Bill would ban Illinois lawmakers from acting as lobbyists

02/24/2020

When Illinois lawmakers work as lobbyists, it creates public distrust and serious conflicts of interest.

TAGS: bribery, Carol Ammons, conflicts of interest, cooling off period, corruption, ethics, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, revolving door, Scott Bennett

Bipartisan bill would block ‘revolving door’ from lawmaker to lobbyist

02/10/2020

Illinois is one of the few states that lets lawmakers or state agency chiefs become a lobbyist the day after leaving office. A new ethics bill would stop that.

TAGS: cooling off period, corruption, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, ghost payroll, Heather Steans, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, lawmakers, lobbying, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, Paul Schimpf, revolving door, Scott Bennett, Springfield, Suzy Glowiak-Hilton

Bipartisan bills would ease ‘death tax’ on Illinois family farms

By Ben Paoletti

04/03/2019

Selling family farmland to pay Illinois’ estate tax could end if a pair of bills take root in the General Assembly.

TAGS: death tax, Monica Bristow, Scott Bennett, taxes

Rauner signs bill preventing professional license suspension for student loan delinquencies

By Amy Korte

08/17/2018

A new law will ensure Illinoisans don’t lose their right to practice their professions if they fall behind on student loan payments.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, occupational licensing, Scott Bennett, student loans

As budget deadline looms, Illinois lawmakers push bill aimed at carnival workers

By Vincent Caruso

05/22/2018

Springfield is struggling to juggle its priorities, with state lawmakers pressing up against time to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, criminal justice reform, Scott Bennett, spending, spending cap

Senate bill would require regulators to jump more hurdles before imposing new licensing restrictions

By Vincent Caruso

05/07/2018

Regulatory regimes in Illinois often discourage workforce participation without enhancing public welfare. One Senate bill, however, would require regulators to demonstrate the necessity of new rules before imposing them on workers.

TAGS: Chicago, food trucks, licensing, Lisa Creason, occupational licensing, Pam Althoff, regulations, Scott Bennett, Tom Demmer

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students