Illinois State Senate
State Government: Elected Officials | State Legislative Bodies
Recent News About Illinois State Senate
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Haine and Haida among top IMRF beneficiaries in state; Though adequately funded, critic says pension system 'just as efficient at stealing taxpayer wealth'
The top Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF) beneficiaries in Madison and St. Clair counties are among the state's highest paid. And both of them - a lawmaker and a judge - are accruing benefits in other pension systems that will provide even more tax payer-supported income for life when they retire a second time. -
State worker pensions, health care crowd out spending on education, public safety, human services
Illinois state government now pays more for pensions and health care for state workers than it spends on K-12 education, public safety or human services, according to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s fiscal year 2017 budget book. -
Durkin: Impasse can be broken, work comp system a start
SPRINGFIELD — House Minority Leader Jim Durkin on Monday suggested the workers’ compensation system might be the point where Republicans and Democrats get together and start breaking the months-long impasse that has left Illinois without a budget. -
Bill would raise smoking age to 21; Would apply to all tobacco and e-cigs, as well
SPRINGFIELD — Should Illinois raise the legal smoking age from 18 to 21? -
Rauner to lawmakers: Make a choice; Democratic leaders say little has changed
SPRINGFIELD — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner used his annual budget address Wednesday to put two choices before legislative Democrats who control both houses of the state legislature: The General Assembly can grant him, the state’s chief executive, the authority to make the cuts that will allow Illinois to spend what it’s bringing in, about $32.8 billion Or, Rauner said, lawmakers can agree to some of what he considers essential economic and political reforms and he’ll work with them on a combin -
House Dems again pass arbitration bill, but remain short of veto override votes
SPRINGFIELD — House Democrats on Tuesday again passed a bill that could send the stalled contract talks between Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state’s biggest employee unions to a panel of arbitrators. -
Letter supporting Sen. Kirk's call for DOJ to pursue Backpage.com
Roughly 22 police departments and 14 sheriff's departments across Illinois signed a letter supporting Senator Mark Kirk's call for the DOJ to pursue Backpage.com, a sex trafficking website. -
Brawl over bargaining bill resumes; With no AFSCME contract, stakes are high
SPRINGFIELD — The hotly disputed interest arbitration or “no strike-no lockout” bill is back in play in the state Capitol. While Gov. Bruce Rauner, R-Winnetka, argues the measure is an expensive, taxpayer-funded gift to organized labor that Illinois can’t afford, Democratic proponents say the bill would forestall a work stoppage and protect state workers and services. -
Obama calls for building better politics; GOP focuses on his remarks on redistricting
SPRINGFIELD — Democrats and Republicans alike found things to cheer about, usually separately but occasionally together, in an hour-long Statehouse speech by President Barack Obama on Wednesday. -
Obama's General Assembly visit likely to be about budget impasse and legacy, supporter Coleman says
As a long-time supporter of the current U.S. president, Ray Coleman of East St. Louis said that Barack Obama will have plenty to reflect upon during his speech before the Illinois General Assembly this week. -
Rauner: CPS takeover plan lives; He predicts non-Chicago Dems will join in support
SPRINGFIELD — When the time comes, suburban and downstate Democrats will join him in his effort to have the state take control of Chicago’s debt-strapped school system, Gov. Bruce Rauner said Wednesday. -
Munger: State debt spiraling; Unpaid bills might hit $10 billion to $12 billion
SPRINGFIELD — Unless something changes soon, Illinois is heading $6.2 billion deeper into debt and taxpayers will remain on the hook, state Comptroller Leslie Geissler Munger said Tuesday. -
Mudge appointed to the Judicial Conference of Illinois
Madison County Circuit Judge William Mudge has been appointed to the Judicial Conference of Illinois for another term and has been assigned to serve on the Civil Justice Committee as well as its Technology Committee. -
Rauner softens tone but stays with agenda; Democrats say the budget remains their priority
SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Bruce Rauner hammered away Wednesday on the need for fundamental change in the way Illinois operates, while Democratic leaders blamed Rauner for the state not yet having a budget. -
New report on education funding shows 89 cents of every new dollar for education goes to pensions – not classrooms
The pension fund for K-12 public school teachers in Illinois has only 40 cents for every $1 in promised benefits. -
Dems, GOP to talk school aid, pensions? Cullerton puts school reform out front, says pension deal near
SPRINGFIELD — State Senate President John Cullerton, D-Chicago, dropped two big pieces of news Monday: -- Cullerton wants a rewrite of the state’s school funding formula, and he’s linking it directly with talks about the overall state budget. -
Judge slaps restraining order on access to Topinka campaign money amid lawsuit by late comptroller's son
The campaign funds of the late Judy Baar Topinka are now formally frozen, thanks to an order issued Jan. 22 in Cook County Circuit Court. -
McCarter opposes eminent domain in wind energy project
SPRINGFIELD — State Sen. Kyle McCarter encouraged state and federal courts last week to reject any requests from Clean Line Energy Partners for eminent domain authority regarding the Grain Belt Express Clean Line project. -
GOP seeks state control of Chicago schools; Democrats say plan’s unfair and a non-starter
SPRINGFIELD — Republicans on Wednesday announced a plan to put the financially floundering Chicago Public Schools system under state control and open the option of bankruptcy as a possible financial solution. Democratic response was swift, in opposition and included Senate President John Cullerton saying, “This is not going to happen.” Senate Republican Leader Christine Radogno and House GOP Leader Jim Durkin unveiled the plan in Chicago, saying the CPS crisis was only deepening and both stude -
U.S. Chamber releases most frivolous lawsuits for 2015
The copyright fight over a monkey’s selfies and damages sought from a family hug topped the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s annual list of the most frivolous lawsuits.