Illinois General Assembly
State Government: Elected Officials | State Legislative Bodies
Recent News About Illinois General Assembly
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Madigan's move to force budget resolution digs at LeChien for undermining legislative process
Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan pleads that St. Clair County Circuit Judge Robert LeChien undermined the Illinois Constitution when he ordered the comptroller to continue paying state employees at normal rates. -
Illinois Policy Institute: Time for bold solutions in Illinois
It is time for courage. It is time for bold solutions. It is time to put the people first, not the special interests, not the privileged, not the powerful. -
Senate adopts leadership term limits while House again adopts 'Madigan's rules'
SPRINGFIELD – Newly adopted term limits for the Illinois Senate president and minority leader were approved on the new General Assembly's first day earlier this month, but any kind of similar proposal for leaders in the lower chamber will not likely advance under "Madigan's rules." -
State GOP robocalls target Democrats who voted to re-elect Madigan as speaker
SPRINGFIELD — After the Illinois General Assembly voted once again to elect Democrat Michael Madigan of Chicago as House Speaker, the Illinois Republican Party responded with robocalls to voters in 18 targeted districts. -
Teachers' Retirement System hosts town hall meeting in Collinsville
COLLINSVILLE — The executive director of the Teachers’ Retirement System of the State of Illinois will be in Collinsville today – Thursday, Jan. 19 – for a town hall meeting with TRS members regarding pension issues. -
AFSCME uses fake 'compromise' to set stage for state worker strike
AFSCME – the state’s largest government-worker union – spent two years pushing for contract provisions that would cost state taxpayers billions. Now that the union has lost before the state labor board, it has issued a “framework” for compromise. But that “framework” is merely a publicity stunt to make the union appear reasonable while union leaders threaten a strike to obtain contract provisions that burden state taxpayers. -
Illinois residents could face sticker shock over beverage tax proposal
SPRINGFIELD – If you think you're already paying too much for sweetened liquid refreshments, hold on to your wallet. If approved by the Illinois General Assembly and signed into law, Senate Bill 9 would sharply raise the price consumers pay for packaged sodas, syrup-based coffee drinks and tea. -
Lawmaker proposes statewide 'Zombie Preparedness Month'
In one of the first proposals of the new General Assembly, state Rep. Chris Welch, D-Westchester, proposed making October 2017 “zombie preparedness month.” -
Republican state senator weighs in on Illinois budget quagmire
State Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) calls for lower taxes on businesses, reduced regulations and civil justice reforms combined with belt-tightening as the types of measures needed to get the state out of its financial straits. -
WirePoints Illinois News founder calls for change that would allow state to file bankruptcy
As drastic as it sounds, bankruptcy may be the only way for Illinois to come to grips with its dire financial situation, according to a financial expert who supports the idea. -
Taxpayers United of America says Madigan likely won't step down despite petition
SPRINGFIELD (Madison - St. Clair Record) – The number of signatures is growing on a petition urging Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan to step down but Taxpayers United of America's executive director says he's very realistic about the chances Madigan will do that. -
Why a budget won't fix Illinois
Pension costs alone now consume a quarter of the Illinois state budget. -
Illinois lost 150,000 university students from 2000 to 2014
Misplaced priorities in education funding have driven students out of the state and skyrocketed tuition costs. -
Illinois ends 2016 with $11 billion in unpaid bills
Though spending on government-worker salaries and pensions has grown at a rapid rate, many service providers and grant recipients are still awaiting payment. -
Rauner seeks relief from LeChien’s pro-AFSCME decision at Fifth District
On Dec. 7, Gov. Bruce Rauner petitioned the Fifth District appellate court for interlocutory review of LeChien’s jurisdiction over labor negotiations. Rauner counsel Thomas Bradley wrote, “There is no provision in the Labor Act that gives the circuit courts general jurisdiction over public sector labor disputes.” -
Property taxes mount on 'Home Alone' house
2016 was a tough year for the owners of 671 Lincoln Ave. The red-brick, Georgian house in Winnetka, Ill., was made famous by the 1990 Christmas hit, “Home Alone,” but in real life, it’s not crowbar-wielding burglars coming for the family’s money, but the Cook County government. -
Madigan's millions: Why the Speaker should release his tax returns
Every dollar Madigan earns back for his corporate clients makes someone else’s property-tax bill go up. -
Judge Ruth dismisses man’s suit alleging discrimination; Allows plaintiff to amend complaint
Madison County Circuit Judge Dennis Ruth granted Madison County’s motion to dismiss a man’s suit alleging he was discriminated against because of his gender by being forced to wait while exchanging custody of his child. -
Members of the Illinois House of Representatives who gave Michael Madigan unlimited power
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan isn’t a typical state representative. -
Is Lisa Madigan abusing her position to protect dad's supermajority?
It's nice to have a family member in the business.