Gov. Bruce Rauner has improperly withheld funds from “911” emergency telephone boards, St. Clair County alleges in its own circuit court. The county sued state officials on Sept. 21, for an injunction requiring distribution of funds to its Emergency Telephone System Board.
SPRINGFIELD -- A pause in state layoffs won’t stop the planned closures of the state’s museum system nor its shooting facilities near Sparta, Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration has announced. The state museum in Springfield, four related facilities around the state and the World Shooting and Recreational Complex at Sparta in Southern Illinois are under the control of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, which reports to the governor.
State employees who failed to succeed with legislation placing their contract negotiations in the hands of an arbitrator now aim to achieve that objective in St. Clair County. On Sept. 17, they asked Circuit Judge Robert LeChien to maintain the status quo in litigation pending arbitration of the state’s authority to lay off employees.
SPRINGFIELD — Thursday marked another day of activity but little visible movement in the state Capitol. The House Revenue and Finance committee began hearing testimony on a call from the city of Chicago for an increase in the general homestead property tax exemption, or amount the state subtracts from homeowner’s assessed valuation as a form of tax break.
Strange things happen in cartoons – things that could never happen in real life, things that are physically impossible – but cartoon lovers know that and delight in the alternate “reality.” The absurd goings-on are an essential part of animated humor.
State employee unions have returned to court in an effort to lock in continued pay for the fiscal year, get medical claims paid, stop layoffs and retain step pay raises and semi-automatic promotions despite lack of a contract. At the end of June, Illinois entered fiscal year 2016 without a budget and without new labor contracts, and its biggest unions sought to make sure their members in state government continued to be paid. The unions have so far succeeded in the courts, and their members co
The courts of Cook and Madison counties, as well as the state of Illinois, have again ranked very poorly in the eyes of business leaders, a survey says, hampering the state’s economic growth, reducing the state’s tax haul, and making it more difficult to pay Illinois’ bills and provide needed public services, according to Ill.
CHICAGO - Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner will join the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR) this afternoon to announce results of the Harris Poll which shows the state's legal climate at an all-time low ranking. The study places Illinois at number 48 out of 50; only Louisiana and West Virginia fared worse in a report titled "2015 Lawsuit Climate Survey: Ranking the States."
SPRINGFIELD — House Democrats on Wednesday came up three votes short in their attempt to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the “no strike-no lockout” or interest arbitration bill. Although knowing the attendance put him one Democrat shy of his full 71 members present — the same number of votes needed for a successful override attempt — House Speaker Michael Madigan let the vote roll forward. Backers of Senate Bill 1229 put up 67 votes in the House when the bill originally passed.
SPRINGFIELD — At the moment, one four-digit number — 1229 — is the watchword for the struggle between first-year Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the Democrats who hold supermajorities in the General Assembly. That struggle is anticipated to come to a head Wednesday in the House, when Democrats are expected to attempt an override of Rauner’s veto of Senate Bill 1229, the interest arbitration or “no-strike/no-lockout” bill. The measure would allow mandatory arbitration should either the state o
Local lawmakers are standing with tort reform group Illinois Lawsuit Abuse Watch (I-LAW) to revive discussion of a sticking point in a two month old state budget impasse. Madison County board members Tom McRae (R-14) and Mick Madison (R-5) joined I-LAW's executive director Travis Akin on Tuesday to support passage of venue reform, a key component of Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's Turnaround Agenda.
SPRINGFIELD — Rep. Jack Franks thinks he’s found a path to lead Illinois out of its budget wasteland or least get it well along the way. Franks, a Democrat from Marengo, says he’s working on a bill that could generate nearly $3.9 billion without raising taxes. “I think this is the path out,” Franks said.
SPRINGFIELD – Political dues in unions of Illinois teachers and state employees exceed $7 million a year, state election board records show. The Illinois Education Association currently reports contributions at a rate that would top $5 million.
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday said he’s again proposing legislation for a two-year freeze on local property taxes combined with what he calls local cost controls. This time, the governor added what it appears he hoped would be sweeteners for the financially troubled Chicago Public Schools system, including two years worth of CPS pension payments made by the state at about $200 million each.
Governor Bruce Rauner appointed Belleville attorney Michael McGlynn to serve as a judge on the Illinois Court of Claims. McGlynn is currently a managing partner at McGlynn & McGlynn Attorneys at Law in Belleville.