New year could mean more sanctions on Iran

By John Gregory/Illinois Radio Network

New sanctions on Iran could be a top priority for the incoming U.S. Senate.

U.S. Sen. Mark S. Kirk (R-Ill.) says he’s heard from the new Republican leadership in the Senate that a vote on Iran sanctions will come after approval of the Keystone oil pipeline. While Kirk doesn’t think highly of the ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program, he thinks the threat of new sanctions will help, not hurt the U.S. position in those talks.

“The future agreement will likely have verification procedures, and unless you have sanctions in place, you probably won’t get good verification that the nuclear program has actually ended,” Kirk said.

Kirk expects to have enough Democrats on board with proposal that the Senate will be able to override a potential presidential veto of the sanctions.

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…