Analysis, Perspective, Policy

What I’m Watching—Jan. 12, 2011

by BGA January 12, 2011November 10, 2022

Craig’s case. Oak Brook Village President John Craig reacted to a BGA/Daily Herald investigation at last night’s village board meeting. The investigation disclosed that Craig and his wife are collecting multiple pensions at the same time he’s claiming the pensions of the village’s retired firefighters are excessive and unaffordable. Craig says the family’s four pensions were “earned honestly and with a lot of time and effort put in.”

Cook County comes calling. Also in the Herald, an editorial encouraging suburban residents to take advantage of Cook County Board president Toni Preckwinkle’s call for regular folk to submit ideas for reforming county government. BGA says go for it.

Tax takedown. So it happened. Big time. In the middle of the night. And every news outlet covered it to some extent. As usual, Rich Miller has a superb Springfield rundown on Capitol Fax.

Daniels disses. The Southtown Star reports on the incredulous reaction of Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels to the goings-on across the border in Illinois, comparing it to being neighbors of the Simpsons. “It’s like living next door to that goofy family that’s always doing something bizarre and completely wacky.”

Flood fallout. The Sun-Times reports on the personal pain of a family that can’t rebuild its flood-ravaged home because of Cook County’s mismanagement of a federal disaster grant.

Capital kudos. Also in the Sun-Times, an editorial calling legislative votes to abolish the death penalty in Illinois an “historic moment for justice.”