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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]