Kirk Dillard

11 lawmakers have asked a judge to dismiss a case challenging the constitutionality of Illinois' gay marriage ban. ?Eleven members of the Illinois General Assembly have asked a judge to dismiss a case challenging the constitutionality of the state's gay marriage ban. More than two dozen gay and lesbian couples who wish to marry in Illinois but are unable because state law defines marriage as a heterosexual union filed the lawsuit challenging the law in May. Nine couples are represented by the ACLU of Illinois, while Lambda Legal is representing sixteen couples. The Thomas More Society intervened in the case after elected officials refused to defend the law in court. The bipartisan group of lawmakers, led by Senators Kirk Dillard (R-Westmont) and Bill Haine (D-Alton), last week filed a friend of the court brief in support of the state's law. In their brief, the legislators argue that only the General Assembly is ?empowered to make public policy? and that the ?marriage structure that hel

Lawmakers in Illinois voted to abolish the death penalty, which would cap a decade of debate in the midwestern state on wrong convictions and the fairness of capital punishment.

Lawmakers in Illinois voted to abolish the death penalty, which would cap a decade of debate in the midwestern state on wrong convictions and the fairness of capital punishment.

With election over, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn keeps up drumbeat for tax increase. Gov. Pat Quinn said Tuesday that an income tax increase to help fund Illinois schools is the top priority as the state struggles with a budget deficit that could soon reach $15 billion.

Blagojevich on trial: Combative former Illinois governor faces fight of his life. The day before Rod Blagojevich's world came crashing down, he stood before the TV cameras confident and defiant, as always, declaring he had nothing to hide, even as a giant political scandal was about to engulf him.

Blagojevich on trial: Combative former Illinois governor faces fight of his life. The day before Rod Blagojevich's world came crashing down, he stood before the TV cameras confident and defiant, as always, declaring he had nothing to hide, even as a giant political scandal was about to engulf him.

Blagojevich on trial: Combative former Illinois governor faces fight of his life. The day before Rod Blagojevich's world came crashing down, he stood before the TV cameras confident and defiant, as always, declaring he had nothing to hide, even as a giant political scandal was about to engulf him.

Blagojevich on trial: Combative former Illinois governor faces fight of his life. The day before Rod Blagojevich's world came crashing down, he stood before the TV cameras confident and defiant, as always, declaring he had nothing to hide, even as a giant political scandal was about to engulf him.

Illinois Senator Bill Brady has captured the Republican nomination for Illinois governor. Illinois State Senator Bill Brady has captured the Republican nomination for Illinois governor, gay website ChicagoPride.com reported. Rival Republican Kirk Dillard conceded defeat Friday, a month after the Illinois primary, and endorsed Brady for governor. Brady eked out a victory with a narrow 193 votes, a final count from the State Board of Elections found. Brady has publicly acknowledged his opposition to gay marriage, saying he supports amending the state's constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual union. Such an amendment would effectively ban gay marriage and block the state's top court from legalizing the institution. He is also the author of a bill that would exempt religious groups from a gay protections law. Brady's bill would carve out an exception to the Illinois Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, for religi

Ill. Republicans say stars aligned for victory as Democrats contend with Blagojevich, deficit. The last decade was lousy for Illinois Republicans. They lost a Senate seat, their party's last governor went to prison and they were shut out of every statewide office.

Ill. Republicans say stars aligned for victory as Democrats contend with Blagojevich, deficit. The last decade was lousy for Illinois Republicans. They lost a Senate seat, their party's last governor went to prison and they were shut out of every statewide office.

Illinois GOP gubernatorial front-runner Bill Brady supports gay marriage ban. Illinois State Senator Bill Brady, the GOP gubernatorial font-runner for the Illinois governor's mansion, said Wednesday he supports amending the state's constitution to define marriage as a heterosexual union, the 'Chicago Sun-Times' reported. Such an amendment would effectively ban gay marriage. It also blocks the state's top court from legalizing the institution. ?I'm trying to give the government back to the people,? Brady, a Republican from Bloomington, answered when asked about his positions on gay marriage, taxes and term limits. Illinois State Senator Kirk Dillard, Brady's opponent in the contest to win the GOP nomination, has not announced he supports a constitutional amendment, but has said he opposes recognizing gay couples with civil unions or marriage. The Illinois Legislature has come close to approving gay marriage during recent sessions.

Quinn: Anyone who wants to be Illinois' Dem. lieutenant governor candidate should speak up. Democrats in Illinois are getting a political do-over: the chance to pick a new lieutenant governor nominee themselves now that the primary winner dropped out of the race because of revelations about his checkered past.

Comptroller Dan Hynes concedes Illinois' Democratic primary race for governor to Pat Quinn. Illinois Comptroller Dan Hynes conceded defeat Thursday in the Democratic primary for governor, promising to help Gov. Pat Quinn win in November.

Nation's 1st primary to decide which Illinois Dems make challenging runs for governor, Senate. Illinois voters groused their way to the polls Tuesday in the nation's first primary of the year, to determine which Democrats will defend both the governor's office and a U.S. Senate seat against Republicans eyeing the party's infighting and scandals.

Republican hopefuls for Ill. governor assail idea of income tax increase during Chicago debate. Republicans running for Illinois governor promised to fight efforts by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn to raise the state income tax, vowing to try to repeal it if lawmakers approve one before the November election.

Ill. GOP gubernatorial candidate McKenna signs no-tax pledge, Ryan considers leasing tollway. Another Republican running for Illinois governor signed a no-tax pledge Monday, while a fellow candidate said leasing the state tollway could be a way out of Illinois' fiscal mess.

Cut spending, fight corruption: GOP candidates for Ill. governor offer similar themes. Six Republican candidates for Illinois governor offered six variations on the same basic promises to cut spending and fight government corruption in a debate Monday in which the most pointed criticism was saved for Democrats.

Ill. gov candidate promises to create jobs by capping spending while still improving service. Republican Kirk Dillard promised Wednesday to create more jobs if he's elected governor by capping spending while improving Illinois schools, upgrading the state's infrastructure and offering tax breaks to help businesses.

GOP candidates for Ill. governor would opt out of national health care plan; Dems wouldn't. Candidates for Illinois governor are split over a national health care plan with all but one Republican saying the state should opt out if it can, a position rejected by Democrats Pat Quinn and Dan Hynes.