- Springfield showdown. Higher taxes? Less labor clout? No more death penalty? Rich Miller’s Capitol Fax blog is all over everything Springfield on the final day of the “lame duck” session, which means a dozen lame duck lawmakers whose terms end tomorrow can cast deciding votes on major issues without having to face voter reaction. Make sure to check out Rich’s “Tax Hike Roundup.”
- Death sentence. The Trib, the State Journal-Register and the Southtown Star say Illinois should pull the plug on the death penalty. The Senate votes today.
- No ticket to ride. Governor Quinn is the last stop on a fast track rollback of the free rides for seniors transit program. The Illinois House and Senate have overwhelmingly passed a plan that eliminates the freebie for all but the neediest seniors. This follows a BGA/Fox Chicago News investigation of fraud and abuse in the program.
- Cop controversy. The Sun-Times reports that Ald. Anthony Beale, chairman of the City Council’s Police Committee, supports Supt. Jody Weis’s plan to reorganize police beats so high-crime neighborhoods have more beat cops than low-crime communities. The major candidates for mayor oppose the plan and say they’ll replace Weis if they’re elected.
- Policy or politics? The Southtown Star reports on a battle in Oak Lawn over a petition drive to give the mayor more power than the village manager.
- California screaming. The New York Times reports on the massive cutback in social services and government salaries proposed by new (and old) Governor Jerry Brown, who also favors a five-year extension of many taxes.
What I’m Watching—Jan. 11, 2011
