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Governing by crisis isn’t governing
After Congress came a hair’s breadth from shutting down the Department of Homeland Security a few weeks ago, members of the leadership tried to reassure the American people. “We’re certainly not going to shut down the government or default on the national debt,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declared on CBS’s “Face the Nation.

Political economy
I guess so. Maybe. There’s no disputing that decisions by Illinois lawmakers have had a devastating effect on the state of Illinois’ economy. However, it is by no means clear that state and local governments in Illinois have made it impossible for firms to do business here, except for those firms that sell to state agencies.

Debt buyers bury hard-hit consumers in lies
As you might know from your own experiences, tens of millions of Americans have been hit hard, knocked down and held down in recent years by the collapse of jobs and wages.

LETTERS
I do not understand the beating our establishments take (“Sweeping up ‘broom closet’ gambling,” by Patrick Yeagle, March 12). The people that come in to our establishments are not the type of people that go to bars and want to play at restaurants. We cater to a different crowd.

A softer, neo-liberal form of Raunerism
But that $20 million apparently isn’t meant to counter Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s infamous $20 million campaign stash, which he says will be used to support his allies and punish his enemies. Indeed, the Democratic group appears to be promoting what could be seen as a somewhat softer, neo-liberal version of Raunerism.

ENDORSED BY ICON
Springfi eld ICON (Inner City Older Neighborhoods) is endorsing political candidates for the fi rst time. The group focuses on cleaning up blighted properties, reforming the city’s waste-hauling system and other efforts to revitalize neighborhoods.

Ward war
After one term in office, McMenamin has held firm to certain principles, chief among them an insistence that the city take painful steps to deal with burgeoning deficits in pension funds.

FUNERAL PLANS
A full-fledged funeral train isn’t the only thing that might be missing at the recreation of Abraham Lincoln’s funeral set for the first weekend in May. Before the interment at Oak Ridge Cemetery, Lincoln’s body – the real thing – was taken to the State Capitol, where the assassinated president lay in state for 24 hours.

Shuffle board
Springfield’s 10 ward seats are up for re-election on April 7, and two of the races are already decided; Ward 3 Ald. Doris Turner and Ward 6 Ald. Cory Jobe are unchallenged and will retain their seats. However, at least five of the remaining eight seats will go to candidates not currently on the council because no incumbent is running.

Prescription lockdown
Gore spoke to state lawmakers last week at a hearing on legislation to mandate locking bottle caps on prescription painkillers. State representatives Rob Martwick, D-Chicago, and Mike Zalewski, D-Riverside, are pushing the bills as part of a larger effort to curtail what lawmakers are calling a heroin crisis in the state.

Child care groups fear closure
The House Human Services Committee met March 19 to consider additional funding for the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) through the end of the current fiscal year. The program is projected to run out of money before the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, prompting fears that the state’s child care system could collapse.

On the stump
It is near the end of a grueling day on the campaign trail. The two candidates for Springfield mayor are sitting side by side in a Lincoln Library meeting room, where they’ve spent more than 90 minutes fielding questions at a candidate forum sponsored by the Faith Coalition for the Common Good.

Candidates at a glance
Former banker, former member of Sangamon County board, youth athletic coach, former board member of the Dana Thomas House Foundation, former board member of Springfi eld Center for Independent Living, secretary of board of Downtown Springfi eld, Inc..

Lincoln and the Jews
In the weeks preceding the controversial speech of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to a joint session of Congress, Jewish Americans once again faced the dilemma of dual loyalties to the United States and Israel. It is a deeply vexing problem that Jews in our nation must confront on a seemingly regular basis.

Insurgent ups the ante and succeeds
Credit Schwentke for the film’s crisp pace as he positions three well-done set pieces in such a way to avoid action fatigue yet keep the tension high. Equally impressive is the script itself, which provides a nightmare vision of mental intrusion and physical trespass that’s unnerving.

Eggs for dinner
Americans primarily think of eggs as something appropriate for breakfast and, on weekends, brunch. That’s changed a bit recently: fried or sunny-side-up eggs have been showing up as burger, steak, pizza toppings and more.

BAND SPOTLIGHT | Supersuckers
By calling themselves the “Greatest Rock-n-Roll Band in the World” these guys don’t lack in confidence or go much for modesty, but without mustering bluster and blasting out the jams, these guys wouldn’t be Supersuckers.

PUB CRAWL
Better Friend, C Is For Cadaver, Honey/Suck, The Incorporated.

Hip-hop and what not
I’ve been amiss lately in lauding the efforts of those running, organizing and hosting the Torch Tuesday hip-hop happening held at Bar None every Tuesday night. For several years now, Torch and friends have established the event as the “longest running, premier weekly hip hop show in the Midwest.

THE CALENDAR
$15, $13. Donnie B’s Comedy Club, 625 E. Saint Joseph Street, 391-JOKE..

FILM | Leading ladies
On Monday, March 30, at 6:30 p.m., join the Springfield branch of the American Association of University Women to view a documentary on groundbreaking women in politics, medicine and other fields that were previously closed to women. The 2013 documentary highlights the struggle for women’s equality during the past five decades.

SPORTS | Women on wheels
On Saturday, March 28, Decatur’s Prairieland Punishers, a women’s flat-track roller derby league, will host the Central Illinois Showdown roller derby bout. This bout is the 2015 season home opener for the Punishers, whose two teams will compete in two bouts on Saturday.

POLITICS | Public service powerhouse
On Thursday, March 26, at 6:30 p.m., the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library plays host to Abner Mikva, who was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2014 for a career of service spanning all three branches of government. The Chicago resident served in Congress from 1969-73 and again from 1975-79.