House Dems OK $800 million in new spending after heated debate
Illinois has racked up $14 billion in unpaid bills.
4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap
Causes, costs, how to set the state free
View ReportMichael Madigan
AFSCME blurs the lines between ‘representational’ and ‘political’ spending, to the detriment of fair share payers
Government workers in Illinois can opt out of union membership, but they still have to pay fees to the union. Those fees are not supposed to go toward political activities, but a close look at AFSCME’s most recent union report demonstrates how unions use fair share fees for activities most people would consider “political.”
Luxembourg’s ambassador sends letter to Illinois House leaders
Luxembourg’s ambassador to the United States has voiced objections to an Illinois House bill that would label Luxembourg a tax haven and subject corporations expatriated there to restrictions on investments and business dealings with the state of Illinois.
SB 1288 could chip away at Illinois’ crony liquor laws
A bill in the Illinois Senate would provide certain alcohol producers some freedom within the state’s three-tier system – which has been maintained through measures limiting competition and benefiting the politically connected.
Unbalanced Budget Response Act would allow Rauner to make cuts to balance the budget
Illinois House Bill 3868 would give Gov. Bruce Rauner the authority to trim costs and reorder the state’s spending priorities to balance the budget.
Court strikes down ban on campaign contributions from medical marijuana licensees
“By singling out medical cannabis organizations,” Judge Lee wrote, the state of Illinois appeared to be favoring certain speakers based on their viewpoints – precisely the type of discrimination the Supreme Court has disapproved of in the past.
Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid
State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods, filed legislation March 23 that would give the Illinois Comptroller’s office discretion to delay payments to lawmakers if insufficient funding exists to do so. This came just hours after a Cook County judge said lawmakers must be paid.
Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately
The Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s request to stop state employees from getting paid until a budget is passed.
Judge says lawmakers shouldn’t be paid ahead of everyone else
Judge Garcia points to the lack of a budget as reason enough to delay payments to legislators.
Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history
Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.
