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Illinois Issues
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PO Box 19243
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People
in the news 2001
Glenn McGee
The former state superintendent of schools will be paid $125,000
by the Illinois State Board of Education for a study of the achievement
gap between students in wealthy districts and those in poor districts.
The contract will last six months.
Illinois
Issues,
December 20, 2001
Jim Watson
The Jacksonville businessman was selected to replace Tom Ryder
in the Illinois House. Ryder resigned to take a job with the Illinois
Community College Board. Watson will represent the 97th District
in central Illinois.
Illinois
Issues,
December 20, 2001
Andrea Moore
The five-term Republican state representative from Libertyville
was named by Gov. George Ryan as assistant director of the Department
of Natural Resources, who cited her experience in conservation
efforts.
Illinois
Issues,
December 20, 2001
Ernest Wish
The retired Chicago accounting executive will become interim state
superintendent of schools on January 1. In the meantime, he will
work with current Superintendent Glenn "Max" McGee,
who asked that his contract not be renewed when it expires at
the end of the year.
Illinois
Issues,
November 21, 2001
Jim Ryan
The attorney general and Republican gubernatorial candidate had a cancerous nodule removed from behind his left ear, which he reports is a less-aggressive form of cancer than the non-Hodgkin's, large-cell lymphoma he was diagnosed with 1996
Illinois
Issues,
November 15, 2001
Tobias
Barry
The former appellate judge and Democratic House member has been
appointed to the Illinois Gaming Board by Gov. George Ryan. Barry
of Ladd replaces Stuart Levine who resigned in September.
Illinois
Issues,
November 9, 2001
Tom
Ryder
The Jerseyville Republican is resigning his seat in the legislature
after 18 years to become vice president for external affairs at
the Illinois Community College Board. Ryder was the deputy minority
leader and House GOP budget negotiator.
Illinois
Issues,
November 9, 2001
Katherine Selcke
The former deputy to Gov. George Ryan is a new appointee to the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority board, replacing longtime board member Lance Wyatt. Ryan also reappointed Carl Kramp of Downers Grove to a second term and appointed Barrington Hills businesswoman Julie Martines McKevitt and Naperville Mayor George Pradel to replace Paula Fasseas and Gordon Volkman.
Illinois
Issues,
November 1, 2001
Philip
Parenti
The Chicago attorney has been named administrator of the Illinois
Gaming Board. The former assistant U.S. attorney and former division
chief in the state attorney general’s office replaces interim
administrator Thomas Swoik. The former administrator, Sergio Acosta,
resigned.
Illinois
Issues,
November 1, 2001
Richard
Sandsmark
The Belvidere engineer has been appointed to the Illinois State
Board of Education by Gov. George Ryan, who also renamed Ronald
Gidwitz of Chicago chairman of the board.
Illinois
Issues,
November 1, 2001
Miles White
The Abbot Labs CEO will head a panel Gov. George Ryan named to select finalists to direct the planned $115 million Lincoln library and museum. The panel, which also includes presidents of Northwestern University, The Field Museum and the Chicago Historical Society, was formed after critics contended the search process appeared too political.
Illinois
Issues,
October 19, 2001
Clyde Choate
A former state representative, the Anna Democrat died at 81. Choate
spent 30 years in the Illinois House, including a stint as minority
leader. In 1975, he ran for House speaker, but his fractured party
turned to a compromise candidate. In 1977, he left the legislature
to lobby for Southern Illinois University.
Illinois
Issues,
October 11, 2001
Dean Bauer
The former secretary of state inspector general, convicted of
obstruction of justice in the federal licenses for bribes probe,
will start his prison term October 6, which had been delayed because
of illness.
Illinois
Issues,
September 27, 2001
Douglas
Whitley
The former Ameritech Illinois president, state revenue department
director and longtime leader of the Taxpayers’ Federation
of Illinois, succeeds Dennis Whetstone as CEO of the Illinois
Chamber of Commerce.
Illinois
Issues,
September 20, 2001
Jan
Paul Miller
U.S. Sen. Peter Fitzgerald recommended the Maryland federal prosecutor
to replace Frances Hulin as U.S. attorney for the Springfield-based
Central District of Illinois.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
Glenn
“Max” McGee
The state superintendent of schools announced he will step down
from the post when his contract expires at the end of the year.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
Vincent
Lane
The former Chicago Housing Authority chairman was sentenced to 2.5
years in prison for lying to get bank loans.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
Jerry
Genova
The Calumet City mayor left office after a federal jury convicted
him on corruption charges.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
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Candidates
file
Information on candidates for several statewide offices, including
governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, attorney general,
comptroller and treasurer, as well as the legislature, Congress
and the U.S. Senate who filed with the Illinois State Board of
Elections is available at www.elections.state.il.us.
The deadline to file objections to those candidates? petitions
is Dec. 24.
Illinois
Issues, December
20, 2001
Ryan,
Daley agree on O'Hare
The governor and Chicago mayor reached an agreement that would
add a new south runway and keep Meigs Field open until 2026, unless
the General Assembly steps in. The pact, which was forwarded to
federal lawmakers for consideration, says the legislature can
opt to close Meigs after 2006. Ryan, who had been opposed to the
south runway at OHare, says the plan also gives the green light
to an airport in Peotone between Chicago and Kankakee.
Illinois
Issues, December
6, 2001
Ryan
cuts $485 million
The state’s oldest prison will close, Medicaid costs will
be pared and state employees under the governor’s control
will take at least one day off without pay under the budget-cutting
plan announced by Gov. George Ryan. The governor says his cuts
will nearly cover a projected $500 million budget shortfall. Ryan
made the announcements on those cuts, totaling more than $485
million, on three separate days. His plan also delays construction
of the University of Illinois’ post-genomics institute and
shuts down a portion of the Elgin Mental Health Center. The cuts
were limited to those the governor could take without legislative
approval because the General Assembly took no action on budget
cuts before wrapping up its fall veto session.
Illinois
Issues, December
3, 2001
Remap
ruling
The Illinois Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the
legislative map drawn by Democrats. The court voted 5-2 along
party lines to reject the argument that the design of some districts
fails to meet the state Constitutions requirement for compactness.
The plan is ?ot discernibly different in compactness than the
Republican-drawn one the court upheld a decade ago, wrote Chief
Justice Moses Harrison in the ruling in a suit filed by three
central Illinois voters. "While some of the new districts
are certainly more elongated than others, the same was true of
districts drawn under the old map."
Illinois
Issues, December
3, 2001
TOP
November
2001
New
state GOP chair
The Illinois Republican Party elected House Minority Leader Lee
Daniels of Elmhurst as its chair. Daniels, who has served in the
House for 27 years, the last 18 as his partys leader in that chamber,
vowed to reach out to all voters and expand the GOP base. Daniels
replaces Rich Williamson, who was named to a United Nations ambassadorship.
Illinois
Issues, November
15, 2001
Rainy
day fund tapped
Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes announced hell drain the $266
million Rainy Day Fund to settle some of the states unpaid bills.
The fund wont bridge the states budgetary shortfall, which is running
a $500 million deficit.
Illinois
Issues, November
15, 2001
Evidence
supports theory
Archaeologists working for the Illinois Department of Transportation
discovered evidence, including a fragment of a brandy bottle dating
to the late 1700s, supporting the notion that Peoria is the first
site Europeans settled in the state. (See, Illinois Issues,
November 2001, page 10.)
Illinois
Issues, November
15, 2001
GOP
Reps sue over map
Eight central Illinois House members have filed separate suits with
the Illinois Supreme Court, charging that portions of the new Democrat-designed
state legislative map fail to meet the state Constitutions requirement
for compact districts. The suits, by representatives serving districts
in Sangamon, Menard and Logan counties, bring to 12 the number of
state-level suits Republican lawmakers have brought asking that
sections of the map be redrawn.
Illinois
Issues, November
9, 2001
GOP
senators sue over map
Four state senators filed separate suits with the Illinois Supreme
Court, charging that some districts in the new Democrat-designed
legislative map don't meet the state Constitution's requirement
that districts be compact. The four, John Maitland of Bloomington,
Duane Noland of Blue Mound, Frank Watson of Greenville and Kathleen
Parker of Northbrook, asked the court to revise each of their
districts.
Illinois
Issues, November
1, 2001
TOP
October
2001
Ryan:
Realign OHare
Gov. George Ryan would realign three runways at OHare for $5.4
billion, build an airport in Peotone for $600 million and expand
use of the Rockford airport. His plan also keeps Meigs Field
in play and boosts airport security.
Illinois
Issues, October
25, 2001
Lumpkin
calls for vaccine
Public Health Director Dr. John Lumpkin wants the state to require
the chickenpox vaccine. His recommendation contradicts a State
Board of Health ruling. Lumpkin, acting on the suggestion of
an advisory panel, wants the vaccine for all children entering
day care and kindergarten as of 2002-03. The decision is now
in the hands of lawmakers.
Illinois
Issues, October
25, 2001
State
short on cash
Gov. George Ryan told state agencies to set aside 2 percent
of their budgets because the states revenues are expected to
dip $450 million below projections. This follows $50 million
in cuts already made in the wake of the September 11 terrorist
attacks. The cuts must come from general funds rather than those
involving loans such as Illinois First projects.
Illinois
Issues, October
19, 2001
AG
suggests anti-terrorism laws
Illinois Attorney General Jim Ryan wants lawmakers to broaden
death penalty eligibility to specify terrorism and to expand
police and prosecutor authority to use wiretaps, freeze assets
and conduct searches of suspected terrorists. Ryan said his
call to add terrorism is an exception to his belief that Illinois
law should have fewer death eligibility factors. Ryan, a gubernatorial
candidate, said his stance is not motivated by politics, but
rather by his belief that the September 11 terrorist attacks
warranted expanding the scope of the death penalty.
Illinois
Issues, October
19, 2001
Guard
helps secure airports
More than 200 members of Illinois National Guard companies in
Chicago, Springfield and Freeport were called to active duty
to provide additional security at 12 airports in the state.
The National Guard military police are expected to be on duty
at the airports for up to six months.
Illinois
Issues, October
11, 2001
Jail
time delayed again
Dean Bauer, the highest-ranking state official convicted of
obstruction of justice in the federal licenses for bribes probe,
will not go to jail October 6. His sentence has been indefinitely
postponed for health reasons. Bauer was former inspector general
for then-Secretary of State George Ryan.
Illinois
Issues, October
4, 2001
TOP
September
2001
Casey's
settles
Casey’s General Store Inc. has agreed to give the state $30,000
and make refunds to consumers who paid inflated gas prices in
the wake of the September 11 terrorist attack, Attorney General
Jim Ryan says. The settlement, a response to Ryan’s suit
accusing the chain of price gouging, requires the Iowa-based company
to pay $25,000 of the $30,000 to the American Red Cross.
Illinois
Issues, September
27, 2001
Panel
OKs Dem map
The Legislative Redistricting Commission voted 5-4 along party
lines for a map that will likely make it easier for Democrats
to wrest control of the Senate from the GOP. Eight Republican
senators were put into districts with other incumbents. The map,
set to replace one that gave the edge to the GOP in the 1990s,
also likely will help Democrats extend their control of the House.
Illinois
Issues, September
27, 2001
Dems
draft their map
Illinois Democrats exercised their lottery-won control of legislative
redistricting in crafting a map that extends some city-based districts
into suburbia to take advantage of African American population
growth there, doubles the number of Hispanic-majority districts,
cuts up Republican-held downstate strongholds and lumps many Republican
incumbents into the same districts. Democratic analysts say the
Senate map creates 23 Democratic districts, 20 Republican districts
and 16 swing districts, which would shift the balance of power
out of GOP hands come election time next November.
Illinois
Issues, September
20, 2001
Gaming
board shifts
The Illinois Gaming Board named Thomas Swoik, its deputy administrator
of finance and administration, as its interim director to replace
Sergio Acosta, who resigned in August. Meanwhile, board member
Stuart P. Levine, a Chicago philanthropist and private investor,
resigned.
Illinois
Issues, September
20, 2001
Wild
gas prices decried
Thirteen downstate Illinois convenience stores preyed on consumers'
fears, charges Attorney General Jim Ryan, when they hiked gas
prices to as much as $5 a gallon following terrorists attacks
on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. In a civil suit filed
in Sangamon County Circuit Court against the Iowa-based Casey's
General Store Inc., Ryan seeks $50,000 in penalties and restitution.
He may cite other retailers for price gouging.
Illinois
Issues, September
13, 2001
Gov
race
Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood announced she will run in the Republican
gubernatorial primary, while John Schmidt, a former U.S. justice
department official, and Richard Devine, Cook County states attorney,
opted not to join the Democratic field.
Illinois
Issues, September
13, 2001
Dems
to pick map
Democrats won the edge in the design of the state’s legislative
districts for the next decade. Secretary of State Jesse White
pulled from a stovepipe hat the name of retired Illinois Supreme
Court Justice Michael Bilandic, a Democrat, to cast the tie-breaking
vote on a map.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
William
Daley and Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood
William Daley put to rest speculation he would run in the Democratic
primary, while Lt. Gov. Corinne Wood stopped short joining the
GOP field, saying she would make an announcement.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
Redistricting
challenge
Attorney General Jim Ryan asked that a federal court, rather than
the state Supreme Court, rule on a lawsuit challenging the state’s
random method for determining which party crafts the new legislative
district map.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
Patrick
J. Fitzgerald
The new U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois is
on the job.
Illinois
Issues, September
6, 2001
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What
the dailies are saying
Chicago
Sun-Times www.suntimes.com
Chicago Tribune www.chicago.tribune.com
Daily
Herald (suburban Chicago) www.Dailyherald.com
The State Journal-Register http://www.sj-r.com/
St. Louis Post-Dispatch home.post-dispatch.com
DAILY
ILLINOIS STATEHOUSE COVERAGE: http://stateline.org/moreroundups.cfm?roundup=ILSlate
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