By DAVID THOMAS, State Journal-Register

Posted Jan 29, 2012 @ 11:00 PM

…Among House Republicans, Minority Leader Tom Cross also has his own Facebook page, while the caucus itself has its own Twitter page (@ilhousegop). Cross spokeswoman Sara Wojcicki Jimenez said Cross mostly posts about state government issues and articles related to it, but will occasionally give shout-outs to others and sometimes mention his kids.

“He’s really been pretty adamant on putting things on Facebook and keeping that up-to-speed and up-to-date,” Jimenez said.

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http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20120112/BLOGS02/120119905/gops-radogno-cross-call-for-repeal-of-illinois-income-tax-hike#ixzz1jLyZZH00

 http://www.wbez.org/story/illinois-republicans-say-pension-reform-top-prioirty-2012-95521#

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/01/12/republicans-slam-democrats-on-anniversary-of-income-tax-hike/

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/illinois-gop-repeal-quinn-tax-increase-137198748.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illinois-income-tax-hike-20120113,0,4998060.story

http://plainfield.patch.com/articles/food-pantry-benefits-from-cross-press-conference

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/12/illinois-income-tax-hike-_n_1202780.html

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/Republicans_Illinois_Tax_Hike_Must_Go_137212698.html?ref=698

http://www.wics.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/wics_vid_5151.shtml

http://www.wandtv.com/global/story.asp?s=16509099

(Crain’s) — Illinois House Republican Leader Tom Cross called for a meeting of the House Personnel and Pensions Committee in the next month to examine a new investment strategy by the Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System that directs about a third of its $37.8 billion in assets to alternative investments such as private equity and hedge funds. 

Mr. Cross, whose party is in the minority in the House, made the request in a letter to Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan on Tuesday, saying the TRS plan to boost investment income could backfire.

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http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20111214/news/712149831/ 

http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x1466795377/House-Republican-leader-proposes-corporate-tax-repeal 

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-illinois-corporate-income-tax-20111215,0,4957777.story 

http://www.wifr.com/news/headlines/IL_Dems_GOP_Race_to_End_Corporate_Tax_Hikes_135634783.html 

http://www.pantagraph.com/news/state-and-regional/illinois/more-tax-breaks-for-illinois-businesses-on-horizon/article_868b1820-2684-11e1-9394-001871e3ce6c.html 

http://www.wandtv.com/global/story.asp?s=16326527 

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/in-the-wake-of-corporate-extortion-illinois-lawmakers-want-to/article_424e4300-2678-11e1-b8ad-001a4bcf6878.html

http://www.wgntv.com/videogallery/66401937/News/Ill-Rep-Tom-Cross-on-pension-reform 

http://illinois.statehousenewsonline.com/7223/video-tom-cross-bob-molaro-and-double-dipping/ 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-30/news/ct-met-illinois-pension-abuse-reform-1130-20111130_1_pension-abuse-public-pensions-pension-system/2 

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-11-30/news/ct-edit-legis-20111130_1_pension-abuse-bill-pension-systems-public-pension 

http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x165831311/Illinois-lawmakers-send-Quinn-pension-reform-bill 

http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x165831311/Illinois-lawmakers-send-Quinn-pension-reform-bill 

http://news.stlpublicradio.org/post/illinois-lawmakers-send-quinn-pension-reform-bill 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/10/27/ill-house-adopts-ban-on-crafty-pension-abuse/

Bill would halt pension double dipping by Chicago labor leaders

State House GOP leader calls abuses uncovered by Tribune/WGN-TV a disgrace

by Jason Grotto, Tribune Reporterss tha

Fox Chicago Sunday Pensions and Jobs (September 25, 2011) 

Chicago Tribune Editorial Sunday (Sept. 25, 2011) : Yes this is corrupt.  

Bloomington Pantagraph Sunday (Sept. 25, 2011): Examples of how pension system is used and abused

 WGN TV: House leader aims to stop union pension problem (Sept. 22, 2011)

Chicago Tribune (September 22, 2011) GOP leader Repeal city pension perk for union officials

Quad Cities Dispatch Argus newspaper

State GOP propose estate tax changes, by Eric Timmons

WICS-TV in Springfield, Ill.

Illinois House Republicans pitch jobs plan, by Andrew Hansen

Decatur Herald-Review

Cross outlines GOP jobs package during Decatur stop, by Kenneth Lowe

WMBD-TV Peoria
Illinois Republicans unveil jobs plan 

Peoria Journal Star

House GOP leader unveils Illinois jobs plan, by Chris Kaergard

1470 WMBD Radio

House Republicans look to create 60,000 jobs

WCBU-FM

State House Republicans tout proposed jobs plan

Aurora Beacon News

Letter to the Editor: Illinois should lead in creation of jobs

150 Years Later, new law will create Commission to mark significance of America’s defining war

Governor Pat Quinn (D-Illinois) signed Rep. Tom Cross’ (R-Oswego) bill today that will establish a commission to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War. The historic legislation, House Bill 237, is a tribute to the men and women from Illinois who fought and sacrificed for the cause of freedom and national unity.

“This new commission will aim to commemorate four of the most crucial years in our history,” said Cross. “The Civil War certainly was a pivotal point in our nation’s history and it should be remembered and celebrated in an appropriate way.”

House Bill 237 creates the Illinois Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Commission; a panel to be comprised of 17 members appointed by the Governor and state legislative leaders. The Commission will be tasked to work with the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency to plan and sponsor official Illinois Civil War Sesquicentennial events, programs, and activities appropriate for commemorating the 150th Anniversary of the American Civil War. It also aims to promote tourism.

The Commission will be required to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and the General Assembly by October 31, 2011 and each October 31 thereafter through October 31, 2014 concerning the commemorative events for the next year, extending through 2015.

Illinois joins 23 other states that have established a Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission or initiatives to commemorate the Civil War sesquicentennial.

Joliet torture case inspires law

Legislation strengthening penalties for abusers who torture their victims was signed into over the weekend by the governor.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Linda Holmes, D-Aurora, and state Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, and drafted by Will County State’s Attorney James Glasgow.

It bears the name of a Joliet resident who was beaten and tortured by her then-husband for two days.

The law increases prison sentences for battery cases involving torture to a minimum of four years and a maximum of 15 years and enhances the offense to a Class 1 felony from a Class 3 felony.

Over a period of two days in July 2009, Rebecca Mercado was held hostage in her own home by her husband. He beat her repeatedly with a metal broom and a piece of wood until she passed out from the torture and abuse. He was sentenced to 41/2 years in prison, which was nearly the maximum penalty allowed under state law at the time.

Read the entire article here.