07 Mar 2006

Governor Creates Conflict that Could Have Been Avoided

By Rich Miller
As I write this, Governor Rod Blagojevich has made a real mess of things at the Illinois Statehouse. Through his inept handling of a silly little matter, he has managed to pit black legislators against Jewish legislators and Jews against each other.
28 Feb 2006

A Weak Challenger Creates a Stronger Governor

By Rich Miller
It would have been almost unthinkable several months ago that if Governor Rod Blagojevich had a primary challenger, he would emerge from the primary stronger than when he went in. The scandals are never-ending, his poll numbers suck, and the discontent with his tenure is wide and deep, even among many in his own party.
21 Feb 2006

Candidate Goes on the Offensive in GOP Primary

By Rich Miller
The Ron Gidwitz campaign had a stark warning for Judy Baar Topinka last week. "If you think this ad is tough, just wait." Gidwitz, who is running for governor as a Republican, aired the first negative ad of the campaign last week, then dismissed Topinka's rebuttals as mere whining and vowed he would ignore any attempt by the Illinois Republican Party to browbeat him into pulling the spot.
14 Feb 2006

Republican Challengers Face Tough Decisions Against Front-Runner Topinka

By Rich Miller
The latest Chicago Tribune poll appears to track closely with recent polls conducted by two Republican statewide contenders. The Tribune poll found Judy Baar Topinka leading the GOP governor's race with 38 percent, followed by Jim Oberweis at 17 percent, Ron Gidwitz finally breaking into double digits with 11 percent, and Bill Brady bringing up the rear at 8 percent.
07 Feb 2006

Court Decision Pits Distributors Against Wineries

By Rich Miller
For years, the Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois (ABDI) has been one of the most successful lobbies at the Illinois statehouse. The victory that comes immediately to mind was when ABDI teamed up with Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to prevent direct sales of out-of-state wine to consumers.
31 Jan 2006

GOP Front-Runner Wins Debate by Not Losing

By Rich Miller
There are plenty of ways to look at who won or lost last week's gubernatorial debate between the four Republican candidates. On pure style points, I think Jim Oberweis won big. His performance was positively Reagan-esque.
24 Jan 2006

Gubernatorial Challenger Finds Encouragement in Poll Numbers

By Rich Miller
Democratic gubernatorial challenger Edwin Eisendrath has been using some startling poll results to recruit his top staff, and the numbers appear encouraging. But the big question - how much money he will spend - is still not known.
17 Jan 2006

Reform Claims Succumb to the Same Old Lobbying Game

By Rich Miller
It shouldn't come as a surprise that John Wyma is lobbing for GTECH. The Illinois Lottery's contractor will most likely operate the state's proposed keno network. Governor Rod Blagojevich wants to put electronic keno gambling games in 2,000 taverns and restaurants to help fund a construction plan for schools.
10 Jan 2006

Republicans Still Balking at $3-Billion Projects Deal

By Rich Miller
We've been seeing a lot of news reports lately that the governor thinks he can pass a massive $3-billion road-and-school-construction plan this year. But Senate Republican Leader Frank Watson is throwing some cold water on an article that jump-started much of this speculation.
27 Dec 2005

Has Illinois Found Its Next Rock-Star Politician?

By Rich Miller
Democrat Christine Cegelis lost to longtime Republican U.S. Representative Henry Hyde last year 56 percent to 44 percent. Since then, she has argued that the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) ought to back her this time around in an open-seat contest against Republican Peter Roskam.

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