Prairie State Wire

Ives supports repeal of controversial immigration law

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 12, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) worries that by signing the Trust Act into law, Gov. Bruce Rauner has disregarded other noted regulations long seen as fundamental.

From North Cook News

Ives calls for Berrios to step down as Cook County assessor

By Glenn Minnis | 7 years ago

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is calling for Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios to resign, arguing that his office "has an accuracy rating three times worse than the normal range."

Ives calls for repeal of Trust Act

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 12, 2017

Days after formally launching her Republican campaign for governor, state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is calling for repeal of the Trust Act signed into law by Gov. Bruce Rauner.

From Metro East Sun

Plummer says Trust Act hurts economy and job creation

By Chandra Lye | 7 years ago

“One of the core values of our society is the rule of law,” Jason Plummer told the Metro East Sun. “I don’t think there should be sanctuary cities or sanctuary states because it goes against our core values.

Ives wants answers from Rauner on firing of general counsel

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 11, 2017

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is demanding answers – answers about what moved Gov. Bruce Rauner to suddenly terminate top attorney Dennis Murashko and have him immediately escorted from his office in the Chicago.

Report puts Cook County on list of nation's 'worst judicial hellholes'

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 11, 2017

A report from the American Tort Reform Foundation cements Cook County’s dubious distinction as a desired destination for personal injury lawyers and plaintiffs looking to hit it big in the game of lawsuit lottery, naming the county to a list of the nation’s “Worst Judicial Hellholes.”

2017 year in review

By Karen Kidd | Dec 11, 2017

With the New Year about a week away, it's time to reflect on the rough-and-tumble time that was 2017 and project forward into the uncertainty of 2018. From struggles in the state General Assembly over the budget and sexual harassment, to Gov. Bruce Rauner's swings to the left to Lisa Madigan's unexplained decision to not seek another term as Illinois attorney general and other news items that made for an interesting year, here's our 2017 in review.

IL GOP raises question of Pritzker’s support for Blagojevich appeal for early release

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 11, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party is questioning whether Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker supports efforts of some of his supporters to see former Gov. Rod Blagojevich released from prison early, according to a recent release from the GOP.

Illinois lost 86,000 people, $4.75 billion to other states in 2015-16, Illinois Policy Institute says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 11, 2017

New data from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) shows that Illinois had a net loss of approximately 86,100 people to other states between 2015 and 2016, a record high according to an analysis from the Illinois Policy Institute.

Dec. 11-17: This week in Illinois history

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 11, 2017

Add Teaser here

Nowlan: It’s no fun being from Illinois

By Jim Nowlan | Dec 10, 2017

I attended a spiffy wedding (cruel and unusual punishment) in Dallas this past Saturday, at a park on the Texas State Fairgrounds. After the reception, at a dinner table for eight with Dallas executives, both male and female, we played the "Where are you from; what do you do?" game.

Hoover Institution senior fellow says college campuses are battleground for free speech rights

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 8, 2017

Peter Berkowitz is worried that too many college campuses are becoming the place where academic freedom goes to die.

Liberty Justice Center vice president: Janus case 'biggest labor case in 40 years'

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 8, 2017

Diana Rickert and the Liberty Justice Center are willing to carry their share of the weight in the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case deciding whether state employees should be required to pay union dues to keep their jobs.

Dodge: 'There are other ways to more effectively solve the state’s problems'

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 8, 2017

Jim Dodge fails to see the logic of Senate Bill 1905. The state legislature recently failed to override the governor's veto of the bill.

Wirepoints president says 'bloated public sector' part of blame for high property taxes

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 8, 2017

Ted Dabrowski points to what’s happening in the suburb of Schaumburg as Exhibit A in his argument over why property taxes are becoming higher and higher for many suburban residents.

Ives: 'Honest conversation' needed with unions about pension reform

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 8, 2017

&&& State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) welcomes the role of serving as the face of change.

Helland on tax reform: People 'are looking for the government to get out of the way'

By Carrie Bradon | Dec 8, 2017

Illinois was recently reported to be ranked 49th in the states with the largest taxpayer debt in the country, which has only been exacerbated by the majority party control by the Democratic Party, according to Jason Helland, Grundy County State's Attorney.

Much of Mueller's Russia probe is 'media narrative,' ex-federal prosecutor says

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 7, 2017

Andrew McCarthy thinks special counselor Robert Mueller tipped his hand in his ongoing Russia collusion probe with the recent indictments of three former Trump campaign officials, and he’s convinced many of the signals bode well for the president.

Equality Illinois quiet on support for key Republicans who backed transgender birth certificate law

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 7, 2017

Equality Illinois, a Chicago-based statewide group representing the LGBTQ community that lobbied hard for passage of the new state law that makes it easier for transgender individuals to change the sex designation on their birth certificates, did not return repeated phone calls and email requests from Prairie State Wire on whether the group would endorse the re-election bids of Gov. Bruce Rauner and House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs), both of whom backed the bill.

Fioretti slams 'out-of-control' taxation in Illinois

By Justin Stoltzfus | Dec 7, 2017

Bob Fioretti, who is running for Cook County Board president against Toni Preckwinkle (D-Chicago), recently spoke to "Chicago's Morning Answer" radio show about a number of issues Fioretti thinks are important to residents in his area.