Chicago Sun-Times

Jack Lew expected to get tapped by Obama for next Treasury Secretary

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 13:15:19 -0600

WASHINGTON — White House chief of staff Jack Lew is President Barack Obama’s expected pick to lead the Treasury Department, with an announcement possible before the end of the week. White House officials would not confirm that a final decision had been made. But aides did not dispute that Lew is emerging as the consensus choice. Lew, a budget expert, would bring to the Treasury Department a wide range of experiences in both the public and private sector. He ran the Office of Management and Budget in Obama’s first term, as well as under former President Bill Clinton, and held …

Beyonce, Kelly Clarkson to perform at Obama inauguration

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 08:14:00 -0600

WASHINGTON — Beyonce will sing the national anthem at President Barack Obama’s inauguration ceremony. The committee planning the Jan. 21 event also announced Wednesday that Kelly Clarkson will perform “My Country ‘Tis of Thee” and James Taylor will sing “America the Beautiful” at the swearing-in ceremony in Washington. Richard Blanco, the son of Cuban exiles, is the 2013 inaugural poet, joining the ranks of Maya Angelou and Robert Frost who have done the same. Blanco’s works explore his family’s exile from their native country and “the intersection of his cultural identities as a Cuban-American gay man,” the inaugural planners said. …

Lame-duck session ends with no pension reform

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 09:56:05 -0600

On the last day of the lame-duck legislative session, Gov. Pat Quinn and the Democratic-led Legislature laid a gigantic goose egg Tuesday by failing to deliver a fix to Illinois’ paralyzing $95 billion pension crisis.

Illinois House plans hearing on pension-reform package Monday

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 10:38:08 -0600

SPRINGFIELD — Cost-of-living increases for state retirees and Downstate and suburban teachers would freeze for six years, and no one would be eligible for that perk until turning 67 under a pension-reform package expected to surface Monday in the Illinois House.

House won’t vote on gun, ammo bans in lame-duck session

Mon, 07 Jan 2013 12:53:29 -0600

SPRINGFIELD — Add gun-control legislation to the growing legislative scrap heap for what thus far has been a lame lame-duck session. Citing a lack of support, the House sponsor of bans on military-style weapons — dubbed “assault weapons” by critics — and the high-powered ammunition that feeds them decided Sunday not to call either measure for a vote in his chamber. Those same bills stalled last week in the Senate.

Deb Mell: a legislative career where family, politics intersect

Sat, 05 Jan 2013 02:13:43 -0600

The state lawmaker’s first vote came on Jan. 14 2009, the date when the House impeached her brother-in-law, former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. She was the only member in a 117-1 decision to vote against his impeachment.

Senate Dems wave white flag on gay marriage, guns as session winds down

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:57:53 -0600

The math isn’t on the side of supporters of the high-profile legislation on gay marriage, gun control and pension reform as the lame-duck Legislature nears end of its term next Wednesday with much unfinished business.

Seven candidates file petitions to run for Jackson’s old congressional seat

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 09:00:23 -0600

It was the first day candidates could file with the Illinois State Board of Elections for a special primary to replace Jackson, which will be held February 26th. More candidates are expected to enter the crowded field before the January 7th filing deadline.

Emanuel, McCarthy beat the drum for assault weapons ban

Fri, 04 Jan 2013 02:57:53 -0600

Flanked by parents whose children were innocent victims of gun violence, Mayor Rahm Emanuel demanded Thursday that Illinois legislators put “public safety over politics” by banning assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition clips.

Illinois Senate panel OKs ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:23:56 -0600

SPRINGFIELD — Driven by the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre, gun-control legislation designed to ban assault weapons and the ammunition that feeds them passed a Senate panel late Wednesday, setting the stage for a possible floor vote on Thursday.

Setback for bid to legalize gay marriage in Illinois, but Senate could vote Thursday

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 02:23:44 -0600

SPRINGFIELD — A bid to legalize gay marriage in Illinois suffered an unexpected setback Wednesday when supporters fell two votes shy of getting a legislative hearing, meaning there won’t be a Senate vote on the measure until Thursday at the earliest.

April 2012 campaign donations for Mitt Romney

Mon, 03 Dec 2012 17:42:45 -0600

Contributions are a key indicator of support for political candidates. The following list of donors represents local people who made donations in April 2012 to the presidential campaign of Mitt Romney. Donations are limited by the Federal Election Committee to $2,500 per general election cycle and $2,500 in the primary cycle, for a total of $5,000. Campaigns have to return any contributions over the limit, but some refunds may not yet be reflected in these numbers. Howard Draft, Chicago, Advertising Executive at Interpublic Group: $5,000 ($5,000 total) Michael Husman, Chicago, Investor at Equibase Capital Group, Llc: $5,000 ($5,000 total) Joyce Langer, Chicago, Homemaker: …

End of payroll-tax cut hurts, as does Illinois’ income-tax hike

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 00:48:42 -0600

A collective sigh of relief over averting the fiscal cliff is expected to be short-lived for Illinois workers, whose incomes will be dented by the deal — and a state income-tax increase that was approved in 2011. The 2-percentage-point hike in the state income tax went somewhat unnoticed by everyday Illinoisans because of an offsetting reduction in the federal payroll tax. But under the fiscal-cliff compromise approved Tuesday night, the payroll tax will return to 6.2 percent from 4.2 percent, where it has been since 2011. “Now the Illinois taxpayer will carry the full brunt of the individual tax increase …

Helen Doria, cultural programmer for Chicago parks, helped design Bloomingdale Trail, dies at 61

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 09:23:28 -0600

When Chicago’s parks seemed to have more gang members than ordinary people in the early 1990s, authorities turned to Helen Doria to help lure average citizens back.

Obama to fly home early as ‘fiscal cliff’ looms

Wed, 26 Dec 2012 09:20:00 -0600

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama is cutting short his traditional Christmas holiday in Hawaii, planning to leave for Washington on Wednesday evening as lawmakers consider how to prevent the economy from going over the so-called fiscal cliff. The White House said Tuesday that first lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters will remain in Hawaii. Obama is expected to arrive in Washington early Thursday. The first family left Washington last Friday night. In the past, the president’s end-of-the-year holiday in his native state has stretched into the new year. Congress is expected to return to Washington on Thursday. Automatic budget …