The men atop the two chambers of the Illinois General Assembly have some ideas on how to navigate politics.… MORE
Category Archives: Politics
Fall veto session recap from Springfield
The fall veto session has come and gone in Springfield with only one major accomplishment: allowing construction of nuclear power plants after a 36-year moratorium.… MORE
State legislature could lift a moratorium on building new nuclear plants
The Illinois legislature could have something to show for the 2023 fall veto session: allowing new nuclear power facilities again after a 36-year moratorium. … MORE
State lawmaker sponsoring bill for schools to have kosher and halal foods available
A bill outlining how kosher and halal can be used in schools is too easy to inadvertently violate, some lawmakers say.… MORE
Durbin: Finalizing budget must be bipartisan
U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) expressed hope that future federal budget discussions will be bipartisan, even after the House vote that removed California representative Kevin McCarthy from the speakership. … MORE
Members of the Illinois Freedom Caucus rally in Manteno
“I’ve got a feeling that Manteno’s not for sale!”… MORE
Illinois lawmakers could vote this fall to allow legislative staffers to unionize
Employees of the speaker’s office in the Illinois legislature may soon get the opportunity to unionize.… MORE
Speaker of the Illinois House leads contingent to Israel
The Speaker of the Illinois House led a contingent to Israel this month. State Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Deerfield), chairman of the Illinois Legislative Jewish Caucus, says there were about eight House Democrats on the trip. … MORE
Some Illinois Lawmakers want to rein in social media used by children
Stories of teen suicide fueled by social media fueled an Illinois Senate hearing Tuesday.… MORE
Illinois’ second-in-command return from Japan
A delegation led by Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton is back from Japan, and she believes the trade mission met its goal.… MORE
Blogs
Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all
By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …
Is federal mobilization the answer?
By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…
In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans
By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…
Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life
Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…