22 Apr 2003

Is the U.S. Senate Calling Former Illinois Governor?

By Rich Miller
Republicans have waited a long time for some good news in this state, and it finally arrived last week. U.S. Senator Peter Fitzgerald announced he wouldn't run for re-election, and former Governor Jim Edgar hinted that he just might enter the race.
15 Apr 2003

Educators and Boats Gripe About Illinois Budget Proposal

By Rich Miller
The cacophony of angry voices has started rising to a fever pitch in the wake of Governor Rod Blagojevich's state budget address last Wednesday. Most of the complaining is coming from three areas: riverboat owners; elementary and secondary educators; and higher-education institutions.
08 Apr 2003

Stock Traders Buy Their Own Reporters in the Illinois Statehouse

By Rich Miller
A new source of cash fell into the laps of Springfield lobbyists this past week. Several New York-based stock-trading firms have hired statehouse lobbyists. But they don't want the lobbyists to lobby for or against anything.
18 Mar 2003

Legislator Pays the Price for Fighting Illinois House Speaker Madigan

By Rich Miller
Back in the day, Ray Frias was one of the sharpest political operators at the Illinois statehouse. The Chicago south-sider was first elected to the Illinois House in 1992 after securing the unlikely support of the Illinois State Medical Society, a usually Republican-leaning group with very deep pockets.
04 Mar 2003

Illinois Governor Stacks Deck for Telecommunications Giant

By Rich Miller
Just when you think you've seen it all, Pat Quinn hits the mute button - a device nobody ever thought he possessed. Lieutenant Governor Quinn, a self-styled consumer activist, has for well over 20 years raged against the political clout wielded by the company formerly known as Ameritech, then Ameritech/SBC, and now just plain ol' SBC.
18 Feb 2003

Illinois Governor Hits the Ground Stumbling

By Rich Miller
Just one month into his term as governor, Rod Blagojevich has already alienated legislators and other politicians who should be completely in his corner. Last Tuesday, a group of 20 elected African-American officials from Chicago's west side, including U.
11 Feb 2003

Online Exclusive: Illinois Senate Democrats Unleash Pent-Up Liberal Legislation

By Rich Miller
Ten years in the minority often frustrated the Illinois Senate Democrats to no end. They would sponsor bills that had passed the House with huge bipartisan majorities - and often with significant public support - only to watch them quietly die in the Senate Rules Committee, which was controlled with an iron fist by the Republicans.
04 Feb 2003

Am I a Cloutless Wonder?

By Rich Miller
Every now and then it might be healthy for a reporter/columnist to get slammed in the media and have his motives and integrity questioned. It could be a humbling experience for those of us who make our livings routinely and cynically questioning the motives and integrity of others.
27 Jan 2003

Psst! New Illinois Governor Has Some Secrets

By Rich Miller
Every new governor has problems getting started. But Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has had to learn some hard lessons during his first two weeks on the job. Most of the problems center around Blagojevich's penchant for absolute secrecy.
07 Jan 2003

Is It Time to Jump off the Blagojevich Train Already?

By Rich Miller
As you might have observed by now, Illinois governor-elect Rod Blagojevich promoted himself last year in an almost presidential manner. As soon as the election was over, a sympathetic scribe or two in the media even suggested that our governor-elect might have some presidential material in him.

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