Patrick Andriesen, Illinois Policy Institute News
Lawyers, guns, money, plus nine other Illinois laws to know starting Jan. 1
There are over 150 new laws going into effect in 2024, but here are a dozen likely to affect your life. They might impact the cost of a burger, your gun ownership, where you can vape and who your local police officer is and what that officer can do.
Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports
The Illinois State Board of Education failed to publish diagnostic reports required by the Invest in Kids Act to track scholarship recipients’ progress starting in 2019. State lawmakers are letting the program expire without seeing a single report.
Ameren monopoly over Illinois transmission lines up to Pritzker
The union-backed legislation would grant Illinois’ second-largest electric utility a temporary monopoly over the construction of new transmission lines across nearly three-quarters of the state. Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to veto it.
‘ComEd Four’ defendant convicted in bribery scheme could keep pension
Officials at the General Assembly Retirement System suspended Michael McClain’s legislative pension after he was convicted on nine counts of bribery in the ‘ComEd Four’ trial. Precedent suggests it may not be permanent.
Illinois families spend 3rd-highest in nation on government pensions
The typical career state pensioner earns more in retirement than Illinoisans do working. Households now pay over three times more than they did nearly two decades ago to cover the costs.
Biden promises nearly $36 billion for national pension bailouts
The Biden administration promised nearly $36 billion to stabilize pension plans for Teamsters nationwide after forecasts predicted the system’s default by 2026. Union members would have seen their retirement benefits slashed by 60% if the system defaulted.
New survey finds 37% of small businesses delinquent on October rent
A survey found 37% of U.S. small businesses were delinquent on October rent, with inflation and rising costs absorbing “most sales gains.” Amendment 1 would likely raise commercial property taxes, and therefore rents in Illinois.
2022 election had most contested Illinois House races in 2 decades
Illinois’ 2022 general election was the most contested non-presidential election in the past two decades, with 79 contested Statehouse races. Illinois Policy’s Full Slate project helped give voters an extra 32 choices on the ballot.
Report: More Illinois debt likely following misuse of federal aid money
A Truth in Accounting report argued state authorities should have used billions in federal aid to pay down interest on existing pension debt rather than save it for a rainy day. Experts warn this could lead to more state borrowing.
Audit reveals Illinois lost nearly $2 billion to Covid-19 unemployment fraud
A state audit found the Illinois Department of Employment Security lost to fraud more than half of the $3.6 billion in federal COVID-19 dollars earmarked for out-of-work Illinoisans. The full scope of the unemployment fraud remains unknown.
Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo gets 57 months for bribery scheme
The former Illinois House assistant majority leader now faces nearly 5 years in federal prison after pleading guilty to accepting and soliciting bribes to expand sweepstakes gambling legislation in Springfield.
Illinois college students pay 46% higher tuition to prop up massive pension spending
Illinois spends 23% less on higher education than it did in 2007. University pension spending grew by 510% in that time. It doesn’t take a math major to see why tuition has increased 46%.
Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog
Illinois state senators approved a new legislative inspector general over complaints by the Legislative Ethics Commission chair that the process and vetting were ignored for the new watchdog. House members vote next.
If Illinois uses COVID-19 funds for operations, expect financial pitfall
A think tank advised Illinois leaders not to use temporary federal COVID-19 relief aid for on-going programs. It would lead to future funding shortfalls.
Investigation finds Illinois politicians packed extra pork into $45 billion plan
An investigation found $4 billion in funds to be doled out by politicians at their discretion, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker controlling half of it. The extra pork was packed into Illinois’ $45 billion infrastructure plan, including $144 million for Madigan friends – some who never asked for it.
Democrats' legislative remap dilutes Illinois minority voting power, lawsuits claim
The plaintiffs representing Black and Latino voters argued Illinois Democrats’ new legislative maps are gerrymandered to break up voting blocs, diluting minority voting power during the next decade.
Illinois police, firefighters push back on state control of pensions
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to consolidate local police and firefighter pensions from across downstate Illinois, but beneficiaries are suing because the state is notorious for poor pension management.
Equating parents with terrorists leads Illinois Association of School Boards to quit U.S. group
The Illinois Association of School Boards is among 15 state boards to terminate their National School Boards Association membership after the national group sent a letter to President Biden asking that upset parent be monitored as domestic terrorists.
Illinois highways come with high costs, poor conditions, report finds
Taxpayers pay too much for the rough conditions they find on Illinois roads, according to a report by the Reason Foundation. Bad pavement and too much congestion come with upkeep costs that are among the highest in the U.S.
Pritzker's choice: Get COVID-19 shot, or lose your job
Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, limiting the law used to challenge his COVID-19 vaccination and other mandates.