Get the latest news from around Illinois.
Chicago Tribune: Budget watchdog calls for 40 percent hike in state income tax rate
A nonpartisan budget watchdog group is calling for dramatic action to get the state’s budget back on track, saying Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and Democrats are out of easy choices and need to consider raising taxes, among other things.
A five-year plan to be released Friday by the Civic Federation calls for a strict spending limit that caps growth at 1.7 percent a year, hiking the personal income tax rate from 3.75 percent to 5.25 percent, eliminating Illinois’ tax exemption on retirement income and lowering the sales tax rate from 6.25 percent to 5.5 percent but expanding it to apply to more services.
Rockford Register-Star: A tax here, a tax there, a tax everywhere is no way to fix Illinois
Did you hear that Illinois lawmakers have discussed increasing the income tax? That they’ve talked about taxing retirement income? A tax on sugary drinks? Sales taxes on services? Sales taxes on food and medicine?
“They’re trying anything to find a tax that’s palatable,” said Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy and a spokesman for the Illinois Policy Institute, during a visit Wednesday with the Editorial Board. “To think tax hikes will solve the problem is wrong.”
Quincy Herald-Whig: Party-line votes slow Illinois budget work
Hopes for the “grand bargain” to end the Illinois budget crisis dimmed Wednesday as Senate Democrats pushed ahead with some votes, while Republicans held back.
Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, and Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno, R-Lemont, had worked in tandem to come up with 13 different bills, some of which would create a budget and others with the additional items sought by Gov. Bruce Rauner. But their bipartisan teamwork broke down Wednesday.
Chicago Sun-Times: Rauner tells state workers Madigan is forcing ‘crisis showdown’
Gov. Bruce Rauner on Thursday told state workers in a video that he’ll veto a Democratic-sponsored bill to keep pay flowing during the budget impasse, while accusing Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan of trying to create a “crisis showdown” in order to force a tax hike.
It’s the latest in a battle Rauner is embroiled in with Madigan, his daughter Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 — who likened Rauner’s message to bullying.
NBC 5 Chicago: Rauner Slams AG Madigan, Pushes Plan to Pay State Workers
Gov. Bruce Rauner criticized Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s plan Thursday to halt state workers’ pay, pushing legislation that would ensure payment regardless of Illinois’ ongoing budget impasse.
“As you know, Attorney General Madigan is going into court asking a judge to end state employee pay,” Rauner said in a video posted to YouTube. “The Attorney General now believes the state should be shut down until a budget is passed. We do not agree.”
State Journal-Register: Rauner says he will veto Dems' bill to guarantee state worker pay
Gov. Bruce Rauner said Thursday he will veto a Democratic-sponsored bill to ensure state employees get paid if it reaches his desk.
In a video that was sent to state workers, Rauner said the flaw of the Democratic bill, sponsored by Rep. Sue Scherer of Decatur, was that it only guaranteed workers would be paid until June 30.
He said he supports a bill sponsored by Reps. Avery Bourne, R-Raymond, C.D. Davidsmeyer, R-Jacksonville, and others to make state employee pay a “continuing appropriation” that will go on forever, even without a state budget.
NPR Illinois: Rauner, Democrats Want State Employees Paid — But Can't Agree How
Legislation to keep Illinois government functioning without a full budget stalled Thursday. Democrats and Republicans have dueling proposals to keep paychecks flowing to state employees.
The Democratic plan would pay state workers through the end of the budget year — June 30th.
Chicago Tribune: Social service groups file second lawsuit against Rauner, other Illinois leaders
Dozens of social service agencies that care for some of the state’s most vulnerable people filed a second lawsuit against Gov. Bruce Rauner and others on Thursday as they try to get paid for programs they’ve continued to provide as the state stumbles along without a full budget.
The move by the Pay Now Illinois coalition comes as a temporary budget for universities and social service providers expired in January, leaving some groups struggling to offer services like sexual assault counseling, home visits for seniors and early childhood education for low-income families.
Chicago Sun-Times: Diana Rauner’s nonprofit among group again suing governor, state
A coalition of social service agencies — including Illinois first lady Diana Rauner’s early childhood education nonprofit — on Thursday filed suit against Gov. Bruce Rauner, Comptroller Susana Mendoza and three state agencies asking for the state to begin “timely payments” for services under binding contracts dating back to last year.
Pay Now Illinois, which also filed suit last year to try to seek payments, filed in downstate St. Clair County, where a circuit court last year ruled the state must pay its state employees.
State Journal-Register: Illinois needs to make higher education a priority
When it comes to ideas on how to shore up the state’s precarious finances, there’s pretty much unanimous agreement that it can’t be done without improving the economy.
More jobs equals more employees equals more people buying homes and spending money on goods and services. And, of course, more people paying taxes. So it’s baffling that a surefire way to jump-start the economy hasn’t been discussed more as the 19-month budget impasse continues.
Associated Press: Rauner, lawmakers can't agree who writes school funding plan
When it comes to the complex, politically prickly topic of overhauling public school funding in Illinois, lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office can’t even agree on who should take the first step.
Democrats who run the Senate Education Committee told Rauner’s education adviser Thursday that the Republican governor should draft legislation to reflect recommendations from a school funding report released last week. The adviser, Beth Purvis, countered that the plan should come from the Legislature.
Crain's Chicago Business: Race for guv to star two men not on ballot: Trump and Madigan
When gubernatorial candidate Chris Kennedy sent out his first email to supporters last night, he mentioned incumbent Bruce Rauner’s name—twice. But President Donald Trump’s name appeared three times.
When I asked a top Rauner strategist if they’re worried, he had a two-word reply: Mike Madigan.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois plan for retirement accounts at small employers is in jeopardy
Illinois’ new Secure Choice program, which is supposed to let 1.3 million workers save for retirement easily through their jobs at small companies, is being threatened by an attempt by Congress to roll back business regulation, according to Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs.
Secure Choice, which Frerich’s office is in the process of launching, is supposed to be available to small-business employees in 2018. It would require small companies that employ more than 25 workers and don’t offer 401(k)s or pension plans to make available individual retirement accounts that would be run by the state. The program is expected to open up retirement savings opportunities to a whole new group of Illinois employees.
Chicago Tribune: Illinois lawmakers: To prepare for disasters, consider zombies
As Illinois’ budget war continues, some state lawmakers want people to be ready for a different kind of battle — against zombies.
The state House approved a measure Thursday that would dub October of this year as “Zombie Preparedness Month.” Despite the name, lawmakers aren’t actually gearing up for a real zombie apocalypse. The measure instead encourages people to learn more about natural disasters and ensure they have emergency supplies that could last up to 72 hours.
Chicago Tribune: Indictment no barrier to fun for Ald. Willie Cochran
Chicago Ald. Willie B. Cochran isn’t the kind of guy to let a little thing like a federal indictment stop him from enjoying a night on the town.
So Cochran — indicted in December for allegedly stealing tens of thousands of dollars from his 20th Ward charity and using the loot to gamble and pay for his daughter’s education — made an unexpected appearance Wednesday night at a special preview screening of “The Obama Years: The Power of Words,” a new Smithsonian Channel film about former President Barack Obama.
Chicago Tribune: After juries punish officers, the penalties are often negotiated away
After William Hope Jr. was killed during an altercation with two Chicago police officers in 2010, a jury sent the police department a stern message, awarding the man’s family $4.5 million.
That was for compensatory damages, paid for by city taxpayers. But the jury went a step further and ordered the two officers, Armando Ugarte and Michael St. Clair II, to each personally pay $10,000 in punitive damages to Hope’s estate.
Chicago Tribune: Few specifics as Emanuel sets goal of starting express rail to O'Hare
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s administration set an ambitious three-year goal Thursday to move forward with high-speed rail service to O’Hare International Airport, but aides offered few details for a project that has long proved elusive for Chicago.
Emanuel brought up the new rail line to the busy airport during an infrastructure speech at a West Side union hall in which he reviewed projects the city has tackled in recent years and laid out new ones, many of which already have been announced.
Chicago Sun-Times: Emanuel vows to deliver O’Hare express trains Daley dreamed of
Mayor Rahm Emanuel on Thursday offered a sunny counter-balance to the almost daily beating Chicago has endured about its skyrocketing murder rate from President Donald Trump.
In a speech he pre-hyped as a “major address” on infrastructure, Emanuel outlined a 40,000-job sequel to the 2012 plan he called “Building a New Chicago.”
Chicago Tribune: City plans new CTA Green Line station at Damen, near United Center
The city of Chicago on Thursday announced plans for a new CTA Green Line “L” station at Damen Avenue and Lake Street near the United Center to serve a growing residential and business area.
The new station will fill a 1.5-mile gap between existing Green Line stations at California and Ashland avenues. In a statement, the city said the new station will improve public transit for businesses in the Kinzie Industrial Corridor, for tenants of the Chicago Housing Authority’s Village of Westhaven complex and other residents, as well as for sports fans coming to the United Center for Blackhawks and Bulls games.
Chicago Tribune: Cheaper costs for food cart vendors? City looks at cutting fees
A town famous for its hot dogs (hold the ketchup) may see an uptick in vendors to sell them this summer.
A pair of city committees on Wednesday approved drastic cuts in the costs associated with starting a food cart, which advocates say can run thousands of dollars. The ordinance, put forth as part of a business license reform package by Mayor Rahm Emanuel, reduces licensing fees and startup costs by more than half. The measure requires a vote by the full City Council on Feb. 22, and would take effect July 1.
Peoria Journal-Star: Minority entrepreneurs in Peoria among first for state development program
Eight Peoria business owners are among the “inaugural cohort” of minority entrepreneurs who will be paired with successful mentors to grow the businesses and create a new network of economic advisers.
The pilot Advancing the Development of Minority Entrepreneurs (ADME) program includes 35 businesses from three Illinois cities: Peoria, Rockford and Chicago.
The Southern: SIU board approves 3.9 percent tuition increase, proposal for new housing
The SIU Board of Trustees on Thursday approved a 3.9 percent tuition increase for the Carbondale campus and gave the green light for administrators to move forward with a public-private partnership for new east campus housing.
The tuition increase will bring the annual cost for incoming undergraduate students to $9,450, based on 30 credit hours. The increase amounts to $351 more dollars than tuition paid by current first-year undergraduate students of $9,099. Tuition increases only affect incoming students, as tuition rates are locked in by Illinois law for continuing students at their first-year rate.