Illinois Governor Alters an Election Law Bill to Convert Illinois Open Primary Into a Secret Open Primary

eliminates the requirement that a voter publicly declare party affiliation when voting at a primary election. Voting is a sacred right and as long as I am Governor, I will do everything within my power to protect each citizen’s ability to cast a ballot. With my recommendation today, a voter’s partisan preference will no longer be known to others. The decision to cast a primary ballot for one party or another will be strictly a matter of personal choice.

On July 13, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn used the Governor’s authority to amend a bill that the legislature had passed.  In particular, he amended an uncontroversial election bill to set up Voters Pamphlets on the internet.  Quinn amended this bill, HB 4842, so that the bill also switches Illinois from a public open primary to a secret open primary.  Here is the text of the bill as amended, which is 15 pages long.

Most observers believe the legislature will not permit the bill to become law.  If the bill were to become law, it appears to violate the Democratic and Republican Party national bylaws, which don’t recognize presidential primaries if they are secret open primaries (although the national parties have made exceptions for a few states

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Abuse Took Years to Ignite Belgian Clergy Inquiry - NYTimes.com

Behind an aggressive investigation of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in Belgium that drew condemnation from the pope himself lies a stark family tragedy: the molestation, for years, of a youth by his uncle, the bishop of Bruges; the prelate’s abrupt resignation when a friend of the nephew finally threatened to make the abuse public; and now the grass-roots fury of almost 500 people complaining of abuse by priests.

Click on the following for more details:  Abuse Took Years to Ignite Belgian Clergy Inquiry - NYTimes.com

Layoffs on the way - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

The Freeport Police Department’s staff will likely be reduced from 53 officers to 51 officers in the next two months, Chief Jerry Whitmore confirmed Monday….The union did not accept the city’s request for a pay cut in its new contract, a decision that created the strong possibility for a staff reduction.

The police union’s refusal to accept a wage freeze last year — union members received a 3.35 percent pay increase — led to a reduction of four officers through attrition, reducing the number of officers in Freeport from 57 to 53.

Click on the following for more details:  Layoffs on the way - Freeport, IL - The Journal-Standard

Counties worry about how to deal with cuts to funding for salaries

Proposed cuts to state reimbursements for salaries of public defenders and state's attorneys throughout the state have local county officials concerned about ramifications on upcoming budget planning.

State reimbursements are supposed to pay for two-thirds of these officials' salaries, but Quinn's proposed budget cut $8.5 million from the $14 million line items for state's attorney reimbursements and more than $3 million from the $5.7 million allocated for public defenders

Counties worry about how to deal with cuts to funding for salaries

Giannoulias pulls slightly ahead of Kirk in Ill. Senate race

 

The poll of 500 likely Illinois voters, taken by phone last week, has Giannoulias (currently Illinois state treasurer) with a 40-39 percent lead over Kirk, currently a congressman. That's well within the poll's 4.5 percent margin for error, meaning it's a statistical tie.

Click on the following for more details:  Giannoulias pulls slightly ahead of Kirk in Ill. Senate race

Sales Tax Holiday — Aug. 6-15 — to provide welcome relief in Illinois

Read about how well it worked in other states. 

The tax exemption applies to clothing and footwear with a retail selling price of less than $100. However, computers and computer supplies, PDAs and cameras are not eligible.

Click on the following for more details:  Daily Republican Register: Local News - Sales Tax Holiday — Aug. 6-15 — to provide welcome relief in Illinois

Two manufacturers moving to Hampshire :: The Courier News :: Local News

Rotec Industries Inc., which makes large concrete-handling machinery, has begun moving into one of the former Seigle's/Stock Building Supplies buildings on Industrial Drive.

And last week, the village board approved zoning to allow Dana Molded Products Inc. to build a 130,000-square-foot plant at the northwest corner of Gast and Flannigan roads….making cases for Red Box DVDs, plastic caps, appliance parts and cell phone parts. …expects the new factory to have 80 to 100 workers and anticipates many to be hired locally or to move to the Hampshire area.

Click on the following for more details:  Two manufacturers moving to Hampshire :: The Courier News :: Local News