Lawmakers, Pritzker Administration Spar Over Projected Fiscal Year Revenues
SPRINGFIELD – Members of an Illinois Senate committee sparred with officials from Gov. JB Pritzker’s administration Friday in a hearing on tax changes proposed by the governor in an effort to balance the state’s budget for the 2022 fiscal year. The Senate Revenue and Appropriations committees held the joint hearing, questioning the directors of the […]
Commerce Commission Taps First Black Executive Director
SPRINGFIELD — The Illinois Commerce Commission has named its first male Black executive director. Michael Merchant started his position with the state regulatory agency on Tuesday. He replaces Christy George, who joined Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration as first assistant deputy governor for budget and economy. Merchant is responsible for supervising approximately 200 commission employees and […]
Champaign City Council Backs Voluntary Staff Cuts To Address Revenue Losses
CHAMPAIGN — With city revenues down due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the Champaign City Council Tuesday night endorsed the idea of cutting spending by cutting city staff. They want to do this by offering buyouts to an estimated 15 to 25 employees who agree to leave voluntarily. During the Great Recession, the city of Champaign […]
Latest From Springfield: Vote-By-Mail Expansion, Budget Proposal & More
Vote-By-Mail Expansion Approved In Senate SPRINGFIELD — A plan to expand mail-in voting because of the COVID-19 pandemic is close to approval by the governor after the Senate OK’d it Friday. The idea is to make it easier for voters to cast ballots and limit the number who have to go to physical locations and […]
News Around Illinois – November 27, 2019
State Crop Sustainability Goal Is Centuries Away PEORIA – Illinois is still two centuries away from hitting towards its goal of planting enough cover crops to make a significant dent in nutrient pollution in waterways. That’s according to a coalition of environmental groups responding to the state’s recently-released biennial Nutrient Loss Reduction Strategy report. Nutrient […]
Rauner Signs Budget, Keeps Criticizing Taxes
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed Illinois’ budget into law.
Will Illinois Face Another Budget Impasse?
Passing a state budget is arguably the most important thing the Illinois General Assembly does every year — or at least should do every year. After last year’s drama — when a two-year standoff ended with a Republican revolt against Governor Bruce Rauner — it’s an open question about how things will go this year. […]