Reader comments closed until Tuesday
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * As someone said to me tonight, “Lotta people mad and not realizing what they’re mad about this session.” Fiona Apple will play us out… Pools of sorrow, waves of joy are drifting through my opened mind
|
Harmon: ‘Each budget is its own beast, and this one was a doozy’
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Senate President Don Harmon’s speech at the end of session tonight…
|
Two Senate Democrats voted against the budget, three voted against the revenue bill
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Two Senate Democrats, Sens. Suzy Glowiak Hilton (D-Western Springs) and Patrick Joyce (D-Essex) voted against the appropriations bill. Sen. Glowiak Hilton has not responded to requests for comment, nor has she issued a statement (I’ll let you know if she does). From Sen. Joyce…
* Sen. Willie Preston (D-Chicago) didn’t have many good things to say about the budget during debate, but he sent me this statement after voting for it…
* Sen. Doris Turner (D-Springfield) voted for the budget for I think the first time. Her statement…
* Meanwhile, Sens. Glowiak Hilton, Joyce and Meg Loughran Cappel (D-Shorewood) all voted against the revenue omnibus bill, which raises $865 million. None have yet explained why.
|
Secretary of State has plans to install cameras and call boxes in Stratton parking garage
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Rep. John Cabello speaking on the House floor last night… Transcript…
Cabello’s Friday floor speech is here. I reached out to the Secretary of State’s office today and was told that cameras and call boxes have been planned for that parking garage. “That was always the plan, not reactive to this.” * Rep. Jennifer Sanalitro’s car was one of those broken into last night…
* Rep. CD Davidsmeyer… Transcript…
The Secretary of State’s office and Sanalitro’s comms person confirmed that Alicia M Jones was the one arrested. And according to the sheriff’s website, she’s still in jail. …Adding… As of this afternoon, she appears to be out of jail. [Isabel Miller contributed heavily to this post.]
|
Good stuff (Updated x1)
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Peter Hancock at Capitol News Illinois has been ably following the governor’s proposed health insurance changes this spring and the last time I saw him at a Pritzker press conference, he asked very informed questions. His latest from yesterday…
Go read the rest. You can read all of Hancock’s stories here. * Meanwhile, WAND TV reporter Mike Miletich has been killing it lately. Dude is churning out multiple informative stories a day. One from yesterday…
Click here to read what he’s been writing. * Blog favorite Tina Sfondeles is back in Springfield to cover the rest of the session. Excerpt from her latest…
* I met Tribune reporter Olivia Olander for the first time yesterday. Her informative story on the governor’s health insurance reform package today is definitely worth a read. Excerpt…
* Another blog favorite, Capitol News Illinois reporter Hannah Meisel, is also a must-follow on Twitter…
Hannah then linked to this helpful story…
…Adding… Update… ![]() * I’m sure I’ve missed some solid stuff in this post. For instance, Jerry Nowicki of Capitol News Illinois has been tweeting out lots of Statehouse info. Make sure to click here and follow the whole show with our live session coverage.
|
Protect Illinois Hospitality - Vote No On House Bill 5345
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] ![]() EDITORIAL: Take a wait-and-see approach before eliminating subminimum wage for tipped workers in Illinois “Menu prices are sure to increase, making restaurant visits less appetizing. We’re also wondering: Will customers continue to eat out as often and tip generously — or at all — when prices increase and service charges and other fees are added to bills? And what about those servers who already make more than minimum wage because of tips, especially in bustling, high-end establishments? Nationally, according to a 2022 survey by the National Restaurant Association, tipped workers make an average of $27 an hour.” Read the full editorial here and tell state legislators to VOTE NO on House Bill 5345 and Protect Illinois Hospitality.
|
Session updates (Updated x3)
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Jerry Nowicki‘s recap of the Senate Appropriations hearing this morning… * Sen. Sims said there will likely be a third amendment to the budget introduced on the floor. The budget’s bill number is SB251….
* The BIMP will be moved to HB4959, SA2, though language has not yet been introduced as I write this. …Adding… Subscribers were told more about yesterday’s House member deficit early today…
What Harmon said yesterday in response to my question before the House adjourned…
…Adding… Al Llorens, president of the Illinois Education Association…
…Adding… Click here to follow developments as they happen… ![]()
|
Showcasing The Retailers Who Make Illinois Work
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Retail provides one out of every five Illinois jobs, generates the second largest amount of tax revenue for the state, and is the largest source of revenue for local governments. But retail is also so much more, with retailers serving as the trusted contributors to life’s moments, big and small. We Are Retail and IRMA are dedicated to sharing the stories of retailers like Martin, who serve their communities with dedication and pride.
|
Open thread
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s going on?…
|
Isabel’s morning briefing
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Budget negotiations will extend into next week as House leaves Springfield. Capitol New Illinois…
* AP | A 19th century flag disrupts leadership at an Illinois museum and prompts a state investigation: The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is once again under the spotlight after a manager failed to consult a collections committee before purchasing a 21-star flag whose description as a rare banner marking Illinois’ 1818 admission to the Union is disputed. The flag’s acquisition through an online auction for more than $15,000 precipitated an investigation by Illinois’ Office of the Executive Inspector General about money used for the purchase. The purchase also led to division in the Springfield museum’s leadership and may have prompted the firing of an employee who said the acquisition skirted procedures. * Sun-Times | Lawmakers clear major healthcare reforms — but House adjourns for holiday weekend with no budget: “Procedurally, the earliest an agreement could pass both chambers is next week,” Welch said in a statement. “To let members and staff rest and spend time with family, we are adjourning for the holiday weekend and will return to complete this work.” Prior to the House announcement, Illinois Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, told reporters the Senate planned to be in session on Sunday. * Tribune | Legislature won’t act on Bears’ stadium funding request this spring, lawmakers say: Despite the full backing of Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, who stood with team officials when they unveiled their proposal last month, the Bears’ plan received a cool reception in Springfield. […] Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office called the team’s latest bid to stay in Chicago a “non-starter” in its initial form, and the team’s efforts to round up support among legislative leaders and rank-and-file lawmakers were met with reactions ranging from firm and outspoken opposition to indifference. * Sports Handle | Illinois Lawmaker Proposes Progressive Tax Rate For Sports Betting: The minimum tax rate as part of HB 4951 is 20%, an increase from the current 15% rate at all levels of operator adjusted gross revenue. The threshold increases to 25% at $30 million in adjusted gross revenue; 30% over $50 million; 35% over $100 million; and 40% over $200 million. Of the eight mobile sports betting operators currently in Illinois, only FanDuel ($429.3 million) and DraftKings ($350 million) would reach that maximum 40% threshold based on their last 12 months of winnings. * WTVO | Stadelman’s bill to support local journalism heads to Pritzker’s desk: The bill would create the Journalism Student Scholarship Program to support students pursuing careers in Illinois journalism. The measure would also require all local news organizations to notify the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and employees 120 days before a sale occurs. This requirement hopes to keep publications local, instead of publications being sold to private equity firms. * WBBM | Free mental health care for first responders in Illinois clears legislature, awaits governor’s signature: The legislation exempts first responders – including police officers, firefighters, EMT’s and 911 telecommunicators – from cost sharing requirements related to mental health care. Sen. Michael Hastings (D-Frankfort) is the senate sponsor. * Capitol News Illinois | Health insurance changes targeting ‘utilization management,’ more will head to governor: The Illinois House gave final approval Saturday to a pair of bills that limit the ability of insurance companies to deny coverage or steer individuals toward lower cost, and sometimes less effective, treatments and medications, strategies sometimes referred to as “utilization management.” The package also includes measures giving the Illinois Department of Insurance authority to approve or deny premium rate changes in large-group health insurance plans while banning the sale of short-term, limited duration individual health plans, which are sometimes derisively referred to as “junk insurance.” * WAND | Illinois House passes Healthcare Protection Act, sends monumental plan to Pritzker: Gov. JB Pritzker’s monumental plan could make Illinois the first state to ban prior authorization for in-patient adult and children’s mental healthcare. The legislation also bans step therapy, or the fail first method, where insurers force people to receive less effective treatment before moving to options initially recommended by doctors. * WCIA | Mahomet Aquifer concerns dominate House floor discussion on carbon capture bill: Bill sponsor Rep. Ann Williams also sponsored the state’s revolutionary climate and Equitable Jobs Act. That set the state on a mission to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. She said that while the Mahomet Aquifer was not directly excluded from the law, it was adequately protected by a long list of regulations within the law. * Personal PAC…
* Tribune | Illinois Republicans go all in for Trump at state convention: The southwestern Illinois setting for the 2024 Illinois GOP convention was apt for a political organization that has seen its statewide influence dwindle along geographic lines, leaving Republicans strongest in rural, less populated areas downstate while Democrats have grown beyond their traditional strongholds in Chicago to include the once GOP-rich collar counties. * Tribune | Chicago honors fallen soldiers and their families at downtown Memorial Day parade, wreath-laying ceremony: Contrary to the often celebratory nature of Memorial Day, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Zeita Merchant reminded the hundreds gathered outside the Daley Center downtown that it’s a solemn day of observance for families and friends of armed service members who lost their lives defending the country. “Our Gold Star families .. reflect on the face and the voice that they ache to see and hear once more,” she said. “The one day we tell the stories of men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice.” * WBEZ | Uptown was once a vibrant hub for Chicago’s Native American community: Native people have always been in Chicago, despite continued attempts to remove them that culminated in the 1833 Treaty of Chicago. Still, Chicago remains an important place for Native Americans in the region. The Chicago metro area has the third-largest urban Native American population in the United States, estimated to be around 65,000, according to the American Indian Center (AIC). While there isn’t one concentrated neighborhood anymore, Uptown on the city’s North Side used to be that nucleus. * Sun-Times | White Sox’ bullpen spoils Erick Fedde’s outing in 5-3 loss to Orioles: All reliever Michael Kopech could do was watch with his right hand on his hip as his fastball traveled in the air for a solo home run by Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg in the eighth inning. After the homer, fans grew restless. They had watched the White Sox’ three-run lead evaporate Saturday in a 5-3 loss. * Sun-Times | Sky home opener spoiled by 86-82 loss to Sun: For three quarters, the Sky (2-2) looked to be on the verge of beating undefeated teams in back-to-back games. In the final 10 minutes, however, missed rebounds and poor execution resulted in an 86-82 loss to the Sun. The Sky were outscored 27-4 on second-chance points and outrebounded 38-21. * Tribune | Naperville, St. Charles, Winnetka and dozens of other communities urged to double down on coal: Naperville, St. Charles, Winnetka and 29 downstate municipalities are investors in the Prairie State Generating Station, a massive coal-fired power plant in southern Illinois that last year spewed 12.4 million tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide into the atmosphere — more than only six other electricity providers in the United States. The Illinois cities, towns and villages are under contract until 2035 to purchase a share of Prairie State’s electricity and help pay off $5 billion in construction debt. But instead of preparing to quickly shift away from the fossil fuel, like scores of other utilities across the country are doing, the Illinois communities could end up relying on Prairie State and another coal plant in Kentucky for most of their electricity until at least 2050. * Daily Herald | Ex-DuPage prosecutor charged with threatening state legislators on social media: Samuel J. Cundari, 30, has been charged with transmitting in interstate commerce a threat to injure another person, in violation of federal law, according to a news release from the federal prosecutor for the U.S. Central Illinois District. * BND | St. Clair County has the most women veterans per capita in Illinois: St. Clair County has the greatest number of women veterans per 1,000 women in the Land of Lincoln at 32.61. Monroe County comes in second with 18.36 women veterans per 1,000 women, according to data from the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics. * NYT | How a Profane Joke on Twitter Spawned a Legal Army: Here’s one way to build a legal team: Interview graduates from the top law schools or firms, then hire the most qualified. Akiva Cohen, a trial lawyer at a small New York firm, tried a different way: Spend way too much time on Twitter, talking trash about other lawyers’ cases, then hire the people who post the smartest, most biting comments. * AP | 5 things to know about Memorial Day, including its evolution and controversies: Memorial Day is supposed to be about mourning the nation’s fallen service members, but it’s come to anchor the unofficial start of summer and a long weekend of discounts on anything from mattresses to lawn mowers. But for people such as Manuel Castañeda Jr., the day is very personal. He lost his father, a U.S. Marine who served in Vietnam, in an accident in 1966 in California while his father was training other Marines.
|
*** 2024 end of session cheat sheet ***
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * FY25 Approp bill - SB251, SA3 * Revenue omnibus - HB4951, SA2, SA3, SA4, SA5 * Use Tax Act Omnibus (Eliminates grocery tax) - HB3144, SA2, SA3 * Bonding Authority - HB4582, SA1 * Tax incentives, credits - HB5005 * Procurement omnibus - HB5511 * Medical Debt Relief Act - HB5290 * Cannabis omnibus - HB2911 (Senate floor amendments filed) * Hemp Consumer Products Act - HB4293 * Prisoner Review Board reform - HB681 SFA5 * Repeals sub-minimum wage for persons with disabilities - HB793 (Senate First Reading) * Prevents hospital patient abuse - HB587 (Senate First Reading) * Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act - SB327, House Amendment 1 * Healthcare Protection Act - HB5395 * Short Term Insurance Ban - HB2499 * Birth equity - HB5142 * Election omnibus - HB4488 * Worker Freedom of Speech Act - SB3649 * Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) - SB1289 * Medicaid Omnibus - SB3268, HFA2
|
*** LIVE session coverage ***
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * Click here for our end of session cheat sheet…
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
|
Live coverage
Sunday, May 26, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
|
Harmon: I’m hoping the Senate will be able to wrap up its business tomorrow (Updated)
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Senate President Don Harmon did an impromptu gaggle with reporters tonight on his way to a caucus meeting…
*** Adding *** ![]() * The paper release…
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Session stuff (Updated x2)
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Update to today’s edition
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
|
Today’s quotable
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Rep. Chris Miller (R-No Relation) rose on the House floor today to speak about the carbon capture bill…
* Just the dings… I gotta turn that into a ringtone.
|
Keep Card Transactions Safe And Convenient. OPPOSE Changes To The Existing Interchange Process!
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Current merchant point of sales and card processors systems can’t separate tax from a purchase when applying processing fees and it may take several years for these systems to get updated. The proposed budget deal that would require separation of interchange fees on the sales tax portion of electronic transactions could mean consumers will have to swipe a credit or debit card twice for a purchase or worse, pay the tax portion in cash. In no uncertain terms – it would be a major disruption to the current electronic payments system in place today. This proposal and disruption to the current system would undoubtedly affect Illinois consumers and beyond. How will constituents, tourists coming to the state this summer, and attendees at the DNC in August react to an overhaul in the way they conduct transactions? This could create a huge embarrassment to Illinois and require immediate retraction. Why take the risk? In the past 17 years there’s been 58 bills in other states trying to remove interchange fees from the state and local sales tax portion of debit and credit card purchases…none have passed because it’s a bad idea. Although this proposal is included in a potential budget deal, there is NO impact to the state budget based upon this component. It simply puts more money in the pockets of Illinois retailers. The current interchange system in Illinois works. Illinois legislators should reject budget deals that increase profit to big box retailers.
|
*** Live session coverage ***
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * From Rich: Click here for our end of session cheat sheet. This live coverage software is not automated like the old one was, and today is Isabel’s first time handling these duties. She’s good at everything she does, but help her out in comments, please. Thanks…
|
Protect Illinois Hospitality And Vote NO On House Bill 5345
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Advertising Department [The following is a paid advertisement.] Protect Illinois Hospitality is a coalition of tipped workers, chambers of commerce, service operators, and local small businesses who strongly support keeping the tip credit available for Illinois businesses. ![]() Tell your state legislators to VOTE NO on House Bill 5345 and Protect Illinois Hospitality
|
It’s almost a law
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * AP…
* WGN…
* WAND…
* WAND…
* Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar…
* WTVO…
* Sen. Rachel Ventura…
* WAND…
* Sen. Mike Porfirio And Rep. Stephanie Kifowit…
|
It’s just a bill
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * WCIA…
* WTTW…
* Chalkbeat…
* WCIA…
SB681 is on Third Reading in the Senate.
|
Open thread
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * What’s up! Keep it Illinois-centric please…
|
Isabel’s morning roundup
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * ICYMI: Illinois Senate pitches budget, but talks continue into holiday weekend as Democrats struggle to reach consensus. Tribune…
- Flagship spending proposals the governor laid out in his February budget address were part of the Senate measure released Friday, which Pritzker spokesman Alex Gough said reflected “an agreement in principal” among the governor, Harmon and House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch - Despite ongoing uncertainty, a few details emerged Friday on the discussions between Pritzker and Democratic legislative leaders. * Related stories… ∙ State Week: A new budget within reach ∙ Sun-Times: As Pritzker, Dems hash out state budget, lawmakers tackle health care, abortion protections and digital IDs ∙ ABC Chicago: Illinois lawmakers working through holiday weekend on budget as spring legislative session ends * WAND | Legislative session helps pick up business in Springfield: “Typically when session is going on we see higher occupancy rates through the city of Springfield,” said Darin Dame, the President of the Springfield Hotel and Lodging Association. “We always want to see if they can stay another night to go visit the visitor sites or have a convention here.” Dame said the goal is to connect with legislators so they come back for a future vacation, or stay there when they return for legislative work. * WBEZ | CPS selective enrollment bill dead in Springfield after Johnson letter to Senate president: Johnson sent a letter to Illinois Senate President Don Harmon on Thursday asking him to hold House Bill 303, which had already passed the Illinois House and needed a final vote in the Senate. The mayor’s public pledge that he would not close or otherwise harm selective enrollment schools meant the bill would no longer be called in the Senate as the spring legislative session ends, according to two sources who were granted anonymity to share details about the legislative process. The bill could be revived in the fall veto session if the mayor reneges on his promises. * Tribune | Lawmakers angry about NRG plan to only cap Waukegan plant’s ponds; ‘They’re hypocrites, and … don’t want to be held accountable’: Now required by the EPA to deal with a Coal Combustion Residuals Management Unit at the Waukegan site known as the grassy area, state Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Gurnee, hoped NRG would remove two coal ash ponds rather than the utility’s previously announced plan to cap one and remove the other. […] NRG disclosed in an email Thursday it is developing an application to the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency to approve its plan to cap both coal ash ponds at its Waukegan generating station now used only for backup purposes. * Tribune | Lawmakers vote to name Loop high-rise after former Secretary of State Jesse White: Lawmakers voted to name a state-owned Loop office building after Illinois’ longest-serving secretary of state, Jesse White. Set to turn 90 next month, White stood in the House chamber earlier this month before lawmakers voted to name the high-rise at 115 S. LaSalle St. the Jesse White State of Illinois Building. The resolution’s main sponsor, state Rep. Harry Benton, noted the rarity of a state building being named after someone who is still alive. * Capitol News Illinois | Measure targets ‘legacy’ admission at public universities: Senate Bill 462 would prohibit public higher education institutions from admitting applicants based on “legacy status” or relationships to donors, effective upon becoming law. […] It passed both houses unanimously and needs only a signature from the governor to become law. * SJ-R | Lawmakers pass 2 bills strengthening child labor laws in Illinois. What you need to know: Senate Bill 3646 introduced by Peters is designed to strengthen up and remodel the general labor laws of the state. The bill includes rules about the number of hours a minor can work during school days and weekends. A minor can’t work more than eight hours on weekends during the school year, and depending on the job they can only work a certain number of hours on a school day. If an employer were to violate the rules they may receive various fines. * SJ-R | Illinois took in nearly $70M on marijuana sales in the final quarter of 2023: Twenty-three states, along with Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana and generated more than $3 billion in tax revenue in 2022. In the final quarter of 2023, the states that generated the most revenue took in a combined $457.7 million. * Press Release | Illinois’ spring turkey hunters harvest record number of wild turkeys: Illinois hunters harvested a preliminary statewide record total of 17,208 wild turkeys during the 2024 Illinois spring turkey season. This year’s total compares with the 2023 statewide harvest of 16,123 and the previous harvest record total of 16,569, set during the spring season in 2006. * Tribune | Mayor Johnson, CPD announce Chicago’s summer safety plan ahead of Memorial Day weekend: Officials also encouraged parents to be watchful of their children once school lets out. It was unclear if Johnson planned to implement a youth curfew downtown, a tactic employed over the past two summers. In May 2022, a 16-year-old was fatally shot near the Bean, leading to a temporary ban on unaccompanied minors in the Millennium Park after 6 p.m. * WGN | Citing lack of ‘allies,’ mayor’s nominee to RTA board withdraws from consideration: Still, Acree’s nomination was passed by the committee 14 to 2, with the two no votes coming from Ald. Scott Waguespack of the 32nd Ward and Ald. Andre Vasquez of the 40th Ward. At the time, they said it was because Johnson’s staff had not prepared Acree for the meeting. “Our city is in need of leadership with the expertise and fiscal background to deal with the issues we are facing in this Johnson Administration,” Waguespack told WGN via text message. “There was no discernable vision for public transportation laid out in the appointment process by the appointee or the 5th floor and we have yet to hear one.” * Sun-Times | ComEd flips the switch on Bronzeville microgrid in latest push for electric power: One of the country’s first solar-powered electric grids of its kind is now operating in Bronzeville, and there are already plans to replicate the project in northern Illinois. City and state leaders as well as officials from the U.S. Department of Energy gathered Friday at the Chicago Housing Authority’s Dearborn Homes to flip the switch on the Bronzeville Community Microgrid, part of a larger push to make Bronzeville one of ComEd’s “smart communities.” * Crain’s | West Loop assessments show Kaegi’s rosier view of downtown offices: A Crain’s analysis of newly released assessments for more than two dozen prominent West Loop office buildings showed that recent valuations dropped by an average of just under 16% compared with Kaegi’s final estimates in 2021, the last time his office assessed all of downtown. * Tribune | Chicago White Sox suffer another loss to Baltimore Orioles, falling 6-4 to drop 22 games under .500: The Chicago White Sox first baseman on Thursday was ruled out on an interference call near second base, part of a controversial ending in a loss. On Friday, he hit a solo home run to even the score in the seventh inning. “(Orioles reliever Yennier Cano has) got a demon sinker, it’s really good,” Vaughn said. “Just tried to go up there and make a good swing on a good pitch.” * Daily Southtown | Cook County program to fund infrastructure, projects throughout south suburbs: The Build Up Cook program “aims to extend a helping hand to municipalities most in need,” according to the county. The county identified 46 projects in 22 communities, primarily in the south and west suburbs, for funding. With a $30.5 million total budget from American Rescue Plan Act Funds, the county said construction on projects can begin immediately and is expected to be completed by the end of 2026. * Daily Herald | Accountability, education keys to stemming campus antisemitism, say suburban undergraduates: The Highland Park Democrat opened the forum defending a person’s right to speak freely “no matter how much I disagree … But when it crosses the line to intimidation, harassment, isolation, exclusion,” he said, the administration has an obligation to speak out. University of Michigan student Hannah Dalinka agreed. “People have a right to free speech, but a lot of what’s happening on our college campuses is beyond free speech.” * Crain’s | ‘Home Alone’ house for sale in Winnetka: This is only the second time the house has been on the market since the movie was shot in the late 1980s. It joins another North Shore home with a cinematic past that went up for sale in recent weeks. The Kenilworth house that appeared in the Steve Martin and John Candy movie “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” is on the market at just under $2.5 million. * News-Gazette | County board votes to censure Danos: After at least a month of discussion on the subject, the Champaign County Board has voted to censure county auditor George Danos for alleged failure to act as an “independent watchdog” of taxpayer funds and actions “unbecoming an elected official.” The Champaign County Board voted Thursday night to approve the censure resolution. * WIFR | Winnebago Co. Board considers area-wide license plate readers: On Thursday, the Winnebago County Board votes on a five-year agreement bringing license plate readers across the area. The expansion in law enforcement technology arrives as the city of Rockford, Loves Park and Machesney Park have used them for years. “We put that in, if it goes through one of these LPRs, it flags immediately real-time, immediately,” says Winnebago County Sheriff Gary Caruana. * QC | Mississippi River at Rock Island expected to exceed 13-foot action stage by Friday: Due to the recent heavy rains the Mississippi River at Lock and Dam 15, Rock Island, is expected to exceed its 13-foot action stage by next Friday, said Meteorologist Andy Ervin of the National Weather Service, Davenport. […] However, that forecast did not account for the observed rainfall that fell Friday, May 24, or the predicted rainfall that is expected to fall Saturday night into Sunday. An updated forecast will be available on Saturday. * WAND | I-57 SB near Pesotum reopens after crash that caused 4 deaths: Illinois State Police Troop 7 was on the scene around milepost 212 where a truck-tractor semi-trailer was traveling northbound and crossed the median into southbound traffic. At least four people have been confirmed dead and one has been seriously injured.
|
*** 2024 end of session cheat sheet ***
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Isabel Miller * FY25 Approp bill - SB251, SA1 * Bonding Authority - SB 3422, HA2 (House Third Reading) * Revenue omnibus - HB4951, SA2 (Senate Third Reading) * Hemp Consumer Products Act - HB4293 * Cannabis omnibus - HB2911 (Senate floor amendments filed) * Medical Debt Relief Act - HB5290 (Senate Third Reading) * Procurement omnibus - HB5511 * Worker Freedom of Speech Act - SB3649 * Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) - SB1289 * Medicaid Omnibus - SB3268, HFA2 * Tax incentives, credits - HB817 (Senate First Reading) * Repeals sub-minimum wage for persons with disabilities - HB793 * Prisoner Review Board reform - HB681 (Senate amendments filed) * Prevents hospital patient abuse - HB587 (Senate First Reading) * Family Amusement Wagering Prohibition Act - SB327, House Amendment 1 * Healthcare Protection Act - HB5395 * Short Term Insurance Ban - HB2499 * Birth equity - HB5142 * Election omnibus - HB4488
|
Budget deal eliminates grocery tax, reduces retailer sales tax discount
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Subscribers were told about this, and much more, yesterday morning. Tribune…
The locals will also receive tons of money from a variety of other sources. I really didn’t think Pritzker would actually achieve this. The tax will go away in January of 2026. * Subscribers were also told about this win. Sun-Times…
The retailers also received some concessions in exchange for the agreement. The elimination of processing fees on taxes has received big pushback (you may have caught an ad on here yesterday), but it’s part of the deal. Again, I’d have bet against the governor on that. Also, Sen. Castro’s re-renters tax will generate millions for local governments. And, as you saw yesterday, negotiators agreed to a graduated tax on sports betting companies.
|
Now-former DuPage County prosecutor charged with threatening legislators and gun reform groups
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * Sun-Times…
* Cundari’s Springfield PrideFest tweet was apparently in response to this post from Awake Illinois… ![]() ![]() The Illinois Freedom Caucus focused on Blue Cross, which Cundari also threatened, in its press release about PrideFest…
Not sayin’, just sayin’. But when you gin people up with that sort of heated language, there’s no telling what could happen.
|
Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - Today’s edition of Capitol Fax (use all CAPS in password)
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller
|
Live coverage
Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Posted by Rich Miller * You can click here or here to follow breaking news. It’s the best we can do unless or until Twitter gets its act together.
|
« NEWER POSTS | PREVIOUS POSTS » |