Illinois lawmakers are reacting to a controversial ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court with a bill that could take Illinois back to the days of unlimited campaign contributions. The bill’s sponsor says it’s necessary to counter independent groups that can already spend unlimited amounts of money on campaigns. Opponents say it will provide fertile ground […]
Barbara Flynn Currie
Posted inNews
Senate votes to widen ban on private prisons
Illinois could soon have a new privately run jail. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement wants a new privately run detention center in Crete, just south of Chicago, to house people who have immigrated to the U.S. illegally, and the Illinois Senate passed a bill last week to stop it. Illinois currently has a law against privately run […]
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Senators say nursing home rule not followed
When Gov. Pat Quinn signed a nursing home reform bill last year, it was supposed to make sure nursing homes had enough actual nurses. Quinn approved the law on July 26, 2010, mandating that nursing homes kept a minimum ratio of nurses to patients. But that hasn’t happened, according to state Sen. Jacqueline Collins, D-Chicago. […]
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Labor unions balk at bargaining bill
Labor unions are continuing negotiations over legislation backed by Gov. Pat Quinn that would lift collective bargaining rights from current high-ranking state agency workers and legislative liaisons, as well as their right to apply for future union membership. “We strongly support union representation and collective bargaining for many state workers, but the system only works […]
