Free Republic

CHICAGO (AP) — Top Republican lawmakers in Illinois say union restrictions like the ones approved in neighboring Wisconsin aren’t the way to go. But Republican Senate leader Christine Radogno (rah-DOH’-nyoh) is calling on unions to cooperate when it comes to fixing the state’s budget crisis. She says Illinois can’t afford the level of raises that some employees have gotten. Radogno spoke to reporters Monday after appearing at an unrelated news conference with Republican U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and House Republican leader Tom Cross. Cross says the state also has to deal with its underfunded pensions and that it behooves everyone...

CHAMPION NEWS Urges Illinois Republican Representatives To Support Bill EDITOR'S NOTE: The following info and legislative alert is from Champion News (CN) and was issued June 18th. Champion News calls on Republican voters to contact state Representatives regarding SB600. CN says legislation has huge potential to change Illinois GOP for the good. -- DTZ -- RFFM.org Urge GOP State Representatives to Co-Sponsor SB600 Lawmakers returned to Springfield on Tuesday, June 23rd for a special session. The budget mess may be the driving force but it’s also the perfect time to close the loop on SB600. Please take a minute and...

The leadership title holders of the Illinois Republican Party have done it again. They have found a new bottom in the wellspring of incompetence from which they drink: Paul Vallas for Cook County Board President. "He'd be great for Republicans, great for Cook County, [with] impeccable credentials, substance and integrity." That is what House Republican Leader Tom Cross had to say about Paul Vallas to the Chicago Sun-Times. My view of Paul Vallas as a Republican standard-bearer is a bit different as mine is rooted in Vallas' record. It goes something like this: Paul Vallas is a visionless, bean-counting hack...

Who won, lost in budget game July 31, 2004 BY THOMAS ROESER When the spring legislative session dawned, Big Daddy decided he would have to take The Kid in hand (ahem). It was only right: House Speaker Michael Madigan had served in the General Assembly since 1971, the governor (The Kid) had a few years of legislative service under his belt, sitting on the remotest back bench in Madigan's caucus. Also, all other legislative leaders were new or untried: Tom Cross, in his first term as GOP House leader; Democrat Emil Jones had never been Senate president; Frank Watson was...

Okay, there is a grassroots campaign to draft Mike Ditka to become State GOP Chairman. How about Ditka as a replacement for Jack Ryan on the ballot instead?