Kwame Raoul

— Gov. Pat Quinn on Thursday signed into law a major crackdown on lucrative public pension abuses that saw top union officials land hefty retirement packages, double dip and substitute teach for one day but win benefits for life. "The pension...

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn today signed into law a major crackdown on lucrative public pension abuses that saw top union officials land hefty retirement packages, double dip and substitute teach for one day but win benefits for life. "The pension...

Where do our lawmakers stand on the issue of legislative scholarships -- those tuition waivers that members of the state house and senate have traditionally been allowed to dispense to constituents? As part of the renewed effort to abolish that......

It’s the old saying: The numbers don’t lie. One look at the fare increases that were proposed by Metra’s staff last month, and it was clear that something was out of kilter. Metra riders pay by distance traveled. Why should riders...

SPRINGFIELD --- Gov. Pat Quinn today stood solidly today behind his opposition to allowing concealed weapons in Illinois even though Wisconsin is on the verge of becoming the 49th state with some form of such a law. “We must ensure the safety of...

With Wisconsin poised to allow people to carry concealed weapons in public, gun advocates have made Illinois -- the last holdout -- a prime target in their campaign to give citizens unrestricted rights to carry weapons. Illinois has been one of their...

Posted by Rick Pearson at 2:22 p.m.; updated at 2:23 p.m. SPRINGFIELD --- Democrats in the Senate sent Gov. Pat Quinn a new map of the state’s congressional boundaries for the next decade, a plan which carves up suburban districts......

Dems moving ahead with workers compensation overhaul   After months of tense negotiations, Democratic lawmakers have unveiled a sweeping proposal to change the state's workers compensation system, a move business groups have long asked for as a way to...

Posted by Monique Garcia at 11:45 p.m. After months of tense negotiations, Democratic lawmakers have unveiled a sweeping proposal to change the state's workers compensation system, a move business groups have long asked for as a way to rein in......

UPDATED by Rick Pearson at 5:50 p.m., Senate sends legislative map to governor. Ruling Democrats today passed a map of new legislative boundaries that seeks to extend their control of the Statehouse for another decade while trying to satisfy minority........