Illinois pension crisis and veto risks loom this fall
A Southern editorial warns Illinois pension underfunding exceeds 83 billion dollars and could rise to 140 billion with rating downgrades. It criticizes the August lame duck session, cautions against shifting costs to locals, and calls for clear benefit controls while noting constitutional limits and potential court battles. It urges readers to weigh political choices ahead of November.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
General Assembly
Springfield
Illinois
House
Senate
Christine Radogno
R-Lemont
GOP
John Cullerton
Chicago
Mayor backs splash park funding plan sparks reader concerns
A reader letter questions the $100K city splash park plan and the larger $2.5 million grant. They ask who will fund and guarantee completion, who pays ongoing upkeep, and whether a summer venue can cover year round costs, noting uncertainties and delays.
Golden Pen voting under way for August letters
Readers can vote online at www.thesouthern.com or by mail for the Golden Pen award to the best letter to the editor printed in August. Finalists include Donald E. Julian of Alto Pass, Gunnar Thoren of Pinckneyville, and Allen Arbeiter of Du Quoin.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Thesouthern.com
Southern Illinoisan
Donald E. Julian
Alto Pass
Gunnar Thoren
Pinckneyville
Allen Arbeiter
du Quoin
Quinn
Chicago
Tamms Correctional Center
Gary Metro
The
N. Illinois Ave
Carbondale
Letters to the Editor Policy for The Southern Illinoisan
The Southern Illinoisan outlines policy limiting letters to 50 words and requires submission via email or mail. Letters must address issues and must include name and hometown. libelous or personal attacks are not printed. Contact details are provided for submissions and editor contacts.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Carbondale
Officials Contact Lines From Illinois Leaders
Gov. Pat Quinn in Springfield hosts the state office at 207 State House with main line 217-782-0244 and an alternate 888-261-3336. Chicago office is James R. Thompson Center. U S Sen. Dick Durbin lists 618-351-1122 and 202-224-2152 with durbin.senate.gov online. U S Sen. Mark Kirk provides 312-886-3506 and 202-224-285- plus 217-492-5089 and kirk-senate.gov. State Sen. Gary Forby contact 217-782-5509 or 18-439,2504 with senatorforby yahoo.com.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Pat Quinn
Springfield
State House
Chicago
James R. Thompson
W. Randolph
Dick Durbin
Durbin
Senate
U.S
Mark Kirk
Kirk
Gary Forby
Yahoo.com
MSNBC Plaza at DNC highlights bias and fan frenzy
Kathleen Parker argues MSNBC played a prominent, pro Obama role at the Charlotte Democratic National Convention, turning part of downtown into an "MSNBC Plaza" with live access, celebrity sightings, and partisan framing. She urges transparency and warns that activism masquerading as journalism risks eroding impartial news.
MENTIONED IN THIS ARTICLE
Whey
Barack Obama
MSNBC
Charlotte
Joe Scarborough
Mika Brzezinski
Msnbc Plaza
Chris Matthews
Obama
Matthews
Brzezinski
New York Times
al Sharpton
Fox
Rachel Maddow
Hollywood Squares
Tampa
Times
Also Mentioned on This Page
Radogna
Thesouthern
Gary
Metro
Rollins
Splash Park
Murphysboro
de Soto
Williamson County
John Shimkus
House.gov
Shimkus
Jerry Costello
Costello
David Luechtefeld
Sendavel
Midwest
Brandon Phelps
Gmail
Mike Bost
Mike
Hotmail
John Bradley
Jerry I. Costelloi
Kathleen Parker
Kathleenparker
Washpost
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