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Carol Ostrow News

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State GOP: In election's wake, Dems may want to rethink allegiance to Madigan

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 14, 2016

Illinois Republican Party Executive Director Nick Klitzing released a memo following last week’s election results detailing the challenges that now lie before House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) and the Democratic Party in the Land of Lincoln.

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Think tank: AFSCME an '800-pound gorilla' that bullies state, taxpayers

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 14, 2016

Terming the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) an “800-pound gorilla at the negotiating table,” the Illinois Policy Institute recently examined the relationship between the union and Illinois workers, suggesting that the balance of power tends to tilt toward the union.

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Watchdog: Southern Illinois voters rule personal-injury lawyer lobby out of order

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 14, 2016

Demonstrating their preference for judges and legislators unafraid of personal-injury attorneys’ clout, Illinois voters made their views on the matter of lawsuit abuse abundantly clear on Election Day, a state watchdog group said.

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Rocky road anticipated for Illinois Dems in election's wake

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 14, 2016

Following the general election, regional political analysts suggested that Republican victories in Illinois had more to do with Democratic challengers being intentionally tied to House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) in the public’s mind than initially anticipated.

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Tribune gives Duckworth low marks for tenure at state veterans agency

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 7, 2016

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth's (D-IL) record was assessed recently by the Chicago Tribune as largely ineffective.

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Jimenez praises pharmacy titan's drug drop-off box program

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 7, 2016

To celebrate both Walgreens’ innovative program and its newest Springfield medication drop-off location, state Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (R-Leland Grove) recently joined officials at the store’s 2020 S. MacArthur Blvd. branch.

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Butler praises Rauner’s plan for state's Bicentennial celebration in 2018

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 7, 2016

State Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield), a Peoria native who has long been active in local civic life, recently lauded Gov. Bruce Rauner’s approach to Illinois’ Bicentennial Celebration, set for 2018, commending his initiative in establishing a Bicentennial Commission.

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Madigan documentary available online, on TV, in theaters

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 4, 2016

“He’s been called the ‘King of Illinois’ and is considered more powerful than the governor,” begins the documentary about longtime Speaker of the House Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), now available for viewing online.

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GOP: Mendoza dispute over unpaid bill reflects on fiscal credibility

By Carol Ostrow | Nov 2, 2016

Contrary to speculation, Susana Mendoza, Democratic candidate for state comptroller, hasn’t sued Best Buy over bill payments.

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'Million Dollar Mike’ ads target candidates through Madigan

By Carol Ostrow | Oct 24, 2016

“Vote NO On Million Dollar Mike,” a series of video ads produced by an Illinois political action committee, has drawn the attention of constituents as it reflects on responses to the long reign of Springfield’s career politicians.

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State GOP accuses Schneider of exploiting campaign-finance loophole

By Carol Ostrow | Oct 23, 2016

Former U.S. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Dist. 10) who is running against U.S. Rep. Robert Dold (D-Dist. 10) in a rematch of the 2014 race to try and reclaim the seat, said he strongly supports campaign finance reform, yet he has accepted contributions from powerful D.C. stakeholders in an apparent loophole allowing him to load up his campaign coffers, a high-ranking state GOP official said recently.

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Illinois DHS to hold Disability Employment Awareness Month events

By Carol Ostrow | Oct 23, 2016

To raise public awareness about and honor employment of individuals with physical and mental disabilities, President Obama recently declared October National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and Illinois has scheduled multiple events around this year’s theme: “Inclusion Works.”

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Chicago Sun-Times endorses Munger in comptroller re-election bid

By Carol Ostrow | Oct 17, 2016

Based on her “integrity” and “good sense” in what the publication termed a challenging position, the Chicago Sun-Times Illinois recently endorsed State Comptroller Leslie Munger for re-election next month.

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Illinois Watchdog blasts Duckworth over spending on Hawaii V.A. event

By Carol Ostrow | Oct 6, 2016

Unearthing new evidence of Rep. Tammy Duckworth’s (D-IL) alleged fiscal extravagance during her tenure at the Department of Veterans Affairs, the investigative news site Illinois Watchdog recently added new details to what it calls a "wasteful legacy" at the V.A.

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Brady joins Every Student Succeeds Act listening tour, praises plan

By Carol Ostrow | Oct 2, 2016

State Sen. Bill Brady, R-Bloomington, recently took advantage of state and regional education agencies to join a listening tour about the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), passed in December 2015.

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As courtroom smoke clears, redistricting battleground shifts to General Assembly

By Carol Ostrow | Sep 17, 2016

Four Democratic State Supreme Court justices dropped a politically charged bomb when they voted to reject the Independent Map Amendment championed by thousands of constituents who signed petitions.

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Comptroller Munger pleased with ‘no budget, no pay’ policy

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 22, 2016

Ever since Illinois Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger instructed payroll personnel last spring to make politicians wait for paychecks along with other state vendors, resistance has failed to deter her from that stance, and she recently has revised her "no budget, no pay" policy.  

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Springfield’s Transportation Improvement Program draft awaits public input

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 19, 2016

The public is invited to review and submit comments on a draft version of Springfield’s Transportation Improvement Program, covering Sangamon County, Springfield and the Village of Chatham for fiscal years 2017-20­ from now until Sept. 15.

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Sangamon County working to be state's first Certified Work Ready Community

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 19, 2016

Through its innovative “Work Ready Sangamon" program, Sangamon County announced recently that it may soon become Illinois’ first jurisdiction to achieve Certified Work Ready Community (CWRC) status in affiliation with the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

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Illinois GOP campaign targets longtime Democrats' grip on power

By Carol Ostrow | Aug 18, 2016

The Illinois Republican Party launched digital ads this week to highlight disproportionately lengthy tenures of Illinois' leading career politicians, including State House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Dist. 22) and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), following “disastrous” decisions made recently in Springfield by the General Assembly.