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Monday, December 23, 2024

News from December 2016

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Drury weighs challenge to House Speaker Madigan

By Rockford Sun | Dec 29, 2016

Longtime House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) may be challenged for his post for the first time in many years.

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Illinois GOP offers hotel deal, tickets for presidential inauguration

By Rockford Sun | Dec 28, 2016

With hotel space for the presidential Inauguration ceremony in Washington filling rapidly, the Illinois GOP is offering a special opportunity for guaranteed overnight accommodations and inauguration tickets at the official Illinois Republican Party hotel in Arlington, Virginia.

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Documents indicate Pritzker cloaked donations to Madigan

By Rockford Sun | Dec 27, 2016

New concerns regarding potential gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker have surfaced following the exposure of cash contributions made from Pritzker-associated groups to Illinois House Democrats prior to November elections in amounts possibly as high as $200,000.

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Chicago Tribune calls for new speaker in Illinois House

By Rockford Sun | Dec 26, 2016

The Chicago Tribune’s editorial board has publicly called for the ousting of longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago), predicting that if he is not unseated, the state faces two more years of “dysfunction.”

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Madigan Machine includes big-money players Kennedy, Pritzker

By Rockford Sun | Dec 21, 2016

Emerging as big-money players in the perpetual Mike Madigan Machine are businessman Chris Kennedy, son of the late U.S. attorney general Robert F. Kennedy, and attorney, entrepreneur and philanthropist J.B. Pritzker, according to recently released financial data.

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Pro-growth reforms called for to stem exodus of millennials

By Rockford Sun | Dec 19, 2016

Citing worrisome data that indicates millennials are fleeing the state and taking their families with them, a Chicago-based think tank is urging state lawmakers to pass pro-growth reforms.

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Exelon bailout's true value for consumers unclear

By Rockford Sun | Dec 19, 2016

Legislation that will keep two nuclear power plants open, save more than 4,000 jobs and increase electric bills received Gov. Bruce Rauner's signature after it passed the General Assembly.

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State GOP robocall emphasizes Pritzker ties to Madigan, Blagojevich

By Rockford Sun | Dec 18, 2016

The Illinois Republican Party launched a robocall linking venture capitalist and possible gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker with House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

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Ives slams safe spaces, crying sessions for college students after election

By Rockford Sun | Dec 18, 2016

Iowa State Rep. Bobby Kaufmann (R-Wilton) has proposed a “Suck it up, Buttercup” bill that seeks to place a scrutinizing eye on safe spaces and cry rooms for college students who cannot cope with reality.

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General Assembly adjourns veto session without budget; stopgap expires Dec. 31

By Rockford Sun | Dec 16, 2016

As the clock ticks down toward the new year, budget talks remain at an impasse in Illinois and the stopgap budget will expire on Dec. 31.

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Munger blasts Dem lawmakers' 'cowardly' paycheck lawsuit as she leaves office

By Rockford Sun | Dec 15, 2016

Outgoing Illinois State Comptroller Leslie Munger blasted Democratic lawmakers on her final day in office.

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Newly launched website aims to expose Madigan's sphere of influence

By Rockford Sun | Dec 14, 2016

The Illinois Republican Party launched a website on the same day House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) again skipped a meeting with Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative leaders in Springfield.

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Columnist: Let Illinois voters decide on term limits

By Rockford Sun | Dec 14, 2016

Following an election year rife with accusations aimed at the “Madigan Machine” and other factions in Springfield, Chicago Sun-Times writer Mark Brown said recently that the time for term limits may have arrived in Illinois.

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Advocacy group: Income-related student-success gap in state persists

By Rockford Sun | Dec 13, 2016

Chicago-based independent education advocate Advance Illinois, which compiles data for its annual “The State We’re In” report, recently released its newest findings on the state’s education statistics, illuminating an achievement gap in need of rebalancing.

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Former state school employee Williams paid in $143K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $2.28M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state school employee Paul Williams, who retired in November 2016, saved $143,039 toward a pension over 24 years working for public schools, Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois records show.

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Former state school employee Thiesen paid in $12K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $294K in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state school employee Cynthia Thiesen, who retired in November 2016, saved $11,743 toward a pension over 5 years working for public schools, Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois records show.

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Former state university employee Mastroianni paid in $159K to pension fund, could collect $2.95M in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state university employee Michael Mastroianni, who retired in November 2016, saved $159,370 toward a pension over 19 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

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Former state university employee Perez paid in $13K to pension fund, could collect $230K in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state university employee Linda Perez, who retired in November 2016, saved $12,691 toward a pension over 16 years working for state universities, State Universities Retirement System of Illinois records show.

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Former state school employee Taylor paid in $42K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $555K in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state school employee Karen Taylor, who retired in November 2016, saved $42,094 toward a pension over 10 years working for public schools, Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois records show.

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Former state school employee Wanninger paid in $41K to teachers' pension fund, could collect $675K in retirement

By Local Labs News Service | Dec 1, 2016

Former state school employee Susan Wanninger, who retired in November 2016, saved $40,660 toward a pension over 11 years working for public schools, Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois records show.