Senate President John Cullerton said he is "interested in exploring" an older retirement age and a cap on the maximum retirement benefit.
But those are potentially "the only changes" he's prepared to support, Mr. Cullerton added, because, "compared to other states, benefits in Illinois are not overly generous."
Click on the following for more details: Senate Prez Cullerton backs limited cuts in state worker pensions | Greg Hinz | Crain's Chicago Business
Broadway's chief executive, Demetris Giannoulias, Alexi Giannoulias' older brother, told the Tribune the family must raise at least $85 million by the end of April to stave off government seizure.
Demetris Giannoulias said he doesn't expect the government to drag its feet on shutting the bank if capital-raising efforts come up short.
From 2004 through 2006, Broadway was one of the country's most profitable community banks….Broadway relied almost strictly on real estate deals to make money….During 2007 and 2008, Broadway paid the family about $70 million in dividends. Is the family in a position to bail the bank out?
Click on the following for more details: Alexi Giannoulias: Broadway Bank troubles hurt Alexi Giannoulias’ Senate campaign - chicagotribune.com
Illinois Senate today approved a measure that would move the primary election date from the first Tuesday in February to the third Tuesday in March.
Carlinville Democrat Sen. Deanna Demuzio, the sponsor of SB 355,
Citizens fight against a backdoor referendum in DeKalb County.
On Feb. 17, the county board passed 22-1 an ordinance that allows the county to issue $45 million in bonds to finance expansions of the courthouse and jail.
residents have 30 days to file a petition asking that the issuance of the bonds be submitted to referendum.
Sycamore resident Josh Boies is coordinating such a petition effort and said he just wants voters to be given the chance to weigh in on the county’s proposal.
The petition needs 4,201 signatures to be valid, according to DeKalb County Clerk Sharon Holmes.
ALGONQUIN -- Village officials plan to levy fines up to $50,000 against Rockford-based Amcore Bank for building code violations at the unfinished condo project it owns at Routes 31 and 62.
the village plans to levy per-day fines ranging from $25 to $1,000 for each violation, with a $50,000 overall maximum. The individual fine amounts will be determined at a March 31 adjudication hearing and will be backdated to Jan. 27
Click on the following for more details: Fines loom for unfinished Algonquin condo project :: The Courier News :: Local News
"Immigration law and immigration enforcement is a federal law enforcement agency matter."
We want to have a safe and secure community," she said. "Those that are here in our community violating the laws regardless of their residency status is what we focus on -- that is the line that we draw in order that we can maintain that trust with our community so that we can have criminal activity being appropriately reported."
Click on the following for more details: Stronger federal action urged on illegal immigration :: The Courier News :: Local News
Not a solution to the health insurance problem but perhaps some scrutiny would help. Remember to click on the links that are underlined for further information.
Astonishingly, the health insurance industry is
exempt from federal antitrust laws, which is why a handful of insurers have become so dominant in their markets that their customers simply have nowhere else to go. But that protection might soon end: President Obama on Tuesday announced his support of a House bill that would repeal health insurers’ antitrust exemption, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi signaled that she would put it toward an immediate vote.
The 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act made it official, exempting insurers from antitrust scrutiny and giving states the power to regulate them, although not necessarily any power to regulate rates
America’s five largest health insurers made a total profit of $12.2 billion last year; that was 56 percent higher than in 2008, according to a report from Health Care for America Now
A 2008 survey by the Government Accountability Office found the five largest providers of small group insurance controlled 75 percent or more of the market in 34 states, and 90 percent or more in 23 of those states, a significant increase in concentration since the G.A.O.’s 2002 survey
Click on the following for more details: Robert Reich (Bust Up the Health Insurance Trusts)
Free Lecture and Open to the Public!
Thursday, March 4th, 2010
7:00pm-9:00pm
McHenry County College Conference Center
8900 US Hwy 14
Crystal Lake, IL
[prisons] increasingly have been turned over to private contractors, creating a monstrous "prison industrial complex" whose profit depends on people to punish. Dr Gaddis calls for a revolution - "a revolution in values." He persuasively argues that what we need is not new prisons, but a powerful movement for social transformation in health care, housing, education, drug programs, jobs, and education.
Click on the following for more details: http://www.triblocal.com/Woodstock/Detail_View/view.html?type=events&action=detail&sub_id=147786
FOIA under attack
The following is a list of bills before the General Assembly aimed at curtailing the state Freedom of Information Act, as well as their chief sponsors:
• House Bill 5069 (Rep. Patrick Verschoore, D-Rock Island): The bill would increase the amount that public bodies can charge for copies by eliminating the limit of 15 cents a page, the $1 limit for certification, and the requirement that the first 50 pages be provided free. It also would eliminate the requirement for public bodies to provide files kept electronically in an electronic format.
• Senate Bill 2978 (Sen. John Millner, R-Bloomingdale): The bill would eliminate the requirement that courts award attorneys fees to requesters who successfully sue public agencies over a denied FOIA request. It also allows agencies to withhold employee disciplinary records short of a criminal conviction, and expands governments' ability to withhold records by citing ongoing investigations.
• House Bill 5154 (Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora): The bill would exempt from FOIA performance evaluations for all public employees.
• Senate Bill 3040 (Sen. William Haine, D-Alton): The bill would exempt from FOIA the performance evaluations of police officers and sworn peace officers.
• House Bill 5143 (Rep. Michael Connelly, R-Naperville): The bill would prohibit the release of "files and personal information" of any applicant for a professional license or any license holder facing discipline. It also bars release of "files and personal information" of people who receive social, medical, educational, financial and other services from public bodies, and the personal information of participants in park, forest preserve and conservation district programs.
• House Bill 5007 (Rep. Art Turner, D-Chicago): The bill creates a Juvenile Justice Mortality Review Team to review deaths of juveniles in state correctional custody. It exempts the team's records from release, and exempts it from compliance with the Illinois Open Meetings Act.
Click on the following for more details: Revised FOIA under attack | Daily Chronicle
“I look at (political signs in the right of way) as being public litter,” Peterson said. “People have an obligation to know the law and comply with the law when they’re campaigning.”
[Judge] Young said he did not find beyond a reasonable doubt that Peterson was guilty of theft, as it is defined by state law, but he did warn him to not remove any more signs. Peterson has no authority to remove the signs and should have contacted the property owner, the election office or the proper municipal official.
Click on the following for more details: Former Belvidere mayor found not guilty of theft - Rockford, IL - Rockford Register Star
