In Obama’s home state, Illinois, governor Pat Quinn attempted to circumvent the legislature and impose an assault weapons ban on Wednesday. State Sen. Dave Luechtefeld, a Republican from Okawville, led an override that defeated the governor.

“Today is a good day for the Second Amendment in Illinois. We have scored a victory against short-sighted Chicago anti-gun policies,” Luechtefeld said, the Illinois Review reported on Wednesday. “The Governor overstepped his reach when he decided to rewrite this Senate bill and impose an assault weapons ban without the measure first being heard by the legislature.”

Illinois Senate Defeats Governor’s Sneaky Attempt to Ban Assault Weapons

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HIGH TIME
Emanuel’s new top cop said police would continue to make arrests for marijuana possession but could issue tickets rather than jailing suspects. “I think you’re going to see some changes,” Police Supt. Garry McCarthy said.

DREAM (ACT) COME TRUE
Gov. Pat Quinn will sign legislation today allowing the children of illegal immigrants to receive private college scholarships and enroll in state college savings programs.

LOLLA LAND
Organizers of the the Lollapalooza music festival were exempted from paying the city’s amusement tax after retaining the nephew of former Mayor Richard M. Daley to negotiate their contract.

via Rahm’s ‘Velvet Shiv’ | Marijuana Musings | Quinn’s Dream Start to Week – Chicago News Cooperative.

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Gov. Pat Quinn on Monday signed legislation making it mandatory for everyone in a vehicle to wear a seat belt, beginning July 1.

Thanks Pat, I wonder who will get the ticket.

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Caterpillar Inc., suggesting that it could shift jobs out of Illinois, is prodding its home state to cut government spending and roll back tax increases.

Doug Oberhelman, chief executive officer of the giant Peoria-based maker of construction and mining equipment, protested against the state’s tax and spending policies in a March 21 letter to Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn, a Democrat who took office in January 2009.

“I want to stay here,” the letter said. “But as the leader of this business, I have to do what’s right for Caterpillar when making decisions about where to invest. The direction that this state is headed in is not favorable to business, and I’d like to work with you to change that.”

via Caterpillar threatens to leave Illinois over taxes | Chicago Breaking Business.

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Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn speaks with reporters in his office at the Illinois State Capitol in Springfield, Ill., Wednesday, Jan. 12. Quinn defended a massive increase in state income taxes passed by lawmakers Wednesday and promised to quickly sign the measure to help heal the state’s ailing finances.

By Mark Guarino, Staff writer / January 12, 2011

The Illinois legislature has passed personal income-tax increases of 66 percent and corporate income-tax in creases of 45 percent, designed to address a $15 billion state budget deficit that lawmakers said was leading the state into insolvency.

By the early hours of Wednesday, Senate and House lawmakers had voted to raise the personal income tax rate from 3 percent to 5 percent and the corporate tax rate from 4.8 percent to 7 percent. Both rates were adjusted to carry through until 2015, when they would drop to 3.25 percent and 5.25 percent, respectively.

via Illinois tax increase: why lawmakers passed 66 percent income-tax hike – CSMonitor.com.

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WITH NO CUTS IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING

In a deal hammered out by the state’s Democratic leadership, the lame-duck legislature pushed through a 67% increase in the state income tax and a 45% increase in the corporate tax.

The new income-tax rate would add about $1,040 to the tax bill of a family of four earning $60,000 a year, and the new corporate rate would move the state into the top 10 among corporate taxers nationally.

Skeptics worried the increase has the potential of chasing both businesses and residents out of the state, and Democrats face the possibility of losing political support in 2012.

Illinois’s Tax Increase Has Business Fuming, Neighbors Courting – WSJ.com.

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Jerry Stermer, who served as chief of staff before resigning in August, will return to Quinn’s administration on Nov. 29 in the role of senior adviser. He will make $125,000 a year.

Stermer, a longtime education advocate, will consult with Quinn on issues such as healthcare, education, social services and the budget.

Stermer resigned several days after former Executive Inspector General James Wright found he improperly sent e-mails to Quinn campaign aides using a state account. Quinn fired Wright the same day he was briefed about the violations, though Quinn has said the timing was a coincidence. Quinn dismissed Wright in the morning, but said he did not read the report until that evening.

via Illinois Review: Quinn rehires top aide who resigned over ethics breach.

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In an unusual effort to solicit public input on the budget, Gov. Pat Quinn yesterday proposed $2 billion in cuts to education along with grim revenue estimates for a state awash in $13 billion of red ink.

Notably missing from revenues are some $3 billion in federal stimulus funds sent to schools since 2009, a loss that is part of what national observers call a “stimulus funding cliff” that threatens school districts across the country. In Chicago, where Quinn’s cuts would mean perhaps a $200 million shortfall, it’s unclear how well officials have prepared.

Officials hoped the one-time infusion of federal cash would be spent on efforts that would spark lasting reforms that wouldn’t require ongoing funding. Catalyst Ohio highlighted a few examples in its latest report, including a plan in Cleveland to buyout older, higher-paid teachers and the creation of a school improvement planning team in Columbus.

Here in Chicago, details on stimulus spending are somewhat murky. Yet, district officials are able to point out only a few examples of spending that will propel reforms.

via Catalyst Notebook :: Chicago schools budget approaching the stimulus.

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