Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Pat Quinn
PI Original
by Ellyn Fortino
3:28pm
Mon Nov 26, 2012
1 comment

Young Workers Dubious Of Public Sector Jobs Due To Pension Crisis

Springfield

Illinois has racked up $96 billion in unfunded pension obligations, and that’s left some young people wondering what the state’s biggest political issue of 2012 means for their future. We offer a look at the distrust — and apathy — surrounding public sector jobs and Illinois' pension problems among the state's young workers.

PI Original
by Matthew Blake
12:57pm
Wed Nov 14, 2012

Democratic Super Majority May Change Little In Springfield

Springfield

The election was a triumph for Illinois Democrats and a disaster for Prairie State Republicans, with Democrats gaining super majorities in both the Illinois House and Senate. But what progressive policy will emerge from Springfield’s new make up is hard to discern.

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
7:02pm
Thu Nov 8, 2012

Illinois Gaming Expansion Still Not A Solid Bet

On election day, Illinois Democrats gained super majorities, or at least 60 percent of all seats, in both the state House and Senate. This lets Democrats override any veto from Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, if the party were to vote in unison.

The idea of a Democratic-lead General Assembly overriding the wishes of a Democratic governor sounds unusual, though it might bear some relevance on the still tangled issue of gambling expansion. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
6:16pm
Wed Nov 7, 2012
1 comment

Muddled Public Employee Pension Referendum Fails

The state’s biggest political issue of 2012 has been growing unfunded pension obligations to public employees, with the shortfall expected to hit $93 billion by next summer. By comparison, the annual state budget is about $33 billion a year.

Considering this, Illinois voters could have been forgiven for thinking that a failed referendum on yesterday’s ballot regarding the approval of pension benefit increases had something to do with these addressing the deficit. But it really didn’t, and neither the referendum’s merits nor its key political backers were ever made clear. Read more »

Quick Hit
by Matthew Blake
4:47pm
Fri Nov 2, 2012

Southern Illinois State Senate Candidates Slam Quinn

Miles south of Springfield, much less Chicago, the 59th district state senate race at the southern tip of Illinois between incumbent Democrat Gary Forby (pictured) and Republican challenger Mark Minor is often a contest of who can best criticize Gov. Pat Quinn, the state’s Democratic governor who hails from the Windy City.

“Beating up on Chicago is a time-honored tradition in southern Illinois,” says John Jackson a political science professor at the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute at Southern Illinois. “The Democrat is running against the governor as hard as the Republican is.”

Quinn is taking a beating for reasons that go beyond a general wariness of Chicago politicians.

Read more »