Capitol Facts

Question the timing all you want, but last week's legal filing by Attorney General Lisa Madigan to stop paying state employee wages without an official appropriation is long overdue and is completely consistent with a 2016 Illinois Supreme Court ruling and with her opposition to a similar lawsuit brought by social service providers. Monday, January 30, 2017 On a fairly regular basis back in the day, state Sen. Barack Obama would walk up to the Senate press box and bum cigarettes off me.

Blagojevich seeks presidential commutation of prison term

Imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is seeking a presidential commutation of his 14-year sentence on a corruption conviction. U.S. Department of Justice spokeswoman Dena Iverson said Friday the department has received a petition for commutation from Blagojevich.

Release of emails by Chicago mayor doesn’t end dispute

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's decision to release thousands of pages of private emails does not end a dispute in Illinois about public access to such emails from him and other officials when they deal with government business. Emanuel announced late Wednesday that he had settled a lawsuit by a government watchdog group over emails from his personal accounts, but it allows him and his personal lawyer to decide which emails are public records and which are not.

Emanuel’s email highlights: Ken Griffin’s broken bike, a bid for Bezos and Uber oops

Mayor Rahm Emanuel turned over about 2,700 pages of emails Wednesday as part of a settlement with the Better Government Association, which had sued for the mayor's communications about official business on his personal email accounts. A Chicago Tribune suit on similar issues, filed before the BGA suit, remains unsettled.

Disgraced ex-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich appeals prison

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich is asking a U.S. appeals court to nullify his 14-year prison term and order a third sentencing hearing, with a lawyer arguing on his behalf that the Democrat's model behavior behind bars and other factors justified a reduction in his sentence. Attorneys for the Chicago Democrat filed the appeal late Tuesday night with the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

How Fast Could GOP Congress Get Obamacare Repeal To Trump’s Desk?

House Majority Leader Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., is part of the Republican leadership working to repeal the Affordable Care Act as quickly as possible in January. Republicans in Congress are so eager to repeal the Affordable Care Act that some have vowed to get a bill to President-elect Donald Trump's desk on the day he takes the oath of office.

No progress made on Illinois budget

Illinois legislative leaders have made little headway in the latest weekend meeting at Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's offices on a budget deal as Democrats broached the issue of how President-elect Donald Trump's policies might alter some financial calculations. House Democrat Greg Harris joined Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan at a Sunday meeting in Chicago.

The Folly of Opening Female Restrooms To Men

A sexual predator could be coming to an office-building restroom stall near you, because America and much of the world is flushing itself straight down the common-sense toilet. In addition to news of so-called bathroom bills and directives coming out of North Carolina, Illinois, Fort Worth, and Houston, the pre-filing of a bill for the 2017 Texas legislative session would give special protections on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

Trump Suggests ‘Loss of Citizenship or Year in Jail’ for Burning American Flag

Shortly before 7 a.m. on Tuesday, President-elect Donald Trump tweeted, "Nobody should be allowed to burn the American flag - if they do, there must be consequences - perhaps loss of citizenship or year in jail!" The only flag story in the news recently is the decision by Hampshire College in Massachusetts to stop flying the American flag after students allegedly burned a flag to protest Donald Trump's election victory. The Supreme Court ruled in 1969 that flag-burning is protected by the First Amendment.

Illinois Democrats, GOP remain far apart in budget talks

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan suggested Tuesday that legislators should approve another short-term spending plan without giving in to any of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's demands, indicating the ideological divide behind the state's epic budget stand persisted through the bruising election season. The Democrat made the comments after meeting with Rauner and other GOP leaders for the first time since Election Day, when the Republicans picked up enough seats in the state House to leave Democrats four votes shy of the supermajority they'd need to override the governor's vetoes.

Pentatonix to sing NFL Thursday Night Football opening song

Authorities have spent more than 24 hours seeking a man they say posted live videos to social media while running from police during a violent crime spree that included shooting two police officers, armed car... Authorities have been hunting for more than 24 hours for an Oklahoma man they say posted live videos to social media while running from police during a violent rampage that included shooting two police officers, armed car... The governors of Illinois and Ohio have bet each other cases of beer, pizza and other ballpark favorites ahead of the World Series contest between the Cubs and the Indians.

Illinois US Senate rivals list their top achievements

The Associated Press asked each U.S. Senate candidate what they consider their most significant personal and professional accomplishments. Here's a look at their answers: - Nothing compares to the experience of becoming a mother in November 2014, she said, adding: "Abigail inspires me to do better every single day."

Chicago Tribune backs Libertarian Gary Johnson

The Chicago Tribune, a Windy City newspaper that historically backs Republican candidates, endorsed Libertarian Gary Johnson on Friday, calling him "practical," "agile" and "experienced." "Libertarians Gary Johnson of New Mexico and running mate William Weld of Massachusetts are agile, practical and, unlike the major-party candidates, experienced at managing governments," the paper said.

Allardyce loses job as England manager after newspaper sting

A white Memphis police officer won't face federal civil rights charges in the shooting death of a 19-year-old black man, the federal government announced Tuesday. A white Memphis police officer won't face federal civil rights charges in the shooting death of a 19-year-old black man, the federal government announced Tuesday.

Former Pro-Hillary Journo Describes Sid Blumenthal s Slimy Rumor-Mongering in 2008

Another journalist --the second one in two days -- came out Saturday to confess that Sid Blumenthal aggressively shopped the rumor to him in 2008 about then-Senator Barack Obama being born in Kenya. In "Confessions of a Hillary Insider," Larry Johnson of No Quarter said that he is "shocked at the audacity of Hillary Clinton to decry Donald Trump as a birther because her campaign not only pushed that item in a bid to discredit Barack Obama, but mounted a sustained campaign attack Obama on a broad array of issues."

Republicans toss Quinn’s remap reform proposal

Whenever you see a statement from the Democratic Party of Illinois, you can feel supremely confident that House Speaker Michael Madigan, the party's longtime chairman, approves of the sentiment. And the same goes for the Illinois Republican Party and Gov. Bruce Rauner, who accounts for 95 percent of the party's total fundraising since January 1st.