By Elaine Donnelly
Extending sexual misconduct to combat units
Independent voices from the TWT Communities
Sen. John F. Kerry, nominated by President Obama to be the next secretary of state, has started meeting with diplomatic staff to prepare for his confirmation, the State Department said Thursday.
Top Illinois state officials said Tuesday they'll push to issue driver's licenses to illegal immigrants — a move backed also by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, who for years stood as Democrats' key impediment to pushing immigration in Congress.
As Republican governors across the nation gain momentum with conservative agendas, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn has stood out for signing a string of laws over the past three months achieving longstanding liberal goals: abolishing the death penalty, legalizing civil unions and raising income taxes.
"Taxpayers will get their money back," said Illinois Senate President John Cullerton, a Chicago Democrat, who said he would support expanding the tax credit if it is successful. "We're getting money that we otherwise wouldn't get at all. It's outside money. It's why you should do it, because we get more back than we put in."
Surrounded by Republicans and Democrats at a news conference, state Senate President John Cullerton said he will try to pass legislation in the coming weeks, and Gov. Pat Quinn said he will sign it if it reaches his desk.
