Progress Illinois

Obama Unveils 10-Year, Progressive Budget
President Obama delivered a $3.6 trillion spending plan to Congress yesterday that would fund major new investments in health care, energy, and education. The White House proposes to pay for the ambitious budget by winding down the war in Iraq and raising taxes on the oil and gas industry, hedge fund managers, multinational corporations, and nearly three million of the nation’s top earners. Although none of the new taxes would take effect until the economy recovers, Republicans and business groups condemned the proposal.

Quinn Gives Burris "Two Weeks"
Gov. Pat Quin said Thursday that if embattled Sen. Roland Burris doesn’t step down within the next two weeks, he wants lawmakers to approve a special election that could effectively remove Burris from office. Leaders in the General Assembly are more divided. Illinois Senate President John Cullerton said he was “awaiting some guidance” from the Illinois House, while House Speaker Michael Madigan said his caucus hasn’t reached consensus on the issue. Meanwhile, the Chicago City Council’s Black Caucus threatened to retaliate against elected officials demanding Burris’ ouster.

White House May Rescind Conscience Rule
Wading into the abortion debate, the Obama administration will move to rescind the controversial “conscience rule,” which allows health care workers to deny abortion counseling or other family-planning services if doing so would violate their moral beliefs. As one of his final policy initiatives, former President Bush implemented the law just two months ago. Illinois is one of seven states that have filed suits challenging the ruling, arguing it endangers the health of patients.

No Jail Time For Fast Eddie
Fast Eddie escapes again? A federal judge rejected a call for a sentence of three-and-a-half years in prison and gave legendary former Chicago Ald. Edward Vrdolyak five years of probation Thursday for his role in a kickback scheme involving Rosalind Franklin University. Many think Vrdolyak, who plead guilty last November to conspiring to commit mail fraud, built his career on this types of inside deals. “God is great,” he told reporters as he left the Dirksen U.S. Courthouse.

Government To Try Alleged Al-Qaida Agent In Illinois Court
Held for over five years at a Navy brig in South Carolina, accused al-Qaida sleeper agent Ali al-Marri will soon be sent to Illinois for trial in civilian court. This move breaks precedence with the previous administration, whose lawyers argued that the president has the wartime authority to hold terror suspects caught in the United States in prison without charge, indefinitely.

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