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		<title>aledotimesrecord.com</title>
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		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/section/columns</link>
		<description>aledotimesrecord.com delivers up-to-the-minute news and information on the latest top stories, weather, entertainment, politics and more.</description>
		<lastBuildDate>Thu, 23 May 2013 6:35:06 +0000</lastBuildDate>
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		<title>Statehouse Insider: Two pension plans. Now what? </title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130511/NEWS/130519893/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
The State Journal-Register</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130511/NEWS/130519893/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now that the Illinois House has passed a comprehensive pension reform plan, the Senate is back in the crosshairs of the debate.]]></description>
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		<title>Statehouse Insider: Pension reform ball now in Senate's court</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130504/NEWS/130509613/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sat, 4 May 2013 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
The State Journal-Register</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130504/NEWS/130509613/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Now that the Illinois House has passed a comprehensive pension reform plan, the Senate is back in the crosshairs of the debate.]]></description>
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		<title>Statehouse Insider: Would you miss the lieutenant governor? </title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130413/NEWS/130419541/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
The State Journal-Register</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130413/NEWS/130419541/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Illinois House last week voted to put a proposed constitutional amendment on the 2014 ballot that would let voters decide whether to abolish the office of lieutenant governor.]]></description>
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		<title>Statehouse Insider: Quinn has been in Mexico, but don't tell anybody</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130406/NEWS/130409261/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sat, 6 Apr 2013 22:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130406/NEWS/130409261/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Psst. Wanna hear a secret? Gov. Pat Quinn went to Mexico on a trade mission last week.]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>Statehouse Insider: Did Madigan have the right approach all along?</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130324/NEWS/130329567/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Mar 2013 0:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130324/NEWS/130329567/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[For about a month now, House Speaker MICHAEL MADIGAN, D-Chicago, has spent some time every week having the House vote on various pension reform ideas.]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>Statehouse Insider: How to get things done in the Land of Lincoln</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130317/NEWS/130319336/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sun, 17 Mar 2013 0:01:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130317/NEWS/130319336/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today&#8217;s topic is Things They Don&#8217;t Teach in High School Government Class.]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>A tale of two pension ramps</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130315/OPINION/130319395/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Fri, 15 Mar 2013 10:39:03</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott Reeder</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130315/OPINION/130319395/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Illinoisans look on Jim Edgar with fondness &#8211; probably because he is part of that minority of living Illinois governors who didn&#8217;t end up in prison.]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>Statehouse Insider: Budget speech had right theme, just no details</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130310/NEWS/130319997/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Mar 2013 0:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130310/NEWS/130319997/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. PAT QUINN delivered his budget speech last week, and it was another of those confounding efforts of his.]]></description>
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		<title>Statehouse Insider: AFSCME contract not a done deal yet</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130303/NEWS/130309875/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sun, 3 Mar 2013 1:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130303/NEWS/130309875/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD -- There was a certain amount of rejoicing last week when it was announced Gov. PAT QUINN&#8217;s administration had reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.]]></description>
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		<title>Statehouse Insider: Is state planning for a strike?</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130224/OPINION/130229643/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Feb 2013 1:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130224/OPINION/130229643/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD -- The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees is certainly rattling the saber when it comes to the idea of a strike by state workers.]]></description>
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		<title>Jeff Vrabel: Flight ads</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130218/NEWS/130219141/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:41:32</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Jeff Vrabel, GHNS
</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130218/NEWS/130219141/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I’m on a plane at 7 a.m., the golden sun breaking over the California mountains, watching a lengthy advertisement about a serial killer. This ad is for a show starring Kevin Bacon, and it features the the routine litany of visual cues associated with television dramas — the dank visuals, idiotic strobe effects and broken mirrors (METAPHORS for his MIND, you know) that indicate this show will entertain you while also doing a deep and permanent psychological trauma. At one point the show’s title [...]]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>The Guy&#146;s Perspective: Learning to be more confident</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130218/NEWS/130219142/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Mon, 18 Feb 2013 15:39:38</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Saelen Ghose, GHNS
</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130218/NEWS/130219142/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A while back a man I work with asked me out. I was surprised since he’s recently separated. I had little expectations but decided to go out with him. Well, six months have gone by and things have been relatively good. Sure, there have been ups and downs. From time to time he withdraws and wants to spend time with his friends or alone; this bothers me and makes me feel insecure. He’s explained that he has a lot of pressure on him due to his pending divorce and his work responsibilities; he’s [...]]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>Statehouse Insider: At least Quinn's speech sounded nice </title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130210/NEWS/130219996/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Sun, 10 Feb 2013 1:00:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Doug Finke
GateHouse News Service</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130210/NEWS/130219996/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. PAT QUINN delivered his annual State of the State speech Wednesday and the reaction was largely predictable.]]></description>
	</item>	<item>
		<title>Family Matters: Finding ways to help children cope with death</title>
		<link>http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130201/NEWS/130209858/1008/OPINION?rssfeed=true</link> 
		<pubDate>Fri, 1 Feb 2013 14:36:21</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>By Diana Boggia, GHNS
</dc:creator>
		<guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.aledotimesrecord.com/article/20130201/NEWS/130209858/1008/OPINION</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Dear Diana,<br>I just received a phone call that my ex-husband’s mother died. My two daughters loved her and I know they will be upset, so I want to find the right words to help them through this. I also need to prepare them for their first funeral with someone they loved, and prepare them for the process of it all. They were traumatized at a previous funeral of a family member they didn’t even know, so I hate to think of what this might do to them.<br>The school counselor and I told the girls [...]]]></description>
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