Tag Archives: Illinois

Fighting healthcare cuts was a winner

Posted on August 28, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Good to know. The Trump administration’s cuts to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention funding for state and local health departments had vastly uneven effects depending on the political leanings of a state, according to a KFF Health News analysis. … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged California, Centers for Disease Control, Christian Menefee, Columbus, Donald Trump, Georgia, Harris County, Harris County Attorney, Houston Department of Health and Human Services, Illinois, Kansas City, lawsuit, Massachusetts, Nashville, National Institutes of Health, Ohio, Oklahoma, RFK Jr, Texas, Washington DC | Leave a comment

Special Session 2: [Insert dumb sequel name here]

Posted on August 16, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

As promised/threatened. With the Texas House still frozen by Democrats’ absence from the state, Gov. Greg Abbott on Friday called a second special session to begin less than two hours after the Legislature gaveled out the first overtime round. The … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Ann Johnson, California, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2026, flooding, Gene Wu, Greg Abbott, Illinois, New York, quorum, redistricting, Senate, special session, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | 1 Comment

The end (of the quorum break) is near

Posted on August 15, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

And getting nearer. The House Democrats who fled Texas to block GOP redistricting appear likely to return in the coming days, according to a press release they issued Thursday. The caucus said its members will return if Republicans follow through … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged California, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2026, Gavin Newsom, Gene Wu, Greg Abbott, Illinois, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, quorum, redistricting, Senate, special session, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

So when might the quorum busters return?

Posted on August 14, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Before I address that question, here’s an important bit of business to resolve. Illinois courts will not force Texas Democrats back to the state, a judge ruled Wednesday, dealing a blow to Attorney General Ken Paxton and House Speaker Dustin … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged California, Congress, Donald Trump, DPS, Dustin Burrows, Election 2026, Gene Wu, Greg Abbott, Illinois, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, New York, quorum, redistricting, Senate, special session, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | 3 Comments

Quorum break Day 5 roundup: Help an ideological enemy out?

Posted on August 9, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Hilarious. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and House Speaker Dustin Burrows are asking an Illinois court to enforce arrest warrants against Democratic lawmakers who have left the state to delay passage of a GOP-backed congressional map. Burrows issued civil arrest … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Ana-Maria Ramos, Beto O'Rourke, Chris Turner, Christina Morales, Congress, Constitution, Donald Trump, Dustin Burrows, El Paso, Election 2026, FBI, Gene Wu, Gina Hinojosa, Greg Abbott, Illinois, James Talarico, JB Pritzker, Jessica Gonzalez, John Bucy, Josey Garcia, Kathy Hochul, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Lulu Flores, Mihaela Plesa, New York, Powered by People, quorum, redistricting, Ron Reynolds, special session, Suleman Lalani, Supreme Court, Tarrant County, Texas, The Lege, Vikki Goodwin | 3 Comments

Quorum break Day 4 roundup: So what is the FBI doing?

Posted on August 8, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

Nobody knows. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn announced that the FBI has granted his request to investigate and locate the Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state in an attempt to stop the passage of new GOP-favored congressional maps. A spokesperson … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged California, Congress, Constitution, Donald Trump, Election 2026, FBI, Gene Wu, Greg Abbott, Illinois, Indiana, JD Vance, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, New York, quorum, redistricting, special session, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

Quorum break Day 3 roundup: Of course there’s a bomb threat

Posted on August 7, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

I suppose something like this was inevitable. Texas House Democrats in Illinois to block GOP redistricting were evacuated from their hotel Wednesday morning due to a bomb threat, lawmakers and local police said. A press conference scheduled for 12:30 p.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Ann Johnson, Beto O'Rourke, California, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2026, Erin Zwiener, FBI, fundraising, Gene Wu, Greg Abbott, Illinois, Indiana, John Bucy, John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Linda Garcia, New York, quorum, redistricting, special session, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | 3 Comments

Quorum break Day 2 roundup: Paxton hauls out a big threat

Posted on August 6, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

He seems destined to fail, but we’re going to go through the motions anyway, I guess. Attorney General Ken Paxton will ask for a court ruling declaring vacant the seats of any lawmakers who are not back to work by … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Beto O'Rourke, California, Congress, Donald Trump, Election 2026, fundraising, Gene Wu, Greg Abbott, Illinois, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, New York, quorum, redistricting, special session, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege | Comments Off

If Democrats could gerrymander now in Texas

Posted on August 5, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

There’s not a lot of news on Day Two of Quorum Break 2025. The session ground to a halt as expected. Greg Abbott shook his fist and threatened to Do Things to the absent Democrats that he does not have … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged California, Congress, Election 2020, Election 2024, Election 2026, Greg Abbott, Illinois, Joe Moody, Kathy Hochul, New York, quorum, redistricting, Texas, The Lege, Tom DeLay, Voting Rights Act | 1 Comment

State House Dems break quorum

Posted on August 4, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s on. Texas Democratic lawmakers fled the state Sunday in a bid to block passage of a new congressional map designed to give the GOP five additional seats in the U.S. House next year, raising the stakes in what’s poised … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Congress, Election 2026, Gene Wu, Illinois, quorum, redistricting, special session, Texas, The Lege | 8 Comments

And just like that we have a map

Posted on July 31, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

That sure was fast. Good thing all those hearings are over. Texas GOP lawmakers released their first draft of the state’s new congressional map Wednesday, proposing revamped district lines that attempt to flip five Democratic seats in next year’s midterm … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Al Green, California, Carol Alvarado, CD07, CD09, CD18, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD32, CD33, CD34, CD35, CD37, Cody Vasut, Congress, Donald Trump, fines, Greg Abbott, Greg Casar, Illinois, Jasmine Crockett, Julie Johnson, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Lloyd Doggett, New Mexico, New York, Phil King, quorum, redistricting, special session, Texas, The Lege, Todd Hunter, Tom DeLay, Voting Rights Act | 7 Comments

Redistricting roundup

Posted on July 30, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

While we wait for maps, we can ponder whether or not there will be a quorum break. As Republicans in Texas move full steam ahead with a plan to redraw the state’s congressional districts, Democrats are privately mulling their options, … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged California, CD07, CD09, CD18, CD21, CD23, CD28, CD29, CD32, CD33, CD34, CD35, CD37, Cody Vasut, Congress, Donald Trump, fines, Greg Abbott, Greg Casar, Illinois, Jasmine Crockett, Julie Johnson, Justice Department, Ken Paxton, lawsuit, Lloyd Doggett, New Mexico, New York, quorum, redistricting, special session, Texas, The Lege, Tom DeLay, Voting Rights Act | 11 Comments

Measles update: Yes, there are still new cases being reported

Posted on July 3, 2025 by Charles Kuffner

It’s still a thing. The Texas Department of State Health Services says three new measles cases have been detected in the last week in connection to an outbreak in West Texas. The state has been tracking case numbers since the … Continue reading →

Posted in The great state of Texas | Tagged Arizona, Austin Public Health, Bexar County, Canada, Centers for Disease Control, Colorado, coronavirus, El Paso, Gaines County, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Lamar County, measles, Mexico, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, RFK Jr, Texas, Texas Advanced Computing Center, Texas Department of State Health Services, UT, vaccinations | Comments Off

LA to sue Abbott over migrant busing

Posted on September 4, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Go for it. Los Angeles is preparing to sue Texas over Gov. Greg Abbott’s migrant busing program, which has sent more than 400 people there. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to investigate whether there are legal … Continue reading →

Posted in La Migra, Legal matters | Tagged Bexar County, California, Florida, Gavin Newsom, Greg Abbott, Illinois, immigration, Javier Salazar, Justice Department, Karen Bass, lawsuit, Los Angeles, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Ron DeSantis, Sheriff, Texas | Comments Off

Feds rebuke hospitals that didn’t do emergency abortions

Posted on May 6, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Relevant to our interests. Two hospitals that refused to provide an emergency abortion to a pregnant woman who was experiencing premature labor put her life in jeopardy and violated federal law, a first-of-its-kind investigation by the federal government has found. … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged abortion, EMTALA, hospitals, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, lawsuit, Missouri, Texas, U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

Anti-mifepristone order still paused

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

SCOTUS needs a couple more days. The Supreme Court extended its stay on lower court rulings on mifepristone until Friday just before midnight, meaning that the drug will remain accessible and available at least until then. The order, written by … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, FDA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, GenBioPro, Illinois, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, Michigan, mifepristone, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, pharmacies, Rhode Island, SCOTUS, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Xavier Becerra | 1 Comment

Anti-mifepristone litigants respond to SCOTUS appeal

Posted on April 19, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Today we find out what SCOTUS will do. The anti-abortion doctors who first brought the case seeking to get mifepristone yanked from the markets filed a reply brief Tuesday, starting the clock on the Supreme Court’s response. It’s the latest … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, FDA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Illinois, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, Michigan, mifepristone, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, pharmacies, Rhode Island, SCOTUS, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Xavier Becerra | Comments Off

SCOTUS pauses that anti-mifepristone ruling

Posted on April 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

A brief timeout. The Supreme Court granted the Department of Justice’s emergency request to temporarily halt lower court rulings that would have reimposed restrictions on mifepristone that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had lifted in recent years. The stay … Continue reading →

Tuesday mifepristone update

Posted on April 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

First things first, that lawless ruling from the wingnut Texas judge has been appealed. The U.S. Justice Department on Monday asked a federal appeals court to keep the abortion pill mifepristone on the U.S. market as litigation plays out, days … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Arizona, Colorado, Congress, Connecticut, Delaware, Election 2024, Elizabeth Warren, FDA, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Illinois, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, Lizzie FLetcher, Mazie Hirono, Michigan, mifepristone, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pat Ryan, pharmacies, Rhode Island, Ron Wyden, SCOTUS, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Xavier Becerra | 1 Comment

We await what’s next with mifepristone

Posted on April 10, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

“Everything is on the table”, whatever that ultimately means. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said the administration is willing to do whatever it takes to protect access to the abortion drug mifepristone, after a federal judge in Texas suspended the … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, FDA, Illinois, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, Michigan, mifepristone, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, pharmacies, Rhode Island, SCOTUS, Texas, Vermont, Washington, Xavier Becerra | 2 Comments

Mifepristone access banned and expanded

Posted on April 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

So as you might have heard, this happened on Friday. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas stayed the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of abortion drug mifepristone nationwide Friday, including in blue states with robust abortion protections. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, FDA, Illinois, Joe Biden, Justice Department, lawsuit, Michigan, mifepristone, Nathan Hecht, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, pharmacies, Rhode Island, SCOTUS, Texas, Vermont, Washington | 4 Comments

Democratic AGs file lawsuit to ease access to mifepristone

Posted on March 3, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good, albeit a bit confusing at this point in time. A dozen Democratic state attorneys general have opened a new front in the legal war over mifepristone, the “gold standard” medication used in the majority of all US abortions. In a federal lawsuit filed … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, FDA, Illinois, lawsuit, Michigan, mifepristone, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, pharmacies, Rhode Island, SCOTUS, Vermont, Washington | Comments Off

If in Texas you can’t get justice…

Posted on October 7, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

…Try somewhere else. An abortion provider in Texas took the unusual step Tuesday of asking a federal judge in another state to declare unconstitutional the six-week-ban on the procedure that took effect last month in Texas. Lawyers for Dr. Alan Braid, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged abortion, Alan Braid, Arkansas, Bryan Hughes, Center for Reproductive Rights, Felipe N. Gomez, Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, Illinois, lawsuit, Oscar Stilley, SCOTUS, Supreme Court, Texas, The Lege, Wolfgang P. Hirczy de Mino | 4 Comments

Census apportionment numbers are in

Posted on April 27, 2021 by Charles Kuffner

Texas will gain two seats in Congress, which is one fewer than had been expected based on population growth estimates. Texas will continue to see its political clout grow as it gains two additional congressional seats — the most of … Continue reading →

Posted in National news | Tagged Arizona, California, Census, Colorado, Congress, coronavirus, demography, Donald Trump, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, redistricting, SCOTUS, Texas, The Lege, Voting Rights Act, West Virginia | 24 Comments

Postal service update

Posted on August 19, 2020 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, destroying the US Postal Service has real effects on real people. Delays in mail sorting and processing are leaving Houston-area businesses, brides and voters wary of the coming months. Whether it’s essential medication, ballots or important letters … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2020, National news | Tagged absentee ballots, Al Green, Carolyn Lewis, Colorado, Congress, Connecticut, Donald Trump, Election 2020, George Bush, Houston, Illinois, lawsuit, Lizzie FLetcher, Louis DeJoy, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sylvia Garcia, Texas, US Postal Service, Vermont, Virginia, Wisconsin | 18 Comments

Where have all the Christmas tree farmers gone?

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

They’re not growing them like they used to. Across the U.S., Christmas tree farmers are getting out of the business. Illinois lost dozens of farmers in recent years, dropping from 212 growers in 2012 to 182 farmers in 2017, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged Christmas, farming, Illinois, National Christmas Tree Association, Texas, Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, USDA | Comments Off

Letting 17-year-olds vote

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Charles Kuffner

Sort of. Hoping to fuel the next crop of young voters, state lawmakers filed bills that would allow 17-year-olds to vote in some primary elections if they are going to turn 18 before the general election. The 17-year-olds would only … Continue reading →

Posted in That's our Lege | Tagged Democratic primary, Donna Howard, Election 2018, Illinois, Judith Zaffirini, Secretary of State, Texas, The Lege, turnout, voting age | 5 Comments

Census lawsuit proceeds

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge in New York on Thursday allowed a lawsuit challenging the addition of a citizenship question to the Census to move forward. U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman’s decision rejected the Trump administration’s request to dismiss the lawsuit, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged ACLU, Census, Commerce Department, Connecticut, Delaware, Donald Trump, Illinois, immigration, Iowa, Justice Department, lawsuit, Maryland, Massachusett, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wilbur Ross | Comments Off

Census lawsuit may proceed

Posted on July 6, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. A federal judge said Tuesday that there was a “strong showing of bad faith” by the Trump administration in adding a controversial question about US citizenship to the 2020 census. The judge hinted that he would allow the case to move forward … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged ACLU, Census, Commerce Department, Connecticut, Delaware, Donald Trump, Illinois, immigration, Iowa, Justice Department, lawsuit, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wilbur Ross | 2 Comments

Multiple cities and states sue over Census citizenship question

Posted on April 5, 2018 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Seventeen states, the District of Columbia, and six major cities sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over the addition of a controversial new question about US citizenship to the 2020 census. This is the third major lawsuit against the administration’s action, after California and the NAACP sued last week, … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters | Tagged Census, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, immigration, Iowa, lawsuit, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, U.S. Conference of Mayors, Vermont, Virginia, Washington | 2 Comments

Uber drivers sue over employment status

Posted on July 3, 2017 by Charles Kuffner

This will be worth watching. Lawyers for 19 Texas drivers for Uber on Friday filed a federal class-action lawsuit in Houston, claiming the ride-hailing app company’s oversight and control of supposedly independent drivers is so pervasive, they should be considered … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Planes, Trains, and Automobiles | Tagged California, Houston, Illinois, lawsuit, Massachusetts, Texas, Uber | 3 Comments

Inmates and Medicaid

Posted on March 11, 2014 by Charles Kuffner

Other states are doing what Texas has declined to do. Being arrested in Chicago for, say, drug possession or assault gets you sent to the Cook County Jail to be fingerprinted, photographed and X-rayed. You’ll also get help applying for … Continue reading →

Posted in Crime and Punishment | Tagged health care, health insurance, Illinois, jails, Maryland, Medicaid, mental illness, Ohio, Oregon, Texas | 1 Comment

So where are the jobs he’s been trying to poach?

Posted on June 12, 2013 by Charles Kuffner

There’s an obvious question to ask about this story, but I don’t see it being asked. After a couple of high profile job-poaching trips to California and Illinois, Gov. Rick Perry is planning a new raid — this time on … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged advertising, California, Election 2014, Election 2016, Governor, Illinois, New York, Rick Perry, Texas, TexasOne | 3 Comments

Amazon complains to the SEC about Texas trying to collect taxes on it

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Charles Kuffner

Poor dears. Amazon said in a regulatory filing this week that the SEC is looking into its dispute with Texas, which began last year when the Texas comptroller’s office sent Amazon a $269 million assessment for four years of uncollected … Continue reading →

Posted in Bidness | Tagged Amazon, Illinois, sales taxes, SEC, South Carolina, Texas | Comments Off

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