Prairie State Wire

Jerry Nimmons, Illinois public service administrator, supports Gov. Pritzker's progressive tax rate efforts

By Kyla Asbury | Apr 9, 2020

Jerry Lee Nimmons, the public service administrator of the Illinois Department of Transportation, who stands to benefit from a tax increase, supports Gov. Pritzker's progressive tax rate efforts.

House Republicans ask for FOID card system changes in press conference

By Kyla Asbury | Apr 9, 2020

Several House Republicans held a press conference asking for changes to the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card program.

Pritzker withholding COVID-19 hospitalization numbers, Wirepoints says

By Kyla Asbury | Apr 3, 2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has not yet released the number of Illinois residents hospitalized from the coronavirus, Wirepoints Founder Mark Glennon wrote.

Illinois House Republicans, weary of Democrat task forces, call for property tax relief

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 31, 2020

Several House Republicans held a press conference to criticize task forces and stress the importance of property tax relief for Illinoisans.

Butler and Bourne urge suspension of automatic voter registration

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 17, 2020

Two House representatives held a press conference last week discussing automatic voter registration (AVR), urging the rest of the House to suspend AVR until issues can be worked out.

Republican lawmakers disappointed in governor's budget proposal

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 4, 2020

Illinois Republicans were disappointed after hearing Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal last week

Durkin calls for a bipartisan effort to balance the state's budget

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 3, 2020

House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) held a press conference recently to push for negotiations toward a balanced budget for Illinois next year.

From Peoria Standard

Rep. Butler calls for transparency at AVR oversight hearing

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

Illinois state Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield) told a panel of state agencies that transparency, full cooperation and a sense of urgency were key to fixing a recently reported issue with the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) system that allowed 574 non-citizens to be registered to vote in 2018.

From Kane County Reporter

Rep. Wheeler asks about testing during hearing about AVR errors

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

Illinois state Rep. Keith Wheeler (R-Oswego) told a panel of state agencies during a House Executive Committee hearing that he appreciated how they addressed a recent error that allowed 574 ineligible residents to be registered to vote through the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) program.

From Illinois Valley Times

Rep. Spain commends Secretary of State's Office for addressing AVR issues

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

Illinois state Rep. Ryan Spain (R-Peoria) told a panel of state officials during a House Executive Committee hearing on the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) that he believed they were headed toward correcting the recent issues that have allowed hundreds of ineligible voters to become automatically registered.

House hears testimony from panel about automatic-voting issues

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 16, 2020

The Illinois House Executive Committee recently heard testimony from two organizations during a hearing about the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) program, which is currently under fire for a series of glitches that have resulted in hundreds of non-citizens and underage individuals being put into the system.

From Rockford Sun

Rep. Sosnowski questions elections board about AVR mishaps

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

Illinois House Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) had some questions for the Illinois State Board of Elections (BOE) during a recent House Executive Committee hearing regarding a series of recently disclosed glitches in the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) program.

Bipartisan group of lawmakers, fair-mapping advocates speak out against gerrymandering

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 15, 2020

A bipartisan group of legislators and policy watchdogs met Thursday to discuss their commitment to bringing fair district mapping to state and local politics throughout Illinois.

Lawmakers hear testimony from current, former LIGs

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 11, 2020

The Senate House Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform heard testimony from Illinois Legislative Inspector General (LIG) Carol Pope and two former LIGs about what changes can be made to better assist the office in its role of upholding ethical standards in state government.

Ethics policy directors push for an independent LIG, transparency

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 11, 2020

The Senate House Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform listened to testimony from several directors of policy about how to aid the legislative inspector general (LIG) in upholding ethical standards in state government.

Republican leaders would have liked more from Pritzker's speech, but will run with 'spirit of collaboration'

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 1, 2020

While House and Senate Republicans were critical of many aspects of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's State of the State address on Wednesday, most remain hopeful that he was sincere about bringing about a spirit of bipartisan collaboration.

From Kankakee Times

Pritzker's State of the State failed to address most pressing issues, Sen. Barickman says

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) wants fair maps to be a focus for this year's legislative agenda, but was disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not discuss the idea during his State of the State address on Wednesday.

Ethics commission hears testimony on transparency, lobbying and 'bullying'

By Kyla Asbury | Feb 1, 2020

The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform heard testimony on Thursday about how to end political corruption in Illinois.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Republicans want House to focus on tax reform, ethics and fair maps in 2020

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

House Republicans in Illinois want to focus on ethics, tax reform and fair maps during the 2020 legislative session.

One former Chicagoan glad to be rid of the cold, Democrats, RINOs and taxes

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 26, 2020

A conservative former Chicagoan believes taxes, among other things, have ruined the city she once called home.