Patch on Politics

Should Illegal Immigrants Be Granted Drivers Licenses in Illinois?

The Senate approved drivers licenses for illegal immigrants on Tuesday, with bipartisan backing. What do you think? Take the Patch Poll.

The Illinois House will soon take up a bill passed in the Illinois Senate Tuesday that allows illegal immigrants to obtain temporary drivers' licenses and insurance. Half of the GOP lawmakers in the Illinois Senate voted against the bill. The measure passed, though, with a final vote of 41-14. Senate Bill 957 would enable about 250,000 illegal immigrants who already drive in Illinois to have a chance to go through drivers testing, receive a special license good for three years and purchase insurance. That means safer roads for Illinoisans, backers of the bill say. Officials say uninsured immigrants behind the wheel cause $64 million in damage claims every year. Voting against the measure were Republican senators Tim Bivins, Larry Bomke, …

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Obama's 'You Didn't Build That' Business Comments: Is He Wrong?

The president's small-business comments upset many people and gave Republican Mitt Romney a point of attack. But Barack Obama said the comments were taken out of context. What do you think? Take the Patch Poll.

President Barack Obama's recent comments about small business created a firestorm that could become a focus of the 2012 election — even as Obama and his supporters say his comments were taken out of context.  "Look, if you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own," he said during a July 13 speech in Virginia. "If you were successful, somebody along the line gave you some help ... If you’ve got a business — you didn’t build that. Somebody else made that happen." Take the Patch poll below: Who plays the most significant role in creating jobs and economic growth? That's not the entire speech, which you can read on the independent FactCheck.org. According to that post, the comments were taken out of context: "There’s no question …

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Dennis Robaugh

10:34 pm on Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Say good night, Gracie.   more ›

Southland Stories

Who Will You Blame for Your Smaller Paycheck?

The House and Senate are at odds over extending the payroll tax cut. If the extension doesn't happen, what will come to mind when you get your first check in 2012? Take the Patch Poll.

If your paycheck shrinks on the first payday of 2012, who will you blame? The House, the Senate and the president are at odds over how to extend the payroll tax cut and for how long. A two-month extension bill passed in the Senate and foundered in the House, where representatives say temporary fixes won't fly and a full-year deal must be forged. Barack Obama has called Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Speaker of the House John Boehner to push for a resolution. On top of the possible 2 percentage point rise in the payroll tax, unemployment aid will dry up unless Congress acts. The Southland's congressional reps voted along party lines. Judy Biggert and Adam Kinzinger stuck with John Boehner, while Dan Lipinski, Jesse Jackson Jr. and …

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