By Brian Costin
03/31/2013
The Illinois Senate has overwhelmingly approved legislation to improve the state?s maximum speed limit to 70 mph. The legislation, Senate Bill 2356, was introduced by freshman state Sen. Jim Oberweis, R-Sugar Grove, and was approved by a 41-6 margin. Illinois currently has one of the lowest speed limits in the entire country. In the Midwest,...
The Illinois House took another step in the wrong direction last week by passing an amendment to House Bill 494, which institutes a one-year moratorium on new charter schools with virtual learning components located outside of Chicago.
TAGS: digital learning, moratorium
The progressive tax, medical marijuana and multidistrict virtual charter schools
By Jane McEnaney
03/04/2013
On Feb. 28, the Illinois Policy Institute held a press conference to publicly release its alternative budget plan, entitled Budget Solutions 2014. This 10-point plan offers responsible solutions to Illinois’ fiscal crisis. State Reps. Tom Morrison, Jeanne Ives, Dwight Kay and state Sen. Kyle McCarter showed their support and attended the press conference. Budget Solutions...
State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, is a freshman state legislator from the home of the infamous Rita Crundwell, the former Dixon Comptroller.
TAGS: corruption, Dixon
Mike Billy Illinois News Network If some Illinois lawmakers have their way, popular energy drinks such as Monster and Red Bull will face increased regulation. Two bills that have been introduced to the Illinois House of Representatives would make it illegal to sell or deliver an energy drink to anyone under the age of 18....
The Illinois House of Representatives met yesterday for the first time since being inaugurated on Jan. 9 to adopt the House Rules, HR 34. The most significant change in the rules for the 98th General Assembly is that all bills must receive the approval of the Rules Committee to be sent to substantive committees, where the legislation...
TAGS: house rules
Over the weekend, the Peoria Journal Star published a letter to the editor from an elementary school principal in downstate Illinois.
By Benjamin VanMetre
12/22/2012
Unfortunately, 2012 was another dismal year for budget and tax policy in Illinois. It seems that the more things change the more they get worse in this state. But the Illinois Policy Institute is fighting to fix that. We believe that Illinois can once again become a beacon of economic freedom, individual liberty and prosperity....
There was very little legislative activity during the past two weeks of veto session in Springfield. However, several bills have been further positioned to move during special session in January, when lame duck legislators will retain voting power, even though they were voted out of office in November. The following is a recap of the...
