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PI Original
by Josh Kalven
11:28am
Fri Dec 5, 2008

The Toxicity Factor

Constitutional Convention

Earlier this week, we flagged a New Republic piece in which Nicholas Stephanopolous made the "case for regularly amending state constitutions -- or at least having the opportunity to" do so. Citing the demise of constitutional convention referenda this year in Hawaii...

PI Original
by Josh Kalven
10:47am
Fri Dec 5, 2008

Jackson Jr. And Halvorson Oppose Clemency For Ryan

Jesse Jackson Jr.

The SouthtownStar is reporting that both Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and Congresswoman-elect Debbie Halvorson have come out in opposition to the idea of granting clemency to imprisoned former Gov. George Ryan:

"I sympathize with Mrs. Ryan and regret the hardship this ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
5:51pm
Thu Dec 4, 2008
5 comments

Readers Sound Off On Ryan Clemency

George Ryan

President George W. Bush and President-elect Barack Obama
both declined to weigh in on the issue, but our readers sure didn’t. As
promised, here are a few of the most interesting responses from
Tuesday’s query
about whether former Gov. George Ryan should be granted ...

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
3:33pm
Thu Dec 4, 2008
7 comments

Taking On TIFs

Housing

Painting themselves as David
taking on Goliath, a group of citizen activists from Chicago’s North
Side have filed a legal challenge against the city for what they see as
another abusive use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF).

According to the suit, which was filed in ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
12:40pm
Thu Dec 4, 2008
1 comment

Roskam Joins Kirk In UAW Bashfest

Wages

When Reps. Peter Roskam and Mark Kirk convened a hearing in late November
to contemplate possible solutions for the nation’s financial crisis, it seems they
shared notes on the pros and cons of a potential auto industry bailout.
Unfortunately, whatever talking points they ...

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
11:20am
Thu Dec 4, 2008
1 comment

"Everybody Lost And Nobody Won": A Postville Q&A With Jane Ramsey

Religion

Before federal authorities launched a military-style raid last spring on the Agriprocessors meatpacking plant in Postville, IA —rounding up and trying hundreds of undocumented immigrants for simply going to work—the Chicago-based Jewish Council on Urban Affairs (JCUA) knew ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
5:23pm
Wed Dec 3, 2008

Illinois Fails In College Access

Education

Before long, dormitories and
libraries at Illinois’ institutions of higher learning could be lonely
places. In its biennial report on the U.S. higher education system released today
(PDF), the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education has
given the Prairie ...

PI Original
by Josh Kalven
2:17pm
Wed Dec 3, 2008
3 comments

Chris Matthews Has No Idea What He's Talking About

Jesse Jackson Jr.

I don't expect D.C. media establishmentarians like Chris Matthews to have an expert handle on the ins and outs of Illinois politics.  But it's still fun to watch them attempt to cover the local scene.

For instance, yesterday on Hardball, Matthews seemed to suggest that ...

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
1:09pm
Wed Dec 3, 2008

Pinching Pension Waste

Alexi Giannoulias

State Treasurer Alexi
Giannoulias and a team of watchdogs didn’t mince words on Monday when
they lashed out at political insiders who have fed off the complexities
of the state’s pension systems for years. Along with some
good-government allies, the treasurer announced ...