STATE & NATION
Daily Chronicle / Daily-Chronicle.com
Thursday, June 13, 2013 • Page A5
2nd Ill. prosecutor OKs concealed carry By JIM SUHR The Associated Press ST. LOUIS – A second Illinois prosecutor has decided to let his county’s residents carry concealed weapons even as the governor weighs whether to allow it statewide, reflecting surging impatience among local law enforcement months after a federal court tossed out the state’s last-in-the-nation ban. Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker’s announcement Tuesday that he’ll stop prosecuting the prohibition on guns in public came just days after his counterpart in suburban St. Louis’ Madison County issued a similar declaration. The sheriff of southern Illinois’ Clinton County also has joined suit, saying any armed person found in his jurisdiction from counties that allow concealed
AP photo
Randolph County State’s Attorney Jeremy Walker speaks at a news conference May 10 in Chester. On Tuesday, Walker announced he will allow the county’s citizens to carry concealed guns in public. weapons won’t be arrested for packing heat. The Chicago-based 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late
last year threw out the state’s prohibition, giving Illinois lawmakers a deadline of June 9 to come up with a measure
allowing concealed carry. The state’s General Assembly signed off on a bill that’s now before Gov. Pat Quinn, who hasn’t indicated whether he’ll sign it ahead of a newly extended July 9 cutoff. A spokesman for Quinn, in an emailed reply to The Associated Press’ request for an interview, said Wednesday only that “the governor is reviewing the bill carefully.” But arguing that enough was enough, Walker insisted Wednesday “it is time to act” in his county now that the original deadline passed with no statewide resolution. Walker said he was not swayed by Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons’ announcement last week to let gun owners carry weapons if they meet certain requirements, which in both counties now include having a valid firearm owners identification card and not
being barred otherwise from having a weapon. “It’s definitely something I’ve been considering quite a while, and I think I’m on strong constitutional ground,” said Walker, put off by months of Statehouse wrangling over the issue since the ban was nullified. “I don’t want to do something just to get my name in the paper. But (state lawmakers) could have resolved this issue in January and had something in effect by now.” Such county-by-county permissiveness has drawn fire from other state prosecutors, many of them arguing state’s attorneys who allow concealed weapons in public are wrongly making laws instead of carrying out their obligations to enforce them. The Illinois State Police called the halting of concealed-carry prosecutions in Madison and Randolph counties “irresponsible.”
Madigan plans new vote on Ill. pension reform By JOHN O’CONNOR and KERRY LESTER The Associated Press SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is planning a fresh vote on his plan to overhaul the public-employee pension system, despite a request by the governor for compromise with the Senate. Madigan, a Chicago Democrat, filed legislation Wednesday identical to a bill the House approved last month that failed by a wide margin in the Senate. It doesn’t Michael mention any Madigan inclusion of a rival proposal by Senate President John Cullerton, as requested by Gov. Pat Quinn Monday as a compromise way
“At this point there is no clear indication that a resolution will be reached by next week since the Speaker has made no commitment to call Cullerton’s pension plan or a compromise bill.” Rikeesha Phelon Spokeswoman for Senate President John Cullerton to move forward on fixing the state’s nearly $100 billion shortfall in funding employee pensions. Quinn has called a special session in Springfield for next week to address the issue. The continued impasse between the two leading lawmakers begs the question of whether it’s possible to reach a compromise by next week. Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown, said Wednesday that the hybrid proposal sought by Quinn was “unlikely to pass” so the speaker is
still pushing his own proposal. “I think he was pretty direct about the proposal that he thinks would get the job done,” Brown said. Cullerton spokeswoman Rikeesha Phelon said that John the Senate pres- Cullerton ident was “committed to advancing” the dual proposal supported by Quinn. Phelon was speculative about pension reform being ap-
proved next week. “At this point there is no clear indication that a resolution will be reached by next week since the Speaker has made no commitment to call Cullerton’s pension plan or a compromise bill,” Phelon said. Madigan’s plan would unilaterally impose pension changes on state workers and raise the retirement age, by most accounts saving the state the most money of any proposal. Cullerton’s plan would give state workers choices over what benefits to receive in retirement, which he contends would give it a better chance of surviving a court challenge. Quinn proposed passing both in a single bill, essentially making Cullerton’s proposal a backup plan in case Madigan’s solution is thrown out in court. But Madigan suggested it was too complicated and
called on Quinn to persuade the Senate to approve the House-supported option. The one change in the new version of Madigan’s plan is that its implementation would be delayed until June 2014, which means it can now be approved with fewer votes. Madigan’s legislation will be presented at a House committee meeting Tuesday, the day before the full Legislature convenes. Illinois’ five public employee retirement systems are $97 billion short of what’s needed to pay benefits that were promised to workers and retirees. The shortfall is due largely to years of the Legislature voting to skip or short the state’s payments. Republican leaders, as well as the governor, have blasted Cullerton and Madigan for failing to come to an agreement.
June 18 - 23, 2013 Year after year, smiles return to faces at Swedish Days, Geneva’s Midsommar Festival. And all your favorite events return too, including great live music, carnival rides, the parade, Sweden Väst plus children’s games & events. Also back by popular demand is Radio Disney, our Geneva’s Got Talent contest and Ziplining Down Third! Festival Highlights: Geneva’s Got Talent Radio Disney’s “Road Crew” Appearance Zipline down Third Street, Saturday from 4 – 8 pm Sweden Väst – Everything Swedish including music, crafts, food, games and wares Parade – Voted “best” by readers – Daily Herald 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament for all ages Visit www.genevachamber.com for a complete event schedule. Fun, fun, fun, here it comes!
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8NATION BRIEFS Southern Baptists oppose gay Scouts rule HOUSTON – The Southern Baptist Convention approved a resolution Wednesday expressing its opposition to the Boy Scouts of America’s new policy allowing gay Scouts, although it doesn’t explicitly call for churches to drop all ties with the organization. It also calls on the Boy Scouts to remove executive and board leaders who tried to allow gays as both members and leaders without consulting the many religious groups that sponsor troops. It passed overwhelmingly, but not unanimously, by the nation’s largest Protestant denomination at its annual meeting in Houston.
Feds: Bulger at center of murders in Boston BOSTON – Reputed gangster James “Whitey” Bulger was a “hands-on killer” responsible for “murder and mayhem” in Boston for almost 30 years, a federal prosecutor told a jury Wednesday as Bulger’s highly anticipated racketeering trial began. Bulger’s lawyer acknowledged that Bulger made millions through drugs, illegal gambling and loan-sharking, but told the jury that three ex-mobsters who have pinned murders on Bulger cannot be believed. Each of the men received “extraordinary” deals from prosecutors in exchange for their cooperation, defense attorney J.W. Carney Jr. said.
– Wire reports Direct from Alaska
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