Health & Fitness

Cullerton-Madigan face off; Stantis cartoon-Madigan "fixes" state lawmaker map: Who stole the grand from GOP?;Your Reboot Illinois Daily Tip Off

Reboot Illinois has a side-by-side look at the Democrats' competing pension bills. How about fixing that legislative map mess? Reboot's Matt Dietrich remembers when Republicans ruled Illinois.

FIX IT? I'LL FIX IT Chicago Tribune cartoonist Scott Stantis doesn't think the legislative map-drawing process in Illinois is broken, In fact, it's fixed. He shows how in today's cartoon.

LET'S REALLY FIX THE FIX! The cartoon above pokes fun at the way politicians create job security by drawing legislative maps that virtually guarantee their re-election. We're working with CHANGE Illinois! to fix the fix that's in on map-making and create a more independent process for drawing them. Join us at a town hall in Peoria and read more about the map reform plan here.

AND IN THIS CORNER...Who wins in the great pension bout between House Speaker Michael J. Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton? We shall see. Who nails the differences in the competing proposals? Reboot Illinois, of course! We present our side-by-side comparison infographic today. Need help with compounded COLA, simple COLA, pensionable income... it can be a challenge keeping up with the differences and the different jargon of pension reform. Our new infographic will help you keep track of what's in the two hottest pension reform bills in Springfield. 

Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

WHO STOLE A GRAND FROM THE OLD PARTY? Do you remember when Republicans reigned in Illinois? No, we're not suggesting you're as old as Abe Lincoln. Just about three decades ago, Republicans began a run on the governor's mansion that lasted a long, long time. When will that happen again? The Illinois financial disaster would seem to tee it up for the Republicans in Illinois, but will their constant public feuding prevent it? Who might sow the seeds of grandness again? Reboot Illinois Executive Editor Matt Dietrich ponders it all here.

DAILY TIP-OFF  How about some gambling at your fingertips whenever you're near your smartphone, tablet or computer? Is Internet gambling on its way to Illinois? Crain's Chicago Business Columnist Greg Hinz has the details of a measure coming out from behind Cullerton's closed doors in Springfield in the waning days of the spring legislative session.

Should Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel be cutting health care subsidies for city retirees when he's spending nearly as much on a new basketball arena near McCormick Place? That move has Fraternal Order of Police President Mike Shields steamed in a Chicago Sun-Times story.

The Chicago Teachers Union isn't just taking it to the streets anymore. The union filed suit in federal court to try to stop the closing of 53 public elementary schools. Their argument is that the closings will unduly harm African American and special education students. The Washington Post runs down the details. How will the courts rule?

Is fracking a jobs boon or an environmental bust? A bill to regulate hyrdraulic fracturing, or fracking, is up for debate today in Springfield. Kyna Legner, a field director for a pro-fracking group, Energy in Depth, argues in the Southern Illinoisan today that fracking has been done for 60 years and ought to be done in Illinois.

Want more details? Find links to those Illinois news stories and others in the Daily Tip-Off section of our website.

Find out what's happening in Palatinewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

 

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