Government Commentary

Bob Anderson has been the subject of both praise and scorn in his years-long crusade against expansive government.

It might be years before the McHenry County College board of trustees decides to ask taxpayers for funds to pay for an envisioned $279 million, 10-year expansion of the college.

With less than two weeks left in the legislative session, the Illinois General Assembly has much still to do before it adjourns May 31.

We’re relieved that a proposal to create a new class of license that would allow a winery to open in McHenry County finally emerged from the tangled grapevines of a county parliamentary procedure that almost suffocated it.

Creating a national wildlife refuge on thousands of acres of largely rural land might seem like a no-brainer to area environmentalists.

Illinois government faces myriad difficult decisions in dealing with its tight finances.

The losses have mounted for McHenry County homeowners with each passing month.

Can you fool all of the people all of the time?

It’s been rare in recent years for us to give a thumbs up to much of anything out of Springfield, but today we’ll give two full thumbs up to the Illinois Senate for finally voting to eliminate the much-abused, often political, and always taxpayer-funded legislative scholarship program.

There should be overwhelming evidence of the potential for irreversible harm before a judge restricts someone’s First Amendment rights to freedom of speech.

Three months ago, the first pilot project for the Illinois Supreme Court’s extended media coverage experiment was approved.

“There is not enough money in the state budget to pay for child care services for the rest of the fiscal year ending June 30. ... We are sorry for the hardship this creates for you.”

There are hidden costs to public corruption.

We can understand the Crystal Lake City Council’s reluctance to allow video gambling machines at restaurants and bars around town.

The debacle of the failed prosecution of McHenry County State’s Attorney Lou Bianchi and the two-year push to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate Sheriff Keith Nygren are evidence that changes in the law regarding special prosecutors should be considered.