Friday, February 8, 2013
State senator is researching legislative action to require private golf clubs to pay real estate tax on their improvements. Patch poll shows overwhelming support for lawmaking.
State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) has decided to look at ways the Illinois General Assembly can require private golf clubs to pay property taxes on their improved real estate after learning of litigation winding its way through the court system which would allow an exemption. The issue came to light Jan. 30 when Patch published a story describing legal action brought by the Onwentsia Club of Lake Forest contending since its golf course is open land exempt from property taxes, its buildings like its club house should not be assessed either. Earlier: Should Legislature Require Taxes From Golf Clubs Since taxing authorities like school and park districts which rely on the revenue would have to either reduce their revenue or increase the…
Thursday, January 31, 2013
New state senator, representative will serve with on Lt. Gov. Simon’s Firearms Working Group. Morrison also named to five committees.
State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) and state Rep. Scott Drury (D-Highwood) were named to Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon’s Firearms Working Group this week to help the state craft responsible gun policy. Drury and Morrison will work with other freshmen members of the Illinois General Assembly of both parties. They will meet with stakeholders like the Illinois Rifle Association, the Brady PAC, the Illinois Council Against Handgun Violence, mental health professionals, gun manufacturers and crime victims. “When it comes to this issue, the legislature has no time to lose, Morrison said in a news release. “I hope that we can reach a consensus that allows for responsible gun ownership with commonsense safety measures. The conversation needs to move …
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Deerfield’s Julie Morrison replaces Lake Forest’s Susan Garrett as area’s state senator.
State Sen. Julie Morrison (D-Deerfield) took her seat in the 98th Illinois General Assembly today after being sworn into office fully aware of the seriousness of the job facing her yet honored to be part of the process. “The gravity of the fiscal uncertainty I will be facing is tempering the excitement I feel,” Morrison said Tuesday on her way to Springfield. Earlier: Morrison Defeats Friedman in IL 29thState Senate Race Morrison will replace former state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) whose retirement became official at noon today when Morrison took her seat. Concentrating on job creation, economic development and a business friendly economic climate, Morrison also considers the environment, especially the protection of Lake Michigan…
Thursday, January 3, 2013
After 14 years in the Illinois General Assembly, state Sen. Susan Garrett gets ready to move her activism to a different arena. She recalls early days serving with President Obama.
Making Illinois government a little more transparent with high ethical standards is the legacy retiring state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) hopes to leave when her 14-year career in the Illinois General Assembly ends Tuesday. Garrett, who grew up in Deerfield and has lived most of her adult life in Lake Forest, made some of her strongest contributions to issues important to the northern suburbs like transportation on rails and roads. Earlier: Photo Gallery: Colleagues Roast Garrett, May “I hope that will be in ethics reform in many different levels of leadership including the tollway, highways and Metra,” Garrett said when asked to pick one thing he believes has drawn her attention most. The office of inspector general for the …
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
With their political careers’ sunset on the horizon, state Sen. Susan Garrett and state Rep. Karen May were roasted and toasted at a dinner in their honor given by the Lake County Democratic Women Monday.
When a call from state Sen. Susan Garret (D-Lake Forest) appears on state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg’s (D-Evanston) cell phone, the initials ‘MSG’ appear. “Now most people think of ‘MSG’ as ‘Ms. Susan Garrett’ (but) it’s also known as monosodium glutamate,” Schoenberg said. “What do the two have in common? Too much, you get a headache!” Garrett, who will retire at the end of this year after serving three terms in the Illinois Senate, was just one target at Monday night’s Lake County Democratic Women’s toast and roast featuring a cross-section of local and state politicians at Deer Path Inn in Lake Forest. The other bull’s-eye was on state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park), who will also retire this year after serving six terms in the Illinois …
Saturday, June 30, 2012
Lake Forest attorney selected as Republican candidate to replace Lauren Turelli who withdrew from the race earlier this month.
West Deerfield Township Republican Chairman Mark Shaw of Lake Forest was named Friday as the Republican candidate in the campaign to succeed retiring state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park). Shaw replaces Lauren Turelli of Lake Forest on the ballot after she withdrew from the race earlier this month. He was selected by Republican Party officials within the 58th legislative district according to provisions of state law dealing with candidate withdrawal. The choice was made by Lake County Republican Chairman Bob Cook along with New Trier Township Committeeman Bill Cadigan and Northfield Township Committeewoman Jill Brickman in part because of Shaw’s efforts building the Republican Party in West Deerfield Township. “Mark (Shaw) has done a …
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Republican contender to replace Karen May ends campaign.
Lauren Turelli of Lake Forest ended her campaign for the Illinois General Assembly today to replace the retiring state Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park), according to a story in the Lake Forester. Turelli emerged as the Republican candidate to face Democrat Scott Drury of Highwood after defeating Mark Neerhof in the March 20 primary. Turelli lost to May two years ago with 43 percent of the vote. “I’ve had great numbers and a lot of support,” Turelli said in the Lake Forester story. “Things were just getting off the ground. There’s just a lot going on in my family and related business that require my attention.” Lake County Republican Chairman Robert Cook said Neerhof is a contender for the nomination, according to the Lake Forester article…
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
State Senate President Cullerton praises new legislation to New Trier Democrats. Biss, Garrett and Nekritz disagree.
Power outages arising from a string of severe summer storms were on the mind of a number of people who came to hear state Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) give the New Trier Township Democratic Organization an update on legislative affairs Sunday in Winnetka. “Is something being done with an eye to reducing the problems with ComEd (Commonwealth Edison),” Ed Bancroft of Winnetka asked Cullerton. “Will the power outages be reduced?” Cullerton took the opportunity to tell Bancroft and the rest of the crowd of more than 30 people at the Winnetka Community House about the latest legislation to regulate ComEd. On Oct. 26, the General Assembly voted to override Gov. Patrick Quinn’s veto of smart grid legislation after tweaking the …
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
May and Nekritz plan to stay in State House.
Veteran state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) said today she will not seek reelection in the 2012 general election, setting up an open seat race in a district she has represented since it was drawn by the General Assembly 10 years ago. Garrett will serve the remainder of her term, which expires in January, 2013. She will retire from public life, according to a news release she sent today. Garrett currently represents all or part of Lake Forest, Lake Bluff, Highwood, Highland Park, Deerfield, Glencoe, Northbrook, Glenview and Des Plaines. The new 29th State Senate District will include less of Glencoe, Glenview and Northbrook, but take in part of Buffalo Grove. “It was a pretty easy decision,” Garrett said. “I’ve accomplished a lot …
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Legislature passes budget; pension reform will wait.
An Illinois state budget that will reduce spending by approximately $3 billion from the last fiscal year passed the state Senate Monday night and will go to Gov. Patrick Quinn for his signature. The spending plan is $1 billion less than Quinn originally proposed. The total budget package for the 2012 fiscal year, which begins July 1, is $59.1 billion, according to information provided by state Senate President John J. Cullerton’s (D-Chicago) office. Despite the cuts, local legislators felt the process was painful but more open and bipartisan than in the past. Debate was difficult but it produced the best possible results in a difficult economy, state Sen. Susan Garrett (D-Lake Forest) said. “You may not agree with the outcome, but there…
Jim
11:10 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Walter, Fair share huh. Heard that a lot recently. Guy in the White House uses that as a rally cry. Guess the concept of non profit doesnt resonate although you indicated that you understood business. But to your point., private clubs need to be taxed to 'pay their fair share' , as do those other horrible exempt groups like churches, veteran halls, Lions club, schools and Universities. Get em all… more ›