By John Patterson | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 3/10/2009 4:49 PM

SPRINGFIELD - Suburban Republican efforts to force a vote on possibly rolling back Cook County's sales taxes were blocked Tuesday by Democrats in the Illinois House.

State Rep. Sidney Mathias, a Buffalo Grove Republican, complained that his proposal to force public votes on such tax increases was bottled up in a House committee and hadn't been scheduled for a vote. Mathias pushed to have the plan released only to have Democratic leadership say his request was out of order.

Read more: Democrats block Cook County tax rollback

February 26, 2009

Voting in lock-step with Illinois Democrat leaders, newly-elected State Rep. Mark Walker (D-66th) opposed a House Resolution last Thursday (Feb. 19) that urges the U.S. Senate to take swift and immediate action to address the mounting concerns surrounding Roland Burris' appointment to the U.S. Senate.

According to Republican National Committeeman Pat Brady, Walker's vote to support Roland Burris is "troubling" in light of recent news outlining potential perjury and play-to-play allegations.

Read more: GOP Rips Walker's Vote On Burris

July 2, 2008
Governor: Madigan Presides Over House of Pain

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP)  -- Governor Blagojevich has already said the budget passed in Springfield leaves the state 2 billion dollars short - and now he's called the general assembly into special session a week from today to try again.

The governor says he won't sign the budget bill as it exists.

"That would be like me signing a check that I know is going to bounce," he said.

Read more: Jump Around: Gov Says Madigan Presides Over "House of Pain"