Health & Fitness

Pension bill passes; Where were GOP votes?

Pension reform bill is finally passed in the Illinois House with full coverage inside, asking whether Rauner's clout problems hurt is GOP chances, asking about the GOP's chances, and more.

WHERE WERE GOP PENSION VOTES? PLUS: MADIGAN SPEAKS

Though House Republicans consistently have demanded large-scale pension reform and accused the Democratic counterparts of stalling and obstructing reform, only 22 of 47 Republicans voted for a major reform bill that passed Thursday. Yes, it was was easy for everyone to find some part of the bill to dislike, but Reboot editor Matt Dietrich salutes those who put the state's needs over ideology and/or political expedience. Plus: House Speaker Michael Madigan gives his thoughts in an impromptu interview. He's not happy with public sector union leadership.

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

STANTIS DISLIKES MADIGAN'S BILL, LIKES HIS POINTY NOSE

Chicago Tribune cartoonist Scott Stantis may not love House Speaker Michael Madigan's pension bill, but clearly he loves to draw Madigan.See the whole thing!

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

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HOW DID YOUR REP VOTE?

Curious how your state rep voted on perhaps the most important bill in state budget history? Check the tally here. If your rep voted "no," look him or her up and ask why.

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CAMPAIGN 2014: SIMON PREPARING? RAUNER SCHOOL CLOUT TROUBLE?

Will reports that GOP candidate for governor used political clout to get his daughter into a prestigious Chicago public school resonate negatively with voters? Is Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon prepping for her next campaign? We discuss it today on our Campaign 2014 blog.

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IL GOP IMPLODING: DOES IT MATTER?

Former GOP State Rep. Jim Nowlan laments that his party is imploding and wonders if it even matters.  "(T)he Illinois GOP is saddled with a right wing that imposes a litmus test on its candidates-'if you're not pro-life and conservative on social issues, we don't want you, and we will beat you in low-turnout primary elections,' which they can." The result? Democratic super-majorities in the House and Senate as of this year. Nowlan vents in his weekly column.

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DISGRACEFUL TREATMENT

The state's most vulnerable citizens suffer the most as Illinois pays its bills up to four months late. We talk to the head of a suburban agency that serves the developmentally disabled about the struggles to keep the doors open while waiting until August for the state to pay what it owes. This kind of treatment really is a disgrace. Read it here

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DAILY TIP-OFF

As you might guess, the House passage of Speaker Michael Madigan's pension bill dominates the news linked in our  Daily Tip-Off section today.

For starters, both the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times are fully behind the bill as it heads to the Senate. Sun-Times: "(I)t's time, after years of going nowhere, for the Legislature to get a comprehensive and lasting pension deal done." The Tribune editorial board, meanwhile, is on its feet giving a standing ovation to all 62 House members who voted for the bill.

Will Gov. Pat Quinn finally sign a bill to give Chicago a casino and expand gambling all over the state? Maybe, reports WBEZ Chicago.
Chicago Public Schools says it overestimated its savings from closing 54 school by $122 million, reports WBEZ.


You'll find links to these and other important Illinois news articles in the Daily Tip-Off section of our website.

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