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Credit: Chicago Tribune After the Illinois legislative session ended with relatively few gains, Governor Pat Quinn quickly called a special session which is set to meet on Wednesday. At the top of the agenda is the public pension reform that failed. Shortly after the original legislative session that ended on May 31, the Moody's and Fitch credit rating agencies issued downgrades for Illinois. The reason for the downgrade was due to the "unsustainability" of the state's retirement system. Estim

Illinois, New Mexico, and South Carolina have yet to release their annual financial reports of the fiscal year ending last June. These late financial statements create a lack of transparency which, in some ways, is reminiscent of the savings and loan crisis a few decades ago. Back in the 1980s and 1990s, taxpayers paid massive clean-up costs to deal with pervasive failures of savings and loan institutions around the country.  This episode taught us some lessons about the role and moral hazard o

Credit: Chicago Tribune In the rush that accompanied the end of the legislative session on May 31, a bill passed both chambers of the Illinois General Assembly that, among other things, set up online voter registration. As the state struggled over high profile issues from passing concealed carry to its failure to pass public pension reform and gay marriage, the online voter registration bill did pass, but lost in the shuffle. House Bill 2418, amending the Illinois election code, now sits on t

(Credit: YouTube.com/ErikaHarold) In the Illinois 13th congressional district, a former Miss America winner is challenging one of the House's newest members. Erika Harold, the 2003 Miss America, announced last week that she was issuing a primary challenge to Republican US Rep. Rodney Davis, a freshman congressman. Also a graduate of the University of Illinois and Harvard Law School, Harold was a delegate to the 2004 Republican National Convention. In her campaign announcement video, with a su

The Favorable Winds of Pride I've spent most of the morning watching the House of Lords in Great Britain debate same-sex marriage.  The legislation has already passed the House of Commons and is now awaiting approval from the upper chamber.  Today was only the second reading and debate on a proposed amendment.  And just last week, I watched as the Illinois House of Representatives decided not to vote on same-sex marriage, though the deadline for the bill was extended through the summer so it co

(Credit: Chicago Tribune) After much debate, the Illinois General Assembly passed a concealed carry compromise plan ahead of the June 9 deadline. On the last day of the legislative session, May 31, House Bill 183 -- with amendments from the State Senate -- passed the House with an 89-28 vote. The legislation now goes to the desk of Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn had long sought a statewide assault weapons ban and limits on magazines -- neither were included in the final bills. Universal backgroun

(Credit: Durbin.senate.gov) Scandals over the Internal Revenue Service's targeting of conservative groups and the seizure of AP phone records still simmer. With that in mind, the number two Democrat in the U.S. Senate suggested there should be a media shield law for traditional journalists. Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said: "Here's the bottom line: The media shield law, which I'm prepared to support . . . still leaves an unanswered question . . . What is a

(Credit: Kwame Raoul Twitter page) With a deadline approaching in the Illinois concealed carry debate, legislation was introduced in the State Senate late last week. However, each side in the gun debate continues to show signs of intransigence. Sponsored by Sen. Kwame Raoul, a Chicago Democrat, a vote was expected on Friday, but was delayed. A vote could come on Monday. Raoul's legislation would give Chicago police the authority to award permits with the Illinois State Police making the judgm

(Credit: Chicago Tribune) As the legislative session in Illinois nears its conclusion on May 31, several issues, including gay marriage, remain unresolved in the state. Now, Governor Pat Quinn is directly calling on the Legislature to solve the issue. A same-sex marriage bill passed the Illinois Senate in February and went to the House. Although Democrats hold a majority in the House as well, the bill has stalled. Supporters believe that they do not yet have the votes needed for passage. "We'

Illinois Concealed Carry Debate Continues by Carl Wicklander Approximately one month separates Illinois from its deadline to enact some form of concealed carry legislation and the passions on both sides are heating up. We Should Stop Subsidizing Political Parties by Chad Peace Nowhere in our political system is power more institutionalized than in the pocket books of the political players. But a little discussed, and even lesser questioned reality is that the source from which the parties dra