Progress Illinois

Obama To Name Clinton Secretary Of State
Filling his cabinet at record speed, President-elect Barack Obama will officially name chief Democratic rival Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State in Chicago this morning. To make it possible for his wife to assume the position, former President Bill Clinton agreed to disclose the names of every contributor to his foundation since its inception. Favoring experience over ideology, Obama is also expected to keep Bush cabinet member Robert Gates in his post as Defense Secretary.

Bush Administration Rushes To Enact Anti-Labor Regulation
Trying to cement about 20 new controversial regulations in its final days, Bush Administration officials are now rushing to complete a new rule opposed by Barack Obama that would make it much harder for the government to regulate toxic substances and hazardous chemicals to which workers are exposed on the job. Public health officials and labor unions argue the rule, favored by the business community, would result in additional deaths and illnesses.

State Park Closings Tough Pill For Some To Swallow
As of midnight Sunday, 12 historic sites and seven state parks will no longer be accessible to the public thanks to state budget cuts. Despite the fact that lawmakers freed an additional $2.1 million to keep the parks open, Guv. Rod Blagojevich said economic conditions and falling tax revenue made it necessary to go ahead with several closings. Thirty-seven state employees lost their jobs as well.

Giannoulias Proposes State Pension Reform
As a way to cut government costs and curtail political corruption, Illinois Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias is pushing a plan to merge the investment duties of five government employee retirement systems. The overhaul would include ethics measures that set stricter regulations for board members and could save the state $50 million to $80 million a year on administrative costs and management fees. Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D-Evanston) warned that consolidating the pension funds may weaken public checks and balances.

Was Blagojevich Serious About Sen. Davis?
Fruedian slip or honest mistake? Rod Blagojevich twice referred to Rep. Danny Davis as “Senator Davis” while passing out Thanksgiving meals to the homeless Thursday, fueling speculation that the governor has chosen the congressman to fill the vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Rezko Lawyers Want Sentencing Date
After months in solitary confinement, lawyers for convicted political fundraiser Tony Rezko filed a motion this week for the judge in his corruption case to set a sentencing date immediately. Despite a possible willingness to cooperate with federal prosecutors in the investigation of corruption in Blagojevich’s administration, Rezko has remained in isolation for 23 hours a day.

Image used under a Creative Commons license by Flickr user geognerd.