Chicago Daily Observer

New York city is trying to accomplish a reform that might be of interest to us midwestern folks domiciled in Illinois. It seems that New York’s city council gets about $200 million annually in something called special “initiative” money or “member items” —a direct counterpart to Illinois state government’s “member initiative” program. Like the member initiative money received by Illinois state legislators, New York’s council members are able to take their allotment of member item revenue and spend it in district as they see fit. Apparently, unlike us sophisticated political types in the midwest, New Yorkers are getting a little worked-up over the lack of transparency and accountability in the program. According to a recent New York Times editorial, one of the main problems with the program is, now get this:
Council members actually have the audacity to dole out member item money to family members and political contributors. ... Read More...

For years I have heard that the Democrats are better than the Republicans at the art of politics and everyday the Republicans show how right that old axiom is. Ever since George W became president we have heard that the economy was in horrible shape. It’s been easy for the Democrats to stretch the truth about the economy or the war in Iraq with the help of the mainstream media. They did it during the general election of 2000 pretending that the economy was still humming along even though the tech bubble had burst and the economy was slowing to the point of recession.

One of the amazing things about President Bush II is the fact that he brought the economy back even after America and the economy were attacked on 9/11. He knew that the terrorists had targeted the World Trade Center as a way to push our economy ... Read More...