Law Enforcement Coalition Reacts to Criminal Justice Legislation

A coalition representing Illinois Law Enforcement leadership and rank-and-file Officers has issued a statement, regarding the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice legislation that passed the Illinois General Assembly, during the Lame Duck Session. We are extremely disappointed and saddened in the process, the lack of discussion with members of the

Bustos Votes to Impeach President Trump

On Wednesday, January 13, 2021, U. S. Representative Cheri Bustos issued the following statement, after voting in support of H.Res. 24, An Article of Impeachment Charging President Trump with Incitement of Insurrection.  “Last week, the world watched as the President of the United States used his sacred and powerful office,

Bustos Statement on Trump Veto of National Defense Bill

On Wednesday, December 23, 2020, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, a member of the powerful House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement.  Her comments are in response to President Trump’s veto of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA.)  The Bill included a pay raise for troops; protections for Gold Star

Democrats Cover Up Madigan Corruption, Kill Investigating Committee

On Monday, December 14, 2020, State Representative Tony McCombie said Illinois House Democrats are “covering up [Speaker of the House Michael] Madigan’s corruption” by killing the Special Investigating Committee into Madigan’s misconduct. “By shutting down this committee, House Democrats are prioritizing corruption and gridlock over honesty, transparency, and a much-needed

Under Bustos’s Pressure, Trump Extends National Guard Virus Response

On Thursday, December 3, 2020, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos issued the following statement.  It was given after President Trump announced he will extend National Guard activations, for COVID-19 response efforts, through March 31, 2021.  Current activations were set to expire at the end of the year.  Without an extension, States would

At Least Our Legislators Don’t Throw Animal Entrails

I like news.  I start my morning reading a newspaper.  Besides “reading” thecity1.com, I subscribe to one daily newspaper and one weekly, and I receive one weekly at no cost.  I regularly watch fact-telling news commentators on one channel.  Throughout the day, my phone alerts me to Yahoo news feeds. 

McCombie Providing “Voice to Victims”

Saying she got involved with the issue of current criminal justice reform “because of how poorly the Knight Family was treated, after the tragic murder of Pam Knight.”  Knight was a DCFS case-worker beaten to death on the job, from Illinois Rep. Tony McCombie’s district.  Last week, Rep. McCombie was

Coalition Forms to Oppose Elimination of Cash Bail

A new coalition of Law Enforcement organizations formed on Monday, March 2, 2020, to oppose efforts in the General Assembly to end cash bail.  Throughout this year’s legislative session, the Coalition for Public Safety will speak with a unified and strong voice on this and other criminal justice issues.  Founding

McCombie: Growth in Illinois Cannot Be Driven by Radical Policies

Illinois State Representative Tony McCombie reacted to Governor JB Pritzker’s second State of the State Address.  She renew[ed] her call for Illinois lawmakers to focus on providing relief for out-of-control property taxes; reforming ethics laws to eliminate self-dealing; improving the way Illinois redraws its political maps, following the decennial Census.

Warren’s Plan to Cancel Student Loan Debt and Ensure Free Public College

Democratic Presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren has a plan to address the student loan crisis, that is holding back our economy and crushing thousands of American families. “We got into this crisis, because State governments and the Federal government decided that, instead of treating higher education like our public school system–free

Bustos Statement on Theft of Defense Funds

Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos is a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense, Military Construction, and Veterans Affairs.  On Friday, February 14, 2020,she released the following statement about the Administration’s recent decision to steal Department of Defense funds, which are crucial to military readiness, for border wall construction.  President

McCombie Pushes for Property Tax Reform

State Representative Tony McCombie stood with fellow House Republican Legislators from Northern Illinois, in denouncing the missed opportunity and failed effort of the partisan-controlled Task Force, to consider and recommend meaningful short- and long-term property tax relief.  Video from the Press Conference and more information about this and other State

Bustos Announced $3.8 Million in Federal Funding

On Friday, January 17, 2020,, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, announced $3,866,478 in Federal grants, from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care (CoC) program. CoC is designed to assist individuals and families experiencing homelessness and to provide services necessary to help

Bustos Helps Pass Wage and Bad Robocalls Acts

On Thursday, July, 18, 2019, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos helped pass the Raise the Wage Act.  This legislation would raise the Federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 by 2025[.  It would] give more than 33 million hardworking Americans a raise.  Additionally, this bill would lift 1.3 million Americans out of

Trump Correct to Consider Changes To Refugee Policy

Editor’s note:  Joe Guzzardi is a Progressives for Immigration Reform analyst who has written about immigration for more than 30 years. Contact him at jguzzardi@pfirdc.org. During a recent meeting with the Department of Homeland Security, the State Department, and about 20 other representatives from agencies involved in immigration, the Trump