Tax hike no easy sell

Quinn request for tax hike hits brick wall in state House
By Kevin McDermott and Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU       June 1, 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Gov. Pat Quinn’s quest to fill a massive state budget deficit with an income tax hike appeared to all but collapse Sunday, as the Illinois House soundly defeated his tax proposal and [...]

Patrick Collins was not happy

It’s been quite a while since I posted any of my stories.  So long, in fact, that some of them are no longer available on the Post-Dispatch’s Web site.  So here’s what’s available when you search the archives.  Is it wrong that I’m unwilling to pay $2.95 each for my own stories?  I have them [...]

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 [...]

Budget address preview

Ill. Republicans to keep open mind on tax hike
By Kevin McDermott and Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU   Mar. 18 2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is by no means assured of getting
the major state tax hike he will ask Illinois lawmakers for in a speech today.
But in the face of an unprecedented budget crisis, even [...]

4th and Jackson streets a home again

Quinn puts Ill. governor’s mansion to work
By Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU  03/02/2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – It’s a magnificent 154-year old Georgian-style brick
mansion, the largest state executive residence in the country and the
third-oldest.
And after six years with an absent resident, it’s once again “the people’s
house,” as its new occupant calls it.
“It’s a nice bed, nice accommodations. You [...]

Colonial Williamsburg of the mid-west

Ill. guide dreams of historical village near Fort de Chartres
By Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU  02/11/2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Downstate political leaders and one determined history
buff are hoping two new administrations – those of President Barack Obama
and Gov. Pat Quinn – will help promote an old legacy of Southern Illinois.
Dean Campbell, a state Capitol tour guide, wants [...]

All’s fair in politics

Illinois GOP sharpening political knives on Blagojevich issue
By Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU  02/06/2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Despite all the talk in Springfield about a bipartisan
truce, it’s already clear the Illinois Republican Party has no plans to let
Democrats forget the saga of now-ousted Gov. Rod Blagojevich and those who
have spoken favorably of him in the past.
The GOP has created [...]

Legislature’s first day under Quinn governorship

New Ill. Gov. Quinn greeted with good vibes, bad fiscal news
By Kevin McDermott and Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU  02/05/2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – New Illinois Gov. Patrick Quinn and other state leaders
opened the first legislative day of the post-Rod Blagojevich era Wednesday
with vows of bipartisan cooperation and fiscal responsibility.
“So far, so good,” state Senate minority leader Christine [...]

Coming up tomorrow

Illinois Legislature opens Wednesday amid ethics promises
By Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU 02/03/2009
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Illinois General Assembly will return to the
capitol Wednesday for its first regular legislative session day under newly
installed Gov. Pat Quinn.
Topping the agenda for both lawmakers and the governor will be ethics
reform, in the wake of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s impeachment [...]

Now what?

Patrick Quinn faces oddball past, daunting future as governor
By Kevin McDermott and Kari Andren
POST-DISPATCH SPRINGFIELD BUREAU   02/01/2009

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Now what?
After almost two months under a brutal national spotlight, Illinoisans might be tempted to think their problems were solved when ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich was shown the door Thursday by a unanimous state Senate vote.
But now, [...]