Long-time Republican Congressman Henry Hyde died early this morning at Rush University Medical Center. He was 83. Hyde served 32 years in the House before retiring at the end of last session, and he was recently awarded a Medal of Freedom. He's best known for his role as the chairman of the judiciary committee during the Clinton impeachment proceedings and for the Hyde Amendment, which bans Medicaid from funding abortions except in cases of rape,... more ›

Upon meeting west suburban Congressman Henry Hyde, one can't help but be charmed by his reedy baritone voice and grandfatherly composure. He moves slowly, almost dragging himself forward, due to a painful spinal condition. The presence of Henry Hyde, makes it hard to believe that for thirty years, he has been one of the most ferocious, influential, and effective conservative Congressmen in history. But maybe it makes it easier to believe why he's retiring. [Hyde's... more ›

It's not official, but speculation has turned to expectation that 15-term northwest suburban Congressman Henry Hyde will announce in April that this is his last term in Congress. The staunch conservative will be 82 when term ends in 2006, and due to House of Representative rules, he is no longer eligible to keep his chairmanship of the Foreign Affairs Committee. As a result, this is probably the perfect time for him to end a long,... more ›

Chicagoist knows how hard writing a regular column can be. It was hard writing about something new every week in our high school paper. Student Council doings only went so far. But today, Sun Times columnists Michael Sneed and Neil Steinberg tossed out the one-two punches. First, Sneed outed the gently simmering conflict between former Lipinski's Bill and his now-Congressman son Daniel, and 23rd Ward Alderman Mike Zalewski. Former-Rep. Bill was rumored to have promised... more ›