame for the recent one-term Senatorial blips of Peter Fitzgerald and Carol Moseley Braun. And, there’s also worse – much worse...For example, of our state’s last eight Governors, three of them – Otto Kerner, Dan Walker, and George Ryan – have served time in prison. (And, quite frankly, the current Gov. Rod Blagojevich, seems more than a bit nervous about the various investigations and rumors swirling around his administration.)
So…to provide a current overview of the kings and queens, the wild-cards, and the flat-out jokers in Illinois politics, here’s the first of a two-part report – this posting focusing on the more internal-facing IL state politicians while part two looks at the external influencing political leaders from this state:
(Important Note: Keep in mind that WHEN Barack Obama is elected President, these are the men and women who will likely be selecting his Senatorial successor...in fact, I’d call it a solid 95% bet that one of the people listed in these two posts WILL BE chosen as the next US Senator from Illinois…)
Read the rest at: http://stonecipher.typepad.com/the_stonecipher_report/2008/08/beyond-obama-an.htmlWelcome to Illinois politics, home of Lincoln, Stevenson, Dirksen, Daley,... more
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