Tuesday, May 21, 2013
The House Minority Leader isn't confirming or denying reports he may return to his roots as a prosecutor.
State Rep. And House Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego may be considering a run for Illinois Attorney General. According to the Capitol Fax blog written by Rich Miller, Cross has been asked by State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Congressman Aaron Schock of Peoria to consider entering the race if the state’s current top prosecutor Lisa Madigan decides to run for Governor in 2014. Cross appeared on WJOL radio Tuesday and would not deny the possibility of entering the race. Cross previously worked for eight years as a prosecutor in the Kendall County State’s Attorney's office. The only other Republican to consider a run for Attorney General has been State Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs, according to Capitol Fax. Other well-known …
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
New bills call for stiffer sentencing for gang-related gun offenses, gang recruitment.
House Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego joined with fellow Republican legislators Tuesday in introducing legislation aimed at keeping children and communities safe from violence. According to Cross’ website, the “Protect Our Children” intiative targets gang- and school-related violence. The intiative introduces four new bills. They are: “We need to constantly be working on and setting policies in Springfield that protect the next generation,” Cross said. “We believe these proposals introduced today will better protect our children across the state.”
Friday, January 11, 2013
The next step might mean the state's credit rating is downgraded.
With the Illinois General Assembly failing to act on pension reform earlier this week, the State of Illinois’ bond rating took a hit on Friday as Fitch Ratings put Illinois’ bond obligations on negative watch. The next step could mean Fitch's downgrading of the state’s credit rating, which would only add to the state’s financial woes. “The Rating Watch Negative reflects the ongoing inability of the state to address its large and growing unfunded pension liability, most recently through the failure to pass pension reform in the 'lame duck' portion of the 97th general assembly legislature that ended on Jan. 8,” Fitch Ratings said in a news release Friday. Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford reacted Friday to the negative watch …
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
A plan to shift the cost of teacher pensions from the state to local school districts became the most hotly debated topic in Springfield on Tuesday.
With the clock ticking on the current legislative session in Springfield, Illinois lawmakers are scrambling to find a solution to the state's massive shortfall in the Teachers' Retirement System (TRS). The most hotly debated topic in the Illinois General Assembly on Tuesday was a plan to gradually shift pension liabilities from the state to local school districts, universities and colleges. The proposal is part of Senate Bill 1673, a pension bill backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago). An Illinois House committee voted 6-3 to send the proposal to the House before Thursday's adjournment deadline, NBC Chicago reports. House Republican Leader Tom Cross of Oswego slammed Madigan and the proposed shift, calling it a "poison pill" …
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Educators say they want the chance to have their say before any big changes are made.
Several dozen teachers, both current and retired, rallied outside House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ office in Plainfield Wednesday with one message: Don’t mess with our pensions. Organized by Educators United for Strong Public Schools and partner Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, the event was held in protest of proposed changes that some educators fear would gut the pension system. Dennis Grosskopf, president of the Minooka Education Association and former Will County Democratic Party chairman, said teachers just want to make sure their voices are heard. “We’re turning in a petition asking for hearings on any pension changes,” he said, pointing out that lawmakers held weeks of hearings before voting on legislative redistricting last …
41.60847
-88.20481
24047 W Lockport St, Plainfield, IL
/articles/teachers-rally-in-plainfield-to-oppose-pension-reforms
/locations/7084973
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Teachers from across the area are expected at Plainfield event planned for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Teachers from across the area will descend on House Minority Leader Tom Cross’ Plainfield office this afternoon to protest proposed changes to their state pension system. The rally, planned for 3:30 p.m. at Cross’ office at 24047 West Lockport St., could draw several dozen teachers to protest a proposal that involves the state putting its agreed upon contribution to the Teachers’ Retirement System back on to local school districts. The rally is being organized by Educators United for Strong Public Schools and its partner, Northern Illinois Jobs With Justice. The group has held two previous protests — the first on May 4 outside State Sen. Mike Noland’s Elgin office and another May 17 outside the Naperville office of State Rep. Darlene …
41.60847
-88.20481
24047 W Lockport St, Plainfield, IL
/articles/teacher-pension-reform-rally-planned-outside-tom-cross-office
/locations/7080933
Friday, December 16, 2011
New state law makes both the possession and sale of synthetic marijuana a felony, punishable by as much as 30 years in prison with a $500,000 fine. What do you think?
- OPINION
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Friday, December 16, 2011
Shop owners are raking in outlandish profits on synthetic marijuana, marking up the product as much as 500 percent, said Will County State's Attorney James Glasgow earlier this week. And that's why at least some merchants plan to continue carrying it despite a law that makes its sale a felony starting Jan. 1. During a Tuesday press conference at Shorewood Village Hall, Glasgow—joined by State Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, Will County Executive Larry Walsh and a veritable army of Will County police chiefs—told of the reluctance to stop selling supposedly dangerous, and soon to be illegal, drugs. "They told him no, they're not pulling it off (the shelves) because the profit's too good," Glasgow said. "We're going to have to force them, by …
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Lawsuit filed Wednesday in federal court claims newly drawn districts disenfranchise blacks, Hispanics.
Illinois Republicans filed a lawsuit in federal court Wednesday challenging the recently adopted legislative map drawn by state Democrats, claiming the new boundaries disenfranchise minority groups. The suit was filed against the State Board of Elections by Senate Republican leader Christine Radogno of Lemont, Republican Assembly leader Tom Cross of Oswego and several black and Hispanic residents, Illinois Statehouse News reports. Chief among the issues raised in the suit is that blacks and Hispanics were not given adequate input into the crafting of the new map, which Republicans say is a violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The suit also claims the process violated the Illinois Constitution because the map was not made available …
Friday, June 17, 2011
Weber Road bridge project could be delayed, village officials say.
- GOVERNMENT
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Friday, June 17, 2011
CHICAGO — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn told top lawmakers Wednesday that they have until Friday to extend the state’s $31 billion construction plan, or road work will come to a halt Monday. Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Gary Hannig said that if lawmakers cannot agree on the construction spending, his office would “start the wheels turning” to stop work across Illinois. For Bolingbrook, that means the Weber Road bridge project would be delayed, said village Director of Public Works Mike Drey. Drey said the project, which will fix the bridge that extends over the DuPage River, is set to be bid on June 24. The bid process runs through the Illinois Department of Transportation. As for the village's other construction projects? …
Jax
4:43 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Im sick of the Madigans why can't they go to another state and screw it up...I don't understand how her and her father keep getting voted in...Because they sure don't listen to the people of Illinois..And If Tom Cross don't start showing he cares I won't vote for him either.. more ›