Between California and Illinois, you’re looking at about $45-48 billion dollars to balance budgets, between tax hikes and program cuts. The anti-stimulative effect of that almost totally wipes out the $55-60 billion in stimulative measures that aren’t just extensions of current law in the tax cut deal.

In 2008, the Roman Catholic church was instrumental in two major battles against marriage equality — Maine’s Prop 1 and California’s Prop 8. Leading the fight nationally for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was Louisville’s Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz. Last month, Kurtz was elected Vice President of the USCCB, after giving a powerful address on the USCCB ad-hoc committee’s work to defend marriage (a committee he chairs).

By elevating Kurtz to the #2 position at the USCCB, the bishops signaled their determination not simply to stand against marriage equality, but to work just as hard against anything that might lead to it as they work against anything that might possibly lead to thinking about considering something that might be akin to abortion.

This past week, two Roman Catholics in Illinois — Governor Pat Quinn and state House Speaker Michael Madigan — worked hard to get a civil unions bill passed the Illinois Legislature, much to the chagrin of the local bishop.

Welcome to the opening round of the 2012 culture wars, featuring the US Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Just Say Now activists wrote over 1,200 letters to representatives in New York and Illinois in support of these measures in just a few, short hours yesterday. That’s a remarkable show of support, and Just Say Now will continue to pressure lawmakers to make a compassionate choice for patients. Bills are expected to be brought up again for a vote in NY and IL soon.

Right on the heels of our push to write New York state senators in support of medical marijuana, we have just learned that the Illinois House of Representatives is scheduled to vote TOMORROW on SB. 1381 — a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients in that state.

Illinois is contemplating a slightly different bill from the one in New York, in that state-licensed ‘Compassion Centers’ would be set up to provide prescribed medical marijuana to card-carrying patients in the state. SB. 1381 is an important bill that would improve the quality of life of seriously ill patients in Illinois, and we want to make sure state representatives know they should support it.

Bean was a member of the Blue Dog caucus and the New Democrat Coalition. Bean voted in support of President Obama’s health care reform; she was one of only 15 Democrats to support the Central American Free Trade Act (CAFTA), and one of only four Dems to side with Republicans against the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.

Republicans and their outside allies seem to be spending money on two things this election. One is zillions and zillions of TV ads. The other is the usual voter suppression machine, designed to intimidate minorities and the poor.

In Illinois, Amy S. tells the story of how a wanted pregnancy turned into a parent’s nightmare, and the many obstacles to compassionate care she and her family faced.

Written by Khadine Bennett for RHRealityCheck.org – News, commentary and community for reproductive health and justice.

Rahm Emanuel’s horse trading with the Governor of Illinois while Rahm was a Congressman should come as no surprise. The only problems with this is that said Governor was Rod Blagojevich and the transactions will be aired out at trial while Rahm serves as White House Chief of Staff.

While conservatives are whining about Obama not going to Arlington National Cemetery for Memorial Day, they’re missing the fullness of the celebration. Accounts of the earliest Memorial Day celebration (years before they celebrated it at Arlington) note that the day included a march of veterans, speeches, decorating graves, and a barbecue. That’s right: a barbecue.

Don’t let anyone tell you that you can celebrate Memorial Day without one. YMMV (Your Menu May Vary), but you have to fire up the grill to really celebrate Memorial Day the way the founders intended.