East St. Louis paid big legal fees to state senator's firm - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL

 

Posted Jul. 4, 2015 at 5:01 PM

EAST ST. LOUIS — A published report says cash-strapped East St. Louis paid state Sen. James Clayborne's law firm more than $775,000 in its first year as the city's corporate counsel.

The Belleville News-Democrat reported in a story published Saturday that it's more than twice the amount nearby Belleville paid for similar legal services.

The newspaper cites treasurers' reports in its story.

Clayborne is a Belleville Democrat. He did not respond to the newspaper's request for comment.

He's a founding partner at Clayborne, Sabo and Wagner in Belleville.

Some East. St. Louis officials say the fees paid for legal fees are a concern. The total for East St. Louis in 2014 was $902,450, compared with Belleville's $461,985.

Questions about the fees come as East St. Louis' finances are already under scrutiny

East St. Louis paid big legal fees to state senator's firm - News - The State Journal-Register - Springfield, IL

Letter: Cheers to Supreme Court, boos to Rauner's real agenda - Quad-Cities Online: Letters

Posted: Saturday, July 4, 2015 11:00 pm

Letter: Cheers to Supreme Court, boos to Rauner's real agenda

If you were to listen to the rantings of some people, you would think that the Supreme Court overthrew the government of the United States. One letter writer went so far as to say that it was our country's darkest hour.

Really, get a grip. If our county's darkest hour was a week that gave every single person in the Ccountry access to health care and anyone the right to marry, then this is one fantastic country. No lives are lost, no one is hurt, and in fact lives will probably be saved due to everyone now having access to health care and all those on the right can do is complain.

 

Also it is getting tiring listening to those on the right try to paint Gov. Bruce Rauner as being the adult in the room during the ongoing budget negotiations.

The governor's budget was further out of whack than the one he was presented with. The issues that he is holding firm on have nothing to do with the budget process but are only intended to gut collective bargaining.

To all of you slow learners out there, these issues pertaining to collective bargaining and prevailing wage are subject to legislation, not the budget process.

The truth is plain and simple, the governor has no social conscience and is willing to inflict collateral damage on the states most vulnerable in order to serve the interests of his wealthy friends and destroy collective bargaining in the State of Illinois.

Gregg Johnson,

East Moline

Letter: Cheers to Supreme Court, boos to Rauner's real agenda - Quad-Cities Online: Letters