Prairie State Wire

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | Oct 8, 2019

The Land of Lincoln is suffering a number of financial woes, fueled in large part by unfunded pension liabilities, but neither Illinois nor any other state should expect a bailout from Uncle Sam, according to a resolution introduced into the senate last summer.

Rep. Skillicorn introduces fireworks bill aimed at helping merchants recoup gas tax losses

By Karen Kidd | Jul 30, 2019

Illinois state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake) is pushing a bill that would remove the state's restrictions on fireworks sales so that tax-burdened Illinois businesses will have a shot at the profits currently being earned by merchants in neighboring states.

Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability: Pension buyout saved state a fraction of early projections

By Karen Kidd | Jul 24, 2019

The pension buyout plan that was supposed to save Illinois $445 million in fiscal 2019 did not come close to achieving its goal, a nonpartisan policy-analysis group recently announced.

'Dirty tricks' alleged in 2016 primary were not illegal, Team Madigan claims in Speaker's defense

By Karen Kidd | Jul 16, 2019

Even if Illinois state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) used "dirty tricks" to fend off 2016 primary challenger Jason Gonzales, the strategy allegedly employed was not illegal, according to a re​cent court filing.

Late CAFR gives Illinois' bond buyers pause, causes speculation, Wirepoints founder says

By Karen Kidd | Jul 16, 2019

Illinois' tardy fiscal 2018 comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) has to be making would-be state bond investors thinking again, according to the founder of an online news outlet.

From West Central Reporter

Rep. Hammond renews call for fair maps, supports petition to end gerrymandering

By Karen Kidd | 7 months ago

A Republican Illinois House representative from the 93rd District earlier this week renewed her call for fair maps and pushed support for an independent map-drawing petition following a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear gerrymander cases.

New subsidies for U of I in 2020 budget won't make college more affordable, according to IPI report

By Karen Kidd | Jun 6, 2019

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign will be getting more in subsidies in the state's 2020 fiscal budget. However, a report from the nonpartisan Chicago-based think tank the Illinois Policy Institute from about two years ago shows that universities in Illinois should lower their tuition rates rather than continue to fund already inflated costs with tax dollars.

IPI finance expert says the bottom line of state's new budget is 'more money from taxpayers'

By Karen Kidd | Jun 3, 2019

The $40-billion budget that passed the state House and Senate during last weekend's overtime session in Springfield has a few head-scratching details, such as lawmaker pay raises, but a fiscal expert with a Chicago-based nonpartisan think tank said there is at least one aspect of the legislature that every Illinoisan can take to the bank: Taxpayers will pay . . . and pay . . . and pay some more.

Graduated income tax proposal: How does the vote work?

By Karen Kidd | May 28, 2019

Illinois voters who cast ballots in the 2020 General Election but elect not to fill whether the state should have a graduated income tax could be just as critical to passage - or not - of the controversial measure, according to information on a data driven website.

Pritzker quiet about Madigan's Memorial-Day-weekend surprise pushing graduated tax bill onto House floor

By Karen Kidd | May 25, 2019

Illinois' powerful and longtime state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) apparently pulled a Friday-before-Memorial-Day surprise to push legislation for Gov. J.B. Pritzker's so-called "fair tax" out of committee and onto the House Floor.

Surge of pro-life support shows awareness that abortion bills are 'anti-woman,' ICE-PAC says

By Karen Kidd | May 22, 2019

Thousands of signatures from Illinoisans opposed to a pair of controversial abortion bills are the result of more women understanding that the so-called "right" to terminate pregnancies is not good for them, according to one prominent pro-life advocate.

Fate of bills in GA's final days of regular session rests with Madigan, Will County GOP says

By Karen Kidd | May 21, 2019

As Illinois state General Assembly enters the final, hectic days of the current session, what gets done will depend on the whim of longtime, powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), according to a Will County Republican statement.

Property tax freeze 'a lame, transparent and phony attempt' to hoodwink Illinoisans, Glennon says

By Karen Kidd | May 6, 2019

A tax package passed by the Illinois state Senate last week to push Gov. J.B. Pritzker's revenue-raising agenda includes a property-tax freeze and other "gimmicks" that are not what they seem, the founder of an online news outlet said during a recent interview.

College Illinois' expected half-billion dollar taxpayer bailout imminent but no surprise, Wirepoints founder says

By Karen Kidd | Mar 27, 2019

The College Illinois prepaid tuition program is barreling toward a state taxpayer bailout and that should surprise no one, the founder of an online news outlet said during a recent interview.

Pritzker's proposed tax on MCOs would hurt Illinois, Conservative tax expert says

By Karen Kidd | Mar 8, 2019

Health care premiums and costs will go up if Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's idea to slap a tax on Managed Care Organizations (MCOs) sees the light of day, a tax expert with a Chicago-based Conservative think tank said during a recent interview.

IEPA orders shutdown of Sterigenics' Willowbrook facility

By Karen Kidd | Feb 16, 2019

Months after area protesters called for the closure of Sterigenics' Willowbrook facility over allegedly elevated ethylene oxide emissions, an Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) official earlier today ordered the facility shut down.

Illinois Right to Life director says Pritzker wants to shore up abortion laws in case Roe v. Wade is overturned

By Karen Kidd | Feb 15, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker appears to be making good on his vow to make Illinois "the most progressive state" for abortion with legislation aimed at bringing New York-style abortion laws to Illinois, a pro-life advocate said during a recent interview.

Illinois Chamber of Commerce president opposes health claim tax

By Karen Kidd | Feb 15, 2019

Legislation in the Illinois House to impose a 1 percent assessment on health insurance claims probably will not pass, and it should not, an Illinois Chamber of Commerce official said during a recent interview.

GOP denies Pritzker's claim of bipartisan support for minimum wage hike

By Karen Kidd | Feb 15, 2019

The Illinois Republican Party is calling out Gov. J.B. Pritzker on his claim that he compromised with GOP lawmakers to raise the state's minimum wage, a claim the GOP said this week is not true.

'Illinois is already the abortion capital of the Midwest,' Pro-Life advocate says

By Karen Kidd | Feb 14, 2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker and his Democratic party allies in the General Assembly are making good on a vow to make Illinois "the most progressive state" for abortion with legislation to remove all vestiges of regulation, a pro-life advocate said during a recent interview.