Blog post roundup: laptops, medical marijuana, tea bags, play outdoors month, stalled GOP bills, toy cigarette lighters, payday loan loophole

Check out a bunch of blog posts from the Post-Dispatch’s political blog, Political Fix.

04.30.2009 2:00 pm

Ill. classrooms could see more laptops

By: Kari Andren

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – An Illinois House panel endorsed a proposal today that would aim to eventually put a laptop on the desk of every third- through eighth-grader in the state.

The proposal by state Rep. Connie Howard, D-Chicago, would create a pilot program to provide low-cost computers to students.  The program would be funded by the Special Purposes Trust Fund, which is comprised of public and private donations.

The amount of money available in the fund would dictate how many schools could participate in the pilot program.  As long as there is enough money for three schools to participate, the pilot program would go ahead.

Gov. Pat Quinn has been a proponent of increasing laptops in schools since he was lieutenant governor.

His office said more laptops in the classroom would improve academic performance, student participation and classroom enthusiasm.

Another Lincoln statue rally

Illinois rally supports tax hikes

By Kari Andren

POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU     Apr. 23 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — A week after anti-tax “tea parties” attracted
participants at the Illinois Capitol and around the nation, pro-tax-hike
advocates rallied Wednesday to support raising the state income tax to balance
the state budget.

Advocates sounded support for Gov. Pat Quinn’s proposal to raise the state
income tax from 3 percent to 4.5 percent but decried his proposed cuts to child
care and home care services, part of $1.3 billion in cuts he proposed last
month.

A-1: Lawmakers crack down on unsolicited credit offers

Illinois lawmakers target credit offers

By Kari Andren

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH     Apr. 21 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois lawmakers are looking to crack down on
unsolicited credit card applications they say can lure students into debt and
make others vulnerable to identity theft.

One proposal before the state Legislature would ban credit card companies from
offering free gifts and food to lure college students into applying for a
credit card on campus. It would also require universities that allow card
solicitation to offer courses on financial responsibility.

The bill, an initiative of the state treasurer’s office, would also make any
agreement between a credit card issuer and a college or university a public
record posted on the school’s website.

Feds officially charge Blagojevich

Rod Blagojevich faces 16 felony counts in indictment

By Kevin McDermott

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH     Apr. 03 2009

(Kari Andren of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report.)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Before he even took office as Illinois governor, Rod
Blagojevich and a group of associates hatched a plot to earn illegal profits
through official powers and divide the money among themselves after he left
office, a new federal grand jury indictment alleges.

The allegations, unveiled Thursday afternoon in Chicago, describe a deliberate
plan among Blagojevich, his brother, now-convicted associate Antoin “Tony”
Rezko and others to milk Illinois government for profit through the steering of
contracts, extorting political donations and other means.

The indictment charges Blagojevich, 52, a Democrat, with 16 felony counts,
including racketeering, wire fraud, extortion conspiracy, and making false
statements to federal agents.

No helmets required in Illinois

Illinois Senate rejecting a mandatory motorcycle helmet law

By Kari Andren

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH  Apr. 01 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Senate rejected a plan Wednesday that would
have required all motorcycle riders and passengers to wear a helmet.

Illinois remains one of only three states –including Iowa and New Hampshire –
with no motorcycle helmet law on the books.

The measure by state Sen. Donne Trotter, D-Chicago, failed 14-42.

“While I want you to have all the fun you want, we should not have to pay for
it,” said Trotter, a longtime motorcycle rider. “We have romanticized
motorcycle riding, but it’s serious business.”

Efforts to require motorcycle helmets have stalled in the past, in part because
of strong lobbying by motorcycle advocate groups that argue wearing a helmet is
an individual riders’ choice, not state government’s.

Smokin’ debate

Approved patients would be able to grow 7 plants

Medical marijuana law getting further than usual in Illinois

By Kari Andren

POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU   Mar. 29 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A proposal to legalize marijuana for medicinal purposes is
once again smoldering in the Illinois Legislature. This time, opponents worry
that it might actually catch fire.

Twin measures before the Illinois House and Senate would allow patients to use
marijuana to alleviate chronic pain and nausea when other treatments have
failed. The list of conditions includes cancer, glaucoma, HIV-AIDS, hepatitis
C, Crohn’s disease and Alzheimer’s.

The medical marijuana debate comes to Springfield almost every year, but
Statehouse activity around the issue lately has been more frenetic than usual.
Earlier this month, one measure won House committee approval for the first
time. Last week, pro- and anti-legalization activists – including police
officers opposed to the plan – packed into a Senate committee hearing where
another measure advanced on a 6-2 vote.

One reason for the heightened activity could be that state Sen. John Cullerton,
D-Chicago, a major proponent in the past, became Senate president this year.

Keeping kids off steroids

Illinois House moves to expand random drug tests on high school athletes

By Kari Andren  Mar. 27 2009

Springfield, Ill. – More Illinois high school athletes would be subjected to
random steroid testing under a plan advanced Thursday by the Illinois House.

The proposal, by state Rep. Jack Franks, D-Woodstock, would extend the
possibility of being randomly selected for steroid testing to athletes at any
point during the sports season. Currently, only students whose teams advance to
the postseason face the possibility of being randomly tested.

“All kids now are going to know there’s a chance they might be tested,” Franks
said. “I think that’s a tremendous deterrence effect.”

The state House approved the plan 116-0. The bill now goes to the state Senate
for consideration.

“Rod Blagojevich Superstar!”

Cast of the show

Second City turns governor’s saga into Rod opera

BY KARI ANDREN

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH   Mar. 24 2009

SPRINGFIELD – Chicago’s Second City comedy troupe accomplished last weekend
what Illinois politicians tried with limited success to do for years: get Gov.
Rod Blagojevich to spend some time in Springfield.

The capital visitor was really an actor in the scorned ex-governor’s persona,
drawing laughs instead of impeachment votes.

The life and politics of the ousted official, oft-criticized during his
administration for rarely traveling south of Chicago, is on stage in the 1970s
rock style comedy-opera “Rod Blagojevich Superstar!”

It made its downstate debut in the capital city Saturday.

The show traces Blagojevich’s life from his early days as a Chicago lawyer,
through his marriage to Patti Blagojevich, the daughter of powerful Democratic
Chicago Alderman Richard Mell, to his tumultuous six years as governor. Also
portrayed are state Attorney General Lisa Madigan, U.S. Sen. Roland Burris and
U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.

Preaching politics

Currie, sponsor of HB 2354

Catholic leaders in Illinois preach against a reproductive rights bill

By Kari Andren

POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU   Mar. 21 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Illinois’ latest political debate over reproductive rights
has spread from the Capitol to the pulpit.

Priests around Illinois are imploring parishioners during their Sunday sermons
to write to state lawmakers to oppose a bill before the Illinois House that
would expand health care access for sexual health issues and alter the way
public schools teach sex education. At least one priest spoke against the
proposal during a Mass last Sunday, citing it by title and bill number from the
pulpit.

And parishioners across south-central Illinois can expect to read a letter from
Bishop George J. Lucas, head of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, in this
weekend’s bulletins reiterating the church’s objections.

The diocese – which covers parts of the Metro East area – has a blog post on
its website explaining church opposition and how members can contact their
state lawmakers to voice opposition to the bill.

Reaction to Quinn’s budget address

Ill. lawmakers like Quinn’s tone, if not his tax plan

By Kevin McDermott and Kari Andren

POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU   Mar. 19 2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Illinois leaders across the ideological spectrum are
lauding Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn’s first state budget speech as a refreshing
blast of candor after six years of fiscal gimmicks and stonewalling by his
predecessor, Rod Blagojevich.

But they’re also picking apart his numbers.

Republicans are bristling at Quinn’s proposed state income-tax hike to address
a massive budget deficit. Democrats want him to reconsider his opposition to a
gas-tax increase. State workers aren’t happy with his call for them to take
unpaid furlough days. Teachers are furious at his plan to reduce pension
benefits for new public employees.

“Excellent,” said House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, when asked about
Quinn’s working relationship with lawmakers. “Six-thousand percent better than
the last guy.” Madigan then raised questions about Quinn’s plan for a more
generous standard state income-tax deduction.