Tag Archives: Pat Quinn
Senator Apologizes For Nazi Reference About State Director
A Democratic state senator who compared Governor Pat Quinn to Hitler is apologizing for his remarks. Senator Donne Trotter, who’s from Chicago, made the comment to WUIS on Monday. He was expressing his frustration with Quinn’s support for the director … Continue reading
“Fracking” Plan Advances In Illinois House
A plan to regulate the oil and gas drilling process known as “hydraulic fracturing” is moving forward in the Illinois House. It’s made halting progress all spring as environmental groups negotiated over whether the legislation had enough protections to keep … Continue reading
Senators Call For Gov. Quinn To Replace DHFS Director
Two key factions in the Illinois Senate majority say the director of the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services needs to go. Julie Hamos has been director of HFS since 2010. After last year’s cuts in health care for … Continue reading
GOP Senators: Gill Appointment Part Of Political Deal
Illinois Republicans are crying foul over the governor’s appointment of a state health official. They say it’s a political deal meant to pave the way for a Democratic congressional candidate next year. Dr. David Gill of Bloomington was appointed the … Continue reading
Senate Sends Medical Marijuana To Governor
The Illinois Senate approved legislation Friday that would legalize the medical use of marijuana. Brian Mackey has more: In the end, the vote was not that close — 35 senators voted yes, 21 no. Sen. Bill Haine, D-Alton, sponsored the … Continue reading
Public Pensions’ Fate Rests Largely With Divided Democratic Leaders
A plan that will leave state employees and teachers with reduced retirement benefits made it out of the Illinois House Thursday, potentially paving the way for the pension overhaul that has thus far eluded lawmakers. But it also ignites a … Continue reading
In Legislative First, Illinois House Passes Pension Overhaul
The Illinois House of Representatives on Thursday approved a massive overhaul of state pensions. It’s the first time the House has passed such a plan after more than a year of negotiating and many failed attempts. Its also the first … Continue reading
Police Honor Officers Killed On Duty
Police officers from across Illinois gathered in Springfield Thursday to honor colleagues killed in the line of duty — including one killed in 2012. On the Monday after Thanksgiving, Illinois State Police Trooper Kyle Deatherage was patrolling on his motorcycle on … Continue reading
Illinois Legislators Weigh In On Olympic Wrestling
Illinois lawmakers are “weighing in” on Olympic organizers’ decision to drop wrestling from the summer games. The Illinois House passed a resolution encouraging the International Olympic Committee to reinstate wrestling as an Olympic sport. The state Senate is poised to … Continue reading
Illinois Senate Approves Gambling Expansion
The Illinois Senate has once again approved an expansion of gambling. But it remains to be seen whether Governor Pat Quinn will go along with the plan. LISTEN: The full Senate debate of gambling expansion. The legislation would create new casinos … Continue reading
AFSCME To Re-Vote On State Contract
Illinois’ new deal with the state’s largest public employees union could be null and void. The union is going to take a second vote on its contract agreement with Governor Pat Quinn’s administration. It took 15 months for AFSCME to … Continue reading
Gov. Quinn Making More, Giving Less
Governor Pat Quinn‘s tax returns show he made more money last year … but he gave less to charity than he did in 2011. Governor Pat Quinn’s making more money, now that state employees and officials are no longer taking … Continue reading
Quinn Signals Caution On Bill To Raise Speed Limit
This week, Senators gave their okay to raising the speed limit on Illinois highways, but Governor Pat Quinn isn’t so sure. Drivers could legally put the pedal to the metal a BIT more under a measure recently approved by the … Continue reading
Personal Stories Push Medical Marijuana Through Illinois House
The Illinois House of Representatives approved the medical use of marijuana Wednesday. The legislation still has to be voted on by the Senate and signed by the governor before people will be able to seek out the drug. But the … Continue reading
Activists, Victims Call For Gun Regulations
As Illinois lawmakers consider lifting the concealed-carry ban, activists rallied to call on legislators to also enact new gun regulations. A court has given the state until early June to pass a law allowing people to carry guns in public. … Continue reading
Gov. Quinn: Never Visited Jacksonville Or Murray Developmental Centers
Under the direction of Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois is closing another state facility for people with severe developmental disabilities. He shuttered the Jacksonville Developmental Center last year. Next, is the Murray Developmental Center, in Centralia. But he admits he has … Continue reading
Republican Rauner Invites Legislators To Campaign Meeting
According to a recent analysis of polling by The New York Times, Illinois’ Pat Quinn is the second least popular governor in the U-S. Needless to say, that has lots of politicians eyeing his job. One, wealthy Republican considering a … Continue reading
Corporate Tax Policy Tug Of War Begins
The perennial game of tug-of-war over state taxes has begun. Governor Pat Quinn wants legislators to close what he calls “corporate tax loopholes.” The Governor’s office says Illinois could save $445 million by closing three so-called loopholes.
Gov. Quinn Going to Mexico
Governor Pat Quinn is on his way to Mexico Wednesday. Quinn says the focus of his trip is on improving trade between Mexico and Illinois. QUINN: “The way I see it, the governor of Illinois — that’s my job — … Continue reading
Quinn: Online Gambling Proposal “Problematic”
The latest version of a plan to give Illinois more casinos also bets on a type of wagering currently not allowed at all: Internet gambling. But as Amanda Vinicky reports, the Governor’s not interested in playing. Governor Pat Quinn has … Continue reading
AFSCME Members Say “Yes” To New State Contract
State employees who are members of AFSCME have voted overwhelmingly to accept the terms of a new state contract. The union announced the results last evening. Governor Pat Quinn and the union spent 15 months bargaining, until finally coming up … Continue reading
DCEO Fights For Its Life As Legislators Debate Privatization
Governor Pat Quinn’s administration is fighting to keep control of its economic development arm, as legislators debate moving to a private model. DCEOpriv1 Illinois’ success at keeping, and attracting, companies remains under scrutiny — especially since Sears and the Chicago … Continue reading
Quinn Expected To Issue Executive Order Eliminating Dozens Of State Boards
Illinois Governor Pat Quinn may have a hard time getting most of his budget through the General Assembly, but he is expected to act today on one proposal that doesn’t require getting legislators’ approval. Governor Quinn is set to follow … Continue reading
Searching for Surprises in Quinn’s Budget Speech
There were few surprises Wednesday in Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address to the Illinois General Assembly. He called it a “difficult” proposal, with steep cuts in spending on education. So we challenged Statehouse reporter Brian Mackey to find seven things … Continue reading
Memo Outlines How Much State Retirees Could Have To Pay For Health Care
Governor Pat Quinn’s tentative agreement with the state’s largest government-employee union would finally implement a law to make retired state workers pay for their health care, regardless of ability to pay, or how long they worked. According to a memo … Continue reading
Electric Rate Plan Surging Through General Assembly
The Illinois Senate is quickly advancing legislation that will allow Illinois’ main utilities to charge customers more for electricity. Illinois legislators already gave Commonwealth Edison and Ameren the go-ahead to raise rates, in 2011. They passed a law over Governor Pat … Continue reading
Federal Approval of Illinois’ Insurance Exchange Expected
Illinois could receive federal approval of a key component of Obamacare as early as today. Illinois needs the federal government’s okay before it can begin rolling out what’s known as an “insurance exchange” — that’s a marketplace where the uninsured … Continue reading
At Unions’ Pension Summit, ‘Not a Whole Lot’ Accomplished
Union leaders met with Governor Pat Quinn and members of the legislature Monday to talk about the state’s underfunded pension system. They billed it as a chance to work together on a divisive issue. But as Brian Mackey reports, the … Continue reading
Quinn Challenges Lawmakers to Tackle ‘Hard’ Issues
In his annual State of the State address Wednesday, Gov. Pat Quinn gave members of the General Assembly a laundry list of legislation he’d like to see passed, affecting everything from the minimum wage to guns to pensions. Brian Mackey … Continue reading
Business Prepares to Battle Over Minimum Wage
Governor Pat Quinn called for a hike in the minimum wage in his State of the State address Wednesday. Business groups are already preparing for a fight, but as Brian Mackey reports, there might be room for compromise. Quinn wants … Continue reading
Quinn Won’t Comment on Madigan Run for Governor
Attorney General Lisa Madigan says she’s considering a run for governor. That would mean a primary fight against incumbent Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, who says he wants to keep his job. But Quinn declined to talk about it Tuesday after … Continue reading
School Safety Subject to Local Control: Quinn
Governor Pat Quinn held a summit on school safety Tuesday in Springfield. The gathering was spurred by last month’s shooting at an elementary school in Connecticut. Brian Mackey has more. The meeting brought together police, school administrators, teachers’ unions, and … Continue reading
New Lawmakers, But Issues Remain the Same
Among the Illinois politicians sworn in to the new General Assembly on Wednesday, nearly one in five are first-time state lawmakers. But the issues they’ll be facing in the coming months have been around for a long time. Pensions, guns, … Continue reading
Senate President Urges House To Pass Pension Plan For State Employees
Negotiations for a complete overhaul of Illinois’ underfunded pension systems continue. But the president of the state Senate continues to push for a measure his chamber approved months ago. In May, the Senate passed legislation that reduces state workers’ and … Continue reading
