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The Center Square: Illinois lawmakers to decide how to spend $7.5 billion in federal aid
As Illinois state lawmakers return to Springfield, they will have to decide how to spend $7.5 billion in taxpayer funds the federal government is set to send the state.
The Illinois state government’s share of the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan is expected to come in two installments over two fiscal years. Local governments in Illinois will share in more than $5 billion.
Capitol News Illinois: Judge rules two ex-senators should be paid withheld salaries
Two former Illinois state senators have a “clear right” to receive portions of their legislative salaries that were withheld by Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza and her predecessors, a Cook County judge decided last week.
But Mendoza said she intends to appeal the ruling, meaning this latest development is likely not the last word in the case brought by former Democratic Sens. Michael Noland, from Elgin, and James Clayborne Jr., from Belleville.
State Journal-Register: Lawmakers hear from Springfield community on redistricting process
Springfield residents had the chance to speak up Monday about how legislative districts in Illinois should be redrawn.
The House redistricting committee held a public hearing at the state Capitol after previously hosting regional meetings in other areas of the state.
Chicago Tribune: Editorial: Legislators, stop your sneaky pay raise system. Just vote them up or down.
Voters rarely love the idea of legislators raising their own pay, which often makes legislators reluctant to do it. The public aversion is even greater in times of economic distress and state fiscal troubles. These motives help explain why members of the Illinois General Assembly voted each year to reject the automatic cost-of-living pay increases they were scheduled to receive from 2009 through 2016.
That way, lawmakers who had played such a big role digging state government into a deep hole could brag to their constituents about their selfless devotion to budgetary discipline. The average voter doesn’t spend time unraveling the state’s pension crisis. But anyone can admire public officials who volunteer to give up a raise.
NPR Illinois: Lawmaker Calls For Child Tax Credit
An Illinois lawmaker is proposing a measure to create a state income tax credit as high as $600 dollars per child.
The measure is one of the first pieces of legislation filed by newly appointed Democratic Senator Mike Simmons of Chicago.
The Center Square: Supporters rally to save Invest in Kids tax-credit scholarship program
Supporters are rallying to protect Illinois’ tax-credit scholarship program.
Under the “Invest in Kids” program, a state tax credit is available to individuals or businesses for donations made to authorized organizations. Those organizations then use the money to fund tuition scholarships for eligible students to attend a school of their choice.
WTTW: CTU Threatens Wednesday Action If There Isn’t Progress Toward High School Reopening Deal
Chicago high school teachers won’t report for in-person work Wednesday unless there’s “adequate movement” toward a reopening agreement between their representatives and Chicago Public Schools leadership.
The Chicago Teachers Union’s House of Delegates on Sunday evening voted to keep high school staffers out of schools beginning Wednesday as the union continues negotiating with CPS over how to safely reopen those schools.
The Center Square: Illinois State Police investigate after top state election official put on leave
Illinois State Police are investigating after the State Board of Elections put its executive director on paid leave when he revealed he was the target of an attempted extortion scheme, but the agency said it can’t release any information about its investigation.
On April 5, the Illinois State Board of Elections announced it had put Executive Director Steve Sandvoss on paid leave “after he reported being the victim of an online extortion attempt last week,” the board said in a statement.
WTTW: Aldermen OK Revised Ban on Sale of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits at Pet Stores to Stop Breeders
Aldermen advanced a measure Monday that would ban pet stores from selling dogs, cats and rabbits at a profit after the effort designed to close a loophole in a nearly seven-year-old city law languished in legislative limbo for nine months.
The City Council’s Health and Human Relations Committee advanced the measure authored by Ald. Brian Hopkins (2nd Ward) designed to prevent animals raised by breeders in what supporters said were horrifying conditions from being sold legally in Chicago. The full City Council is scheduled to consider the measure April 21.