Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Indications are growing stronger that the General Assembly may take on the issue of same-sex unions in the "lame duck" veto session. Tell us what you think.
Crain's Chicago Business reported last week that the Illinois General Assembly may be ready to approve gay marriage in January as part of the "lame duck" veto session. Crain's Greg Hinz wrote: "Legal gay marriage may be coming to Illinois as soon as next month. "After counting heads and consulting with legislative leaders, the chief sponsors of a bill to permit same-sex couples to get married in the state disclosed this morning that they intend to push for a vote in the General Assembly's lame-duck session, which will occur over two weeks just after New Year's. "And, in an indication of how big a campaign the pro side is launching, they've hired the firm founded by top presidential adviser David Axelrod to help them with media, …
Thursday, December 8, 2011
The Democrats' state district maps, signed into law in June, have withstood a legal challenge by state Republicans, according to the Chicago Tribune.
The ballot for the March 20 primary election has taken shape. But even as the filing period for candidates ended Monday, an important question remained: what about the district maps? On Wednesday, that question was answered. According to this Chicago Tribune article, an appeals panel of three federal judges rejected final arguments put forth by state Republicans against the new General Assembly maps, which Gov. Pat Quinn signed into law in June. State law requires that lawmakers draw up new legislative district maps each time there is a federal census. The new maps were drafted by state Democrats, without the input of their Republican counterparts, since Democrats control both houses of the General Assembly and the governor’s office. State…
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
She is touring all state community colleges to promote an Initiative for students to complete courses of study.
Illinois Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon visited Joliet Junior College on Thursday as part of a statewide campaign to see how the state’s community colleges are working to promote student completion. The tour is part of Simon’s look at the South Metropolitan Higher Education Consortium, of which Joliet Junior College is a member. The group of community colleges, four-year, and for-profit institutions has organized in a unit to share resources, streamline processing, and identify practices that could result in cost saving, as well as facilitate the transfer of community college students to four-year colleges. Simon was at Joliet Junior College to actively view these practices. As part of her tour Simon met with students, faculty, and administration, …
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Personal income taxes will increase from 3 to 5 percent once Gov. Pat Quinn signs Senate Bill 2505.
Legislators narrowly approved a 66 percent income tax hike early Wednesday. State Senators debated long into the night before passing a bill that will increase personal income taxes from 3 to 5 percent. The Senate's 30-29 vote came at 1:20 a.m. Wednesday. Senate Bill 2505, which also increases the corporate income tax rate from 4.8 to 7 percent, is part of Gov. Pat Quinn’s plan for digging out of the state’s $15 billion deficit. The bill passed the Illinois House of Representatives 60-57 on Tuesday. State Rep. Emily McAsey, D-Lockport, was one of 10 Democrats who voted against the bill. State Sen. A.J. Wilhelmi, D-Joliet, voted yes. The measure now heads to Quinn’s desk for approval. Once signed by the governor, the increases will take …
Dan Johnson
1:43 pm on Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The Supreme Court ruled on the matter of "separate but equal" in the 1954 case Brown v. Board of Education. The court recognized that "separate but equal" opportunities created a feeling of inferiority for the minorities being segregated, and that this feeling of segregation could cause permanent emotional injury.It was the feeling of segregation and therefore inferiority that caused the court to… more ›