Category: Politics

House moves Rauner/Madigan-Backed procurement reforms

May 29, 2017May 31, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

House moves Rauner/Madigan-Backed procurement reforms Statement from Speaker Madigan on Passage of Rauner-Backed Procurement Reforms SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Speaker Michael J. Madigan issued the following statement Monday after the House voted to pass Senate Bill 8, a package of reforms negotiated by Gov. Bruce Rauner to help streamline acquisition of goods and services, reducing costs…

News, news release, Politics, Releases

Illinois Associated Fire Fighters Endorse Pritzker for Governor

May 27, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

The Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois Endorses JB Pritzker for Governor Today, the Associated Fire Fighters of Illinois announced their endorsement of JB Pritzker for Governor at a press conference in Peoria. The endorsement comes after careful consideration of every candidate in the race and their commitment to fighting for Illinois working families. The Associated…

Politics, Releases

Madigan refutes claims Democrats unconcerned about Budget

May 26, 2017May 27, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Madigan refutes claims Democrats are unconcerned about Illinois Budget Conservative business group called out by Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan on claims the legislature is not doing enough to bail taxpayers out of the state’s mounting debt By Ray Hanania Illinois House Speaker released a copy of a letter Friday expressing the commitment that he…

Pekau sworn in as new mayor of Orland Park

May 16, 2017September 28, 2018 Steve Neuhaus No Comments

Pekau sworn in as new mayor of Orland Park Photo array by photographer Steve Neuhaus Keith Pekau was sworn in as Orland Park’s new mayor at ceremonies held at the Orland Park Village Hall on Monday night, May 15, 2017. Pekau won a decisive election over 24-year incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin, who was criticized for…

Pritzker slams Rauner for avoiding budget issue

May 16, 2017October 13, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pritzker slams Rauner for avoiding budget issue Rauner Runs Away When Questioned About Approaching Budget Deadline Chicago, IL – Yesterday, while hundreds of protestors attended the March to Springfield to demand a state budget after over two years of inaction, Bruce Rauner ran away from reporters’ questions regarding the approaching budget. Watch for yourself here. It comes as…

Politics, Releases

Kennedy accuses Illinois Dems of blocking candidacy

May 15, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kennedy accuses Illinois Dems of blocking candidacy The race for governor seems to be focused on ousting incompetent Republican incumbent Bruce Rauner, but the real battle is between the two Democrats, Chris Kennedy and J.B. Pritzker to win party backing for the March 20, 2018 Democratic Primary By Ray Hanania It’s a war between a…

Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Kennedy endorsed by Southern Illinois Democrats

May 14, 2017May 27, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kennedy endorsed by Southern Illinois Democrats First major endorsement in the governor’s race goes to Chris Kennedy two weeks after announcing his campaign Chris Kennedy, Democratic candidate for governor, received the endorsement of the Southern Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association yesterday. This is the first major endorsement in the Democratic race for governor. “The SIDCCA insists…

Politics, Releases

Kennedy: Rauner Holds budget hostage

May 14, 2017May 27, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kennedy: Rauner Holds budget hostage “We want to pass reform, not pay a ransom.” Chris Kennedy, Democratic candidate for governor, faulted Governor Rauner’s budget address for failing to offer solutions to Illinois’ budget crisis. “He needs to stop holding us hostage. We want to pass reform, not pay a ransom,” said Kennedy. “Instead of Governor…

Politics, Releases

Why is my TV clogged with election Ads?

May 14, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Why is my TV clogged with election Ads? Nauseating political commercials have already started to clog our Spring season television viewing, and it has a lot to do with the fact that the three candidates for governor in Illinois are among the richest people around. Republican Bruce Rauner, one of the most incompetent governor’s Illinois has…

Opinion, Politics, rayhanania

Arrogance of the Orland Park Village Board

April 20, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania 3 Comments

Arrogance of the Orland Park Village Board The Orland Park Village Board is apparently pretending that village voters really didn’t mean to support “change” in the last election, voting to oust 24-year incumbent Dan McLaughlin and replacing him with a little known, well-intentioned challenger, Keith Pekau. The board has named Joe LaMargo, the former head…

Editors Pick, elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Rauner, Pritzker & hypocrisy at the Chicago Sun-Times

April 19, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Rauner, Pritzker & hypocrisy at the Chicago Sun-Times Most mainstream American journalists love to dish it out and criticize people, but they are thinned skinned and hate to be criticized themselves, especially when they are involved in their own conflicts-of-interest that they fail to mention in their stories. As a columnist who writes my opinions, I…

Editors Pick, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost

April 6, 2017October 21, 2020 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Analysis: Why Pekau won and McLaughlin lost A poorly run re-election campaign by seven-term incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin combined with a hot-topic issue of salary and pension hikes, and a laser-focused issues campaign of a non-political challenger, Keith Pekau, running on the Republican Party banner did what no one thought could happen April 4 in Orland Park….

Editors Pick, elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections

April 5, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Muslims lose in backlash in Suburban Chicago elections Two Muslim candidates who had strong political backing lost their bids for election on Tuesday in Suburban Chicago contests. Dave Shalabi, who was appointed to a position on a local school board two years ago, lost his bid to remain on the influential school board. Bahira Karim fails in…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race

April 5, 2017 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau defeats McLaughlin in Orland Park mayoral race Republican challenger Keith Pekau easily unseated 23 year incumbent Dan McLaughlin as Mayor of Orland Park in a contest that focused on the mayor’s bid to boost his salary by more than 375 percent and to spike his pension from $30,000 a year to $110,000. By Ray Hanania…

elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit

April 4, 2017September 28, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Pekau says he won’t take pension benefit The high profile battle for the office of mayor of Orland Park in southwest suburban Chicago is fueled by the board’s decision to give the 23 year incumbent Mayor Dan McLaughlin a massive salary boost and huge pension after only one term in office. The salary and pension spike has…

elections, News, Orland Park, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Orland Mayoral race has state’s attention

April 4, 2017November 29, 2019 Ray Hanania No Comments

Orland Mayoral race has state’s attention The battle between Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin and challenger Keith Pekau has the attention of the entire state apparently creating a wild election contest filled with a lot of unusual issues, supporters and claims By Ray Hanania The battle to lead Orland Park, one of the fastest growing suburbs…

elections, Opinion, Orland Park, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland

Kennedy promises to bring diversity to Illinois government

March 23, 2017September 25, 2018 Ray Hanania No Comments

Kennedy promises to bring diversity to Illinois government Christopher Kennedy, the son of slain former New York Senator and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, told an overcrowded gathering of American Arabs outside of Chicago that he would defend the rights of immigrants and fight to bring diversity back to Illinois government when elected governor of the…

Editors Pick, elections, News, Politics, Suburban Chicagoland

Fighting oppressive taxes in Cook County

March 14, 2017January 17, 2023 Ray Hanania 1 Comment

Fighting oppressive taxes in Cook County SW News Group Column March 9, 2017. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle bashed former President Todd Stroger when she ran against him for proposing outrageous hikes in taxes including the sales tax. But as soon as she got to office, she raised the taxes, too. Even worse. The…

Editors Pick, Opinion, Politics, rayhanania, Suburban Chicagoland