Independent campaign expenditures have skyrocketed this year in state legislative races. All of these numbers were current as of 4:20 p.m. Friday, March 13, when I finished writing this column. Independent expenditure committees are not allowed to coordinate their spending with candidates, ergo the “independent” label. As with the federal level, they are also not […]
statehouse
Posted inRich Miller
IFT moves into new era
At the end of the 2024 spring state legislative session, the Illinois Federation of Teachers issued a decidedly diplomatic press release. IFT President Dan Montgomery praised the new state budget as “crucial for our state’s success,” and applauded increases in K-12 and early childhood education funding. Montgomery did criticize the “meager” increase in higher education […]
Posted inNews
Pritzker signs bills doubling line-of-duty death benefits, addressing human trafficking
SPRINGFIELD – While Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker has been touring the state to promote his signing of capital infrastructure and marijuana legalization legislation, several other bills he signed have received less public attention. House Bill 2028, which passed the state Senate and House unanimously, became law last week. It doubles the death benefits for families […]
Posted inNews
Higher education official hopeful new funding will stem tide of student outmigration
SPRINGFIELD — The interim director of the Illinois Board of Higher Education is hopeful a combination of added infrastructure and operations funding for state universities and colleges will help entice Illinois students to remain in the state for their college education. The cause of the optimism is state budget action which provided $154 million in […]
Posted inNews
Some new laws taking effect; others already in place
SPRINGFIELD – Starting Monday, July 1, it will officially become illegal in Illinois for anyone to sell or provide tobacco cigarettes or other tobacco products to people under age 21. The so-called “Tobacco 21” bill, House Bill 345, which Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law April 8, is one of several new laws that will […]
Posted inNews
Key state financial document six months late and counting
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois officials are six months late publishing an annual document presenting the state’s fiscal health in detail, and they are unsure when it will be released. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report is used by ratings agencies to set the credit rating for the state — which in turn affects the interest rates Illinois […]
Posted inOpinion
Legislators looking to move up
Illinois State Sen. Daniel Biss appears to be the first Democrat to actively float his name for the 2016 special election for state comptroller. The Evanston Democrat is known as a policy wonk around the Statehouse, but he’s also a prodigious fundraiser, ending the fourth quarter reporting period with $721,000 in the bank. The special […]
Posted inOpinion
Illinoisans want Statehouse peace
A solid majority of Illinoisans want newly inaugurated Gov. Bruce Rauner to find common ground with the Democratic legislative majority rather than be confrontational, a new poll finds. However, most aren’t confident that the state’s leaders can avoid gridlock, and a majority believes the Democrats will be to blame. “Do you think Republican Gov. Bruce […]
Posted inOpinion
Old arguments
Ordinarily, I would be thrilled that so many people were discussing the merits of the ongoing historical restoration of the Illinois Capitol. Except they aren’t. They’re discussing “excessive flourishes,” $80,000 chandeliers and $600,000 ornamental doorways. They haven’t found any gold-plated toilet fixtures yet, but I’ll bet they’re looking. “They” is people like Chicago State Senator […]
Posted inNews
Mike Bell of Edinburg wants Scherer’s House seat
Mike Bell of Edinburg has a lot on his plate. He’s on the boards of both the Edinburg and Christian County economic development groups, co-chairman of a highway expansion project on Illinois Route 29, and vice president of the Edinburg school board, among many other roles. Now, Bell wants to fulfill a dream that began […]
Posted inOpinion
The people’s art museum
Soon, the West Wing of the Illinois Capitol will emerge after two years inside a cocoon of plywood and tarps. The structure was closed off, paradoxically, to make that part of the building both newer – by upgrading the building’s mechanical systems and making access and safety improvements – and older, by restoring it to […]
Posted inOpinion
The day the bills stood still
Last Thursday was not exactly a banner day for the Illinois Senate Democratic leadership. In high profile moves, leadership’s attempts to pass a bill legalizing gay marriage stalled, as did bills on gun control. Even a much-needed spending bill was unable to move out of committee. Pension reform went nowhere. The biggest winners were cigarette […]
