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5/20/2019
A report from one of the nation’s leading credit rating agencies says Illinois and New Jersey are the two states least-equipped to handle another recession. While “the probability of a recession beginning within the next year appears to be low,” according to the release Monday by Moody’s Investors Service, “[New Jersey and Illinois] are likely to face more difficult challenges than other states” in dealing with it.
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5/17/2019
Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Friday briefed lawmakers on a proposed capital improvements plan that calls for spending $41.5 billion on transportation, education, public health and other infrastructure projects over six years, funded by a host of new or increased taxes and fees.
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5/17/2019
A test required for teacher licensing that many argue has contributed to the state’s teacher shortage might soon be suspended. The Illinois Senate on Thursday passed and sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker House Bill 423, which would put what is known as the “test of basic skills” on hold until July 1, 2025, while state officials try to determine whether that will help relieve the state’s teacher shortage.
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5/17/2019
Illinois House Republican leadership will brief their members Monday on a balanced budget proposal which they say the governor’s office won’t listen to, according to an internal caucus memo obtained by Capitol News Illinois on Friday.
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5/17/2019
Illinois falls short in providing the funding and worker compensation to keep the health care services industry stable, advocates representing various organizations from around the state said this week. While requests for substance abuse and mental health services have increased, organizations that provide them have been underfunded for at least a decade, one said.
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5/16/2019
A Democratic state lawmaker called Senate President John Cullerton’s proposal to raise Illinois’ usage tax on tobacco products “too unreasonable” at a time when the General Assembly is considering a slew of other tax hikes. Rep. Thaddeus Jones, from Calumet City, said the plan would turn Illinois into a “job creator” for surrounding states.
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5/16/2019
Illinois House Republicans called a news conference Thursday to unveil a “fiscal year 2020 balanced budget proposal” in the form of a one-page document detailing $2.6 billion more in revenue than House working groups had previously planned for. “The important part here is we're not presenting a plan and saying ‘take it or leave it,’” Deputy Minority Leader Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, said.