It’s February. You know what that means. A Lawrence Msall sighting! Yes, just like ground hog day when Punxsutawney Phil proverbially appears from his hutch to predict the spring forecast, Lawrence Msall appears each February to complain about public sector employees and the millions of dollars of taxpayer monies that could be saved if we [...]
Continue reading about If the Civic Federation is right, it must be wrong!
(From the Chicago Tribune…)
House panel approves good time credit crackdown for state criminals
Criminals would no longer qualify for good time credit before setting foot in state prison under legislation a House committee approved Friday.
The measure is a response to Gov. Pat Quinn’s botched early release program that ended after reports surfaced that some criminals who [...]
(From the Chicago Tribune…)
No state has done worse than Illinois in setting aside funds to pay the pension and health care benefits promised to retirees in public sector jobs, according to a study released today by the Pew Center for the States.
That dubious distinction bestowed by the non-partisan Washington-based think tank weighs heavily over Illinois’s [...]
(From the Chicago Tribune…)
Heroin dealers would face tougher penalties under legislation the Illinois House approved today.
The minimum sentence for possessing five grams of heroin with the intent to sell would jump from four years to six years under the measure. Right now, heroin dealers face the longer sentence if they’re convicted of having 15 grams [...]
Continue reading about Heroin dealers could face tougher penalties in Illinois?
Cook County no slouch when it comes to political corruption, report says
(From the Chicago Tribune and The University of Illinois at Chicago)
Some one has been doing their homework! Just like watching a Channel 11 documentary!
Chicago city government is infamous for corruption, but Cook County’s no slouch when it comes to graft and other malfeasance, concludes [...]
Continue reading about Corruption in Cook County? Really? What a Concept!
White House Presses Anthem Blue Cross on Rate Hike
California’s Largest Health Insurer Defends Premium Increases of Up to 39 Percent
(From ABC News…In case you missed this story!)
The Obama administration is demanding answers from California’s largest insurance firm, Anthem Blue Cross, about why the company is suddenly raising premiums on some customers by up to 39 [...]
Continue reading about Wellpoint strikes again? Are they bold enough to try it here too?
(From Associated Press…)
Senate Democrats on Tuesday failed to push through President Barack Obama’s choice of a union lawyer to serve on the National Labor Relations Board after two of their own joined Republicans to block the nomination.
By a 52-33 vote, Democrats fell far short of the 60 needed to overcome a GOP filibuster of [...]
Continue reading about GOP blocks Obama labor board nominee for NLRB
(From the pages of the Chicago Tribune…)
The Cook County Board today approved a short-term borrowing plan to cover $104 million its owes to the employee pension fund.
If accepted by the pension board, the county would pay $108 million — the amount it owed the pension fund, plus 2.75 percent interest, said Laura Lechowicz Felicione, the [...]
Continue reading about Cook County Board approves borrowing to cover employee pension costs
Now that the county has ONE insurer since Unicare has folded their tent in Illinois, Blue Cross has absorbed the total base of county employees. While this looks good on paper with Blue Cross being recognized nationwide, it’s not a good deal after all. To make matters worse, the county isn’t worried about bringing in [...]
Continue reading about Blue Cross/Blue Shield the Best? Think Again.
ABC 7 news is reporting that Chicago Federation of Labor President Dennis Gannon is retiring. Does this have anything to do with the non-endorsements in the primary races? Or layoffs? Furloughs? CTA? Just asking…
Continue reading about Gannon Stepping Down from CFL Leadership