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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Friday, March 29, 2024

Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute News


Southern Illinois taxpayers spend $134.4M since 2002 to keep airport open

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
An underused airport near Belleville, Illinois, has required local taxpayers to chip in $134.4 million since 2002 to keep it operating.

Southern Illinois taxpayers spend $124.5M since 2002 to keep airport open

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
An underused airport near Belleville, Illinois, has required local taxpayers to chip in $124.5 million since 2002 to keep it operating.

Pritzker appeals to Illinois Supreme Court after two courts derail his school mask mandate

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
A judge’s ruling threw Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s school mask mandate into chaos. Now that an appellate court has ruled against Pritzker, too, he’s taking his fight to keep masks on students to the Illinois Supreme Court.

Chicago budget hands $500 monthly to some, higher property taxes to others

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Chicago will spend $32 million on the nation’s largest test of universal basic income. What happens after that year is one question, as is whether handing out cash will truly fix anything.

$119.5M later, Southern Illinois taxpayers still trying to get airport off ground

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
An underused airport near Belleville, Illinois, has required local taxpayers to chip in $119.5 million since 2002 to keep it operating. Even with pandemic money, 2020 was even worse.

Illinois passes ethics package, first step in reforming culture of corruption

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois made an important first step in its break with the corrupt practices that defined the legislative process under former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. New ethics rules about lobbying, financial disclosures and the legislative watchdog were passed in the final hours of the session.

Illinois students will return to in-person schooling in fall

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
In-person learning will resume in the fall, the Illinois State Board of Education has decided. Whether kids will still be required to wear masks and sit behind plastic shields in the fall remains to be decided.

Pritzker breaks promise to end Illinois gerrymandering

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised on the campaign trail and repeatedly after that, including earlier this year, to end partisan gerrymandering of political maps. Now he says, ‘Nevermind.’ He trusts lawmakers.

COVID-19 ‘vax pass’ idea getting nixed in Illinois, Pritzker says

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
After state and Chicago public health administrators floated the idea of vaccination passports, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it will not happen in the state. Chicago will offer the ‘Vax Pass’ for summer events to encourage COVID-19 immunizations.

Illinois lawmakers tackle balloons, pitchfork fishing, but keep residents in dark on ethics reforms

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
The Illinois General Assembly busies itself with limiting balloon releases and regulating pitchfork fishing along highways when ethics reform is the need in a state with a rich history of corruption.

Illinois gas tops $3, highest since Pritzker doubled gas tax in 2019

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Gas was $3.05 per gallon in Illinois. It was over $1 higher than a year ago and the highest since the state gasoline tax doubled to 38 cents per gallon and is set to increase again July 1.

Classrooms First Act unanimously passes Illinois House committee

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
A bill to channel education dollars from duplicate bureaucracy and into classrooms or back to property taxpayers won committee approval. It is headed for a full vote in the Illinois House.

Lightfoot pushes Pritzker to ease restrictions as dining resumes in southern, central Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to give city residents more freedom to drink and dine out. Two other Illinois regions were just granted more liberty to do so.

Madigan leaves trial lawyers with parting gift: Up to 2 years of 9% interest

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Lame duck lawmakers and the outgoing Illinois House speaker are trying to hand trial lawyers some extra cash. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is being urged to veto the bill.

More Illinoisans collect unemployment as nation recovers

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Bans on indoor dining and bar service continue to hurt Illinois jobs numbers, placing the state low in a national recovery ranking.

Pritzker calls for $700M in service cuts, silent on pension reform

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois’ current budget started out at a deficit, hoped for a tax increase that was rejected and counted on a federal bail-out that never came. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s best fix is pension reform.

Illinois spent $4.18 million nudging voters who did not request mail-in ballots

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
When Illinois state lawmakers wrote the mail-in voting law, they decided voters who did not seek a mail-in ballot should receive a letter from the state, and then another.

Taxpayer tab totals $111.3 million to keep southwestern Illinois airport open

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Each year St. Clair County taxpayers must add money to keep MidAmerica St. Louis Airport open. COVID-19 could turn a hefty financial burden into an albatross.

Madigan, ComEd face racketeering suit for over $450 million in ratepayer damages

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Six House Democrats have called for the longtime speaker to step down.

After Madigan probe, Pritzker changes standard on when Illinois lawmakers should resign

By Brad Weisenstein, Illinois Policy Institute |
Three state lawmaker corruption probes led Illinois’ governor to call for three resignations, but the fourth involving Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan received a weaker response.