By: Mark Glennon   Grand juries generally work in strict secrecy, so it’s interesting to wonder who did it when their work is leaked, which is not terribly common.   Today, the Sun-Times ran an exclusive story about a probe by the Cook County State’s Attorney of Governor Quinn’s anti-violence program. As part of that probe, the story says, a grand jury issued a subpoena to DCEO, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, which administered part of the program. From the Sun-Times story, it looks like the reporters had access to the subpoena itself as well as some

“Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez issued a sweeping grand jury subpoena seeking records tied to Gov. Pat Quinn’s troubled Neighborhood Initiative Program – including those for a grant involving the husband of Cook County Circuit Court Clerk Dorothy Brown.” via Exclusive: Prosecutors subpoena Quinn’s anti-violence program | Early & Often.

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/a4ebff87a44348f8bad750dce4e0f2af/IL–Income-Tax-Ballot-Measure

However, this vote has no effect on the petition initiative led by Bruce Rauner to impose term limits. Look for those petitions to be filed tomorrow with far more signatures than needed. http://politics.suntimes.com/article/springfield/senate-panel-torpedoes-gop-term-limit-plan-governor/tue-04292014-743pm

A broad coalition of immigration reform supporters are joining Durbin’s effort to push for immigration reform, only to find the coalition fragile and sensitive to members focused on their own interests.  High tech companies and corporations are anxious to bring in high skilled engineers from overseas. http://illinoisreview.typepad.com/illinoisreview/2014/04/durbin-calls-on-tech-companies-to-stick-with-immigration-reform-plan.html

Comment: This crisis will be insoluble for many Illinois cities, so many of which have less than 40% funding in their pensions and no place to tax more. http://www.rebootillinois.com/2014/04/29/editors-picks/tom-weisner/aurora-mayor-guest-view/7497/

“I think anything on that would have to be accompanied by very extensive private funding,” Quinn said. “At the same time, our state did invest in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. I think there could be a proper balance.”   http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/gov-quinn-obama-library-would-need-public-private-money/mon-04282014-426p

Senate President John Cullerton said that he is supportive of the proposed constitutional amendment. But he said he plans to “wait and see” what the House does on the issue because it likely has less support in that chamber. http://illinoisissuesblog.blogspot.com/2014/04/senate-waiting-for-house-support-on.html

6 reasons why Chicago aldermen should oppose Rahm’s property tax hikes