Illinois’ gubernatorial veto procedures
Illinois’ gubernatorial veto procedures
The governor can exercise the veto power in four different ways: a total veto, an amendatory veto, an item veto and a reduction veto.
Union lobbyist denied part of teacher pension after substitute teaching for 1 day
Union lobbyist denied part of teacher pension after substitute teaching for 1 day
David Piccioli sought a teacher pension after lobbying for the Illinois Federation of Teachers.
Rauner issues amendatory veto of school finance bill
Rauner issues amendatory veto of school finance bill
Gov. Bruce Rauner’s amendatory veto strips a Chicago bailout from Senate Bill 1, among other changes.
Chicago Public Schools to pay $850 million in interest on $500 million loan
Chicago Public Schools to pay $850 million in interest on $500 million loan
The loan will not be paid off until current kindergarteners are in their mid-30s.
Full Text: Senate Bill 1
Full Text: Senate Bill 1
Senate Bill 1 provides a $215 million annual pension bailout and other carve-outs worth hundreds of millions of dollars more to CPS.
Tax increases will cost back-to-school shoppers in Illinois
Tax increases will cost back-to-school shoppers in Illinois
Illinois parents will pay the Midwest’s highest sales taxes on back-to-school shopping.
Chicago Public Schools bailout threatens 20 Metro East schools from opening on time
Chicago Public Schools bailout threatens 20 Metro East schools from opening on time
Twenty school districts in the Metro East rely on the state for 30 percent or more of their total revenue.
New Cook County soda tax upheld in court
New Cook County soda tax upheld in court
The tax makes soda sold in Chicago among the most expensive in the country.
Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K
Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K
High-priced government workers cost taxpayers in Illinois $10 billion a year, with municipal managers in areas surrounding Chicago reaping the most benefits.
Chicago bailout puts downstate and suburban students at risk of missing school
Chicago bailout puts downstate and suburban students at risk of missing school
In trying to force a Chicago bailout, proponents of Senate Bill 1 are throwing hundreds of thousands of downstate and suburban students into limbo.
Rauner signs bill prohibiting cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers
Rauner signs bill prohibiting cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers
HB 643 will prevent the $50,000 daily cost of special sessions from rising even higher in fiscal year 2018.
Resolution would create special state task force on property tax appeals
Resolution would create special state task force on property tax appeals
House Joint Resolution 69 would create a special task force to investigate and report on state and local property tax assessment, appeals processes and other property tax policies.
Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois’ high cigarette tax is a flighty source of revenue with unintended consequences.
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Many reforms are still needed in Illinois higher education system despite credit rating affirmations and upgrades to seven Illinois universities.