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Health care reform
Quick Hit
by Steven Ross Johnson
1:38pm
Wed Nov 7, 2012

Mr. Foster Goes Back To Washington (VIDEO)

Democratic challenger for the 11th Congressional District, Bill Foster is heading back to Washington after defeating Republican incumbent U.S Rep. Judy Biggert, 58 percent to 42 percent, with 99 percent of precincts reporting.

Foster, who was first elected to office in 2008 in the 14th Congressional District, lost his seat to Tea Party-backed Republican Randy Hultgren in the 2010 mid-term election.

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PI Original
by Matthew Blake
3:26pm
Wed Oct 31, 2012

Candidate Policy Platforms Lack Details On Comprehensive Immigration Reform

Election 2012

Immigration, specifically the need for a so-called comprehensive immigration reform bill, has become a critical issue in the presidential campaign. It has also become important in deadlocked Illinois congressional races. We take a closer look at some candidate proposals in the presidential race and a key House race in Illinois.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
3:56pm
Tue Sep 25, 2012

ACA Aiding In Decline As Number Of Uninsured Goes Down In Illinois, Nationally

The U.S. Census Bureau’s 2011 American Community Survey released last week carried a few grim data points, such as a climb in the number of people in Illinois who live in poverty.

However, there is one critical piece of good news for Illinois and the country – the number of people without health care is slightly down due to an initial step in implementing the landmark 2010 Affordable Care Act.

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Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
4:58pm
Mon Jul 30, 2012

Schakowsky: Social Safety Net, Affordable Care Act Are 'Political Winners' For Dems

Progressives can get frustrated with Democrats in election years: The party sometimes runs away from signature accomplishments, such as the creation and expansion of the social safety net, in fear of being labeled tax-and-spend liberals.

But U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Evanston) bills the party’s association with Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid as “political winners” this election season.

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Quick Hit
by Steven Ross Johnson
1:49pm
Mon Jul 9, 2012
1 comment

Local Health Advocates Press Quinn For Illinois Health Exchange

Emboldened by the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling last month that upheld key elements within President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act of 2010, health reform advocates recently called on Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn to move quickly toward establishing a state-run health insurance exchange prior to the federal government’s January 1 deadline.

More than a hundred health, education and labor groups signed a letter sent to Gov. Quinn last week asking him to issue an executive order to implement an exchange in light of the Illinois General Assembly’s inability to develop a plan prior to the conclusion of its spring session in May.

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PI Original
by Matthew Blake
6:04pm
Thu Jun 28, 2012
9 comments

After ACA Ruling, Celebration And Uncertainty In Illinois

Health Care

Illinois health care advocates, organized labor, and Democratic politicians cheered the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling announced this morning that all major provisions of the landmark Affordable Care Act of 2010 are constitutional. But there are questions about how Illinois will set up its health care insurance exchange.