Is Tom Cross Considering State-Wide Office Run?

The House Minority Leader isn't confirming or denying reports he may return to his roots as a prosecutor.

State Rep. And House Minority Leader Tom Cross of Oswego may be considering a run for Illinois Attorney General. According to the Capitol Fax blog written by Rich Miller, Cross has been asked by State Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka and Congressman Aaron Schock of Peoria to consider entering the race if the state’s current top prosecutor Lisa Madigan decides to run for Governor in 2014. Cross appeared on WJOL radio Tuesday and would not deny the possibility of entering the race. Cross previously worked for eight years as a prosecutor in the Kendall County State’s Attorney's office. The only other Republican to consider a run for Attorney General has been State Rep. Jim Durkin of Western Springs, according to Capitol Fax. Other well-known …

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Jax

4:43 pm on Tuesday, May 21, 2013

Im sick of the Madigans why can't they go to another state and screw it up...I don't understand how her and her father keep getting voted in...Because they sure don't listen to the people of Illinois..And If Tom Cross don't start showing he cares I won't vote for him either..   more ›

Illinois Pension Reform: How Did Your Representative Vote?

The Illinois House Thursday approved a controversial plan to eliminate the state's $100 billion pension debt; here's how DuPage County representatives voted.

Illinois Pension Reform: How Did Your Representative Vote?

The Illinois House Thursday approved a controversial plan to eliminate the state's $100 billion pension debt; here's how DuPage County representatives voted.

The Illinois Senate may soon vote on House Speaker Michael Madigan’s pension reform plan that passed the House Thursday. The bill passed by a vote of 62-51 and seeks to eliminate the state’s $100 billion retirement system debt. Illinois ranks dead last in the nation when it comes to funding its public pension plan, according to WBEZ. The bill asks state workers for less in future cost-of-living increases, an increase in the retirement age for workers under the age of 46 and asks for more money to be taken from state employee paychecks. The bill may have difficulty making it through the Senate where Senate Leader John Cullerton supports a different plan that gives workers the option of pay increases or government-funded health care in …

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Jim K

11:24 am on Wednesday, May 8, 2013

No we can't continue to ignore the problem so why not pass something that will solve the problem and not make Pension funding the State's number one priority as this bill does? passing this will put pension payments first in line to bills to be paid ahead of all others including education funding (which, from what I hear teachers say, should be first because it's all about the kids). Have a look …   more ›

Durkin, GOP Reps Introduce Gang, School Violence Legislation

New bills call for stiffer sentencing for gang-related gun offenses, gang recruitment.

State Rep. Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and House Minority Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) joined with fellow Republican legislators Tuesday in introducing legislation aimed at keeping Illinois children and communities safe from violence. According to Cross’ website, the “Protect Our Children” intiative targets gang- and school-related violence. The intiative introduces four new bills. They are: “We cannot sit idle with the catastrophic gun violence occurring in the streets of Chicago on a daily basis. We know the enemy—the street gangs and members of the drug trade. We can no longer tolerate the loss of innocent children and law-abiding citizens. We are taking a harsh but necessary position with these bills to rid our neighborhoods of this …

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Cross’ Pension Plan Called ‘Most Promising’

As Illinois comes in dead last in education funding, the Sun-Times says it's time for lawmakers to take meaningful action on pension reform.

State Rep. And house minority leader Tom Cross introduced a bill last week with Illinois Rep. Elaine Nekritz of Buffalo Grove that aims to trim the state’s pension costs.   In an editorial this weekend, the Chicago Sun-Times called the plan promising and urged lawmakers to pass the bill and make real progress toward solving one of the state’s biggest financial worries. The bill includes the following new provisions for Tier I state employees, or those hired before 2011: The state is facing $98 billion in pension debt and has the worst credit rating in the nation. Moreover, it was revealed Monday that the state is also dead last when it comes to funding education. According to the Sun-Times, the Cross bill could save the state $167 billion …

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Cross Sponsors Bipartisan Pension Reform Proposal

The House Republican joined Democrat Elaine Nekritz at a press conference Wednesday to introduce new legislation.

House Republican Leader Tom Cross (R-Oswego) joined Northbrook Democrat Elaine Nekritz at a Wednesday morning press conference to unveil a new bill they say is the answer to Illinois' state pension woes. “This legislation is the most complete, fairest bill we could come up with that will solve our pension crisis. When it passes and becomes law, it will also loosen the pension squeeze on our state budget,” Cross said of House Bill 3411 in a statement. “We’ve filed and supported many bills and concepts along the way, but we believe this is the answer.”  The bill includes the following new provisions for Tier I state employees, or those hired before 2011:  Click here to read the full text of the bill. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -  There are …

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Sandack, Cross Unveil New Government Transparency Initiatives

State Representatives Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) and Tom Cross (R-Oswego) have introduced three pieces of legislation that would require local governments to be more transparent and accountable to tax payers.

Two local legislators are introducing legislation that would require more transparency from local governments and taxing bodies. Last week, State Representatives Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) and Tom Cross (R-Oswego) introduced three initiatives with the goal of greater transparency and state and local government accountability to tax payers.  “With all the well-documented fiscal problems Illinois faces, there are some easy things we can do to increase government transparency and save taxpayer money,” Sandack said in a news release. The goal of the legislation is to provide every property taxpayer with an annual itemized breakdown of the spending outlays they are billed for to support units of local government; including school districts, …

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Teachers Rally in Plainfield to Oppose Pension Reforms

Educators say they want the chance to have their say before any big changes are made.

Several dozen teachers, both current and retired, rallied outside House Republican Leader Tom Cross’ office in Plainfield Wednesday with one message: Don’t mess with our pensions. Organized by Educators United for Strong Public Schools and partner Northern Illinois Jobs with Justice, the event was held in protest of proposed changes that some educators fear would gut the pension system. Dennis Grosskopf, president of the Minooka Education Association and former Will County Democratic Party chairman, said teachers just want to make sure their voices are heard. “We’re turning in a petition asking for hearings on any pension changes,” he said, pointing out that lawmakers held weeks of hearings before voting on legislative redistricting last …

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my conscience

9:41 am on Sunday, August 19, 2012

I suppose an even sweeter pension deal might be had by a State of Illinois politician. Let’s say are lucky enough to get elected to a state representative position, then you can contribute 11.5 percent of your $68000 annual salary and after just two 2-year terms in office you are vested into a lucrative state retirement program. You would have paid-in only about $16000 total, but would be …   more ›