Prairie State Wire

Questionable campaign funds cloud Grasso bid for attorney general

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 28, 2017

Gary Grasso’s run to become Illinois' attorney general is sparking unwanted attention over sizable campaign contributions he took from foreign governments and potential ties to reputed members of the mob.

After Legionnaires’ outbreak kills 13 in state-run veterans home, Rauner tries to deflect responsibility

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 28, 2017

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) expressed outrage over a Dec. 20 WBEZ report that said state officials wanted to wait nearly a week before making the public aware of an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease at the Illinois Veterans Home in Quincy.

Illinois vendor debt falls to $9.29 billion as year draws to a close

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 28, 2017

Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt dipped to $9,293,287,365.33 as of Dec. 27, according to the state comptroller's office, continuing a trend that has seen the state’s unpaid debt holding under $10 billion ever since Gov. Bruce Rauner moved to issue $6 billion worth of general obligation bonds to use toward Illinois’ then record-setting burden of nearly $17 billion.

This Week in Illinois History: Jan. 15-21

By Robert Hadley | Dec 28, 2017

Chicago's first railroad, birth of Emmy-winning actress and first African-American First Lady

Little noticed 'racial bias' teacher training law seen as another unfunded mandate

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 27, 2017

Back in June, Gov. Bruce Rauner signed legislation, with no fanfare, that requires “implicit racial bias” training for public school teachers during in-service days.

Census projections put one Illinois congressional seat in jeopardy

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 27, 2017

Illinois could lose a seat in Congress based on the latest Census Bureau population estimates for the year 2017.

State's rollback on business fees hailed as pro-growth move

By Robert Hadley | Dec 27, 2017

In a move Gov. Bruce Rauner claims will ease the regulatory burden on small businesses, he approved a bill on Dec. 20 that reduces the fees limited liability companies (LLCs) must pay to conduct business in the state.

Ives outlines 'Benedict Rauner’s' top 10 betrayals

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 26, 2017

Jeanne Ives argues there’s really only one conclusion voters can derive from all of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s genuflecting. In a recent release, she offers up a list of what she calls Rauner's top 10 betrayals of 2017.

This week in Illinois History: Dec. 25-31

By S. Laney Griffo | Dec 25, 2017

This week in Illinois History: Dec. 25-31

Illinois job growth stalls in November

By Tim Omarzu | Dec 24, 2017

November unemployment rate holds steady after October jump in new jobs

Dodge: 'If Illinois is to have the future we deserve, we must elect more Republicans'

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 23, 2017

Republican state treasurer candidate Jim Dodge thinks the answer to the question of how Illinois comes to deal with the problem of its shrinking population and rising tax burden is simple.

New ethics inspector set to investigate only 10 of 27 backlogged complaints

By Robert Hadley | Dec 22, 2017

Approximately a month after assuming her role, Special Legislative Inspector General (LIG) Julie Porter said only about a third of the nearly 30 ethics complaints she inherited are worthy of investigation, according to a Dec. 20 memo from the Legislative Ethics Commission.

Ives proposes constitutional amendment to address pension reform

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 22, 2017

State Rep. Jeanne Ives is calling for a constitutional amendment to help deal with Illinois’ spiraling pension reform crisis.

Helland critical of incumbent secretary of state’s endorsement of Berrios

By Robert Hadley | Dec 22, 2017

Despite corruption accusations against Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios, current Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White has nonetheless endorsed him, raising concerns with Republican Jason Helland, his opponent in next year's race.

Illinois vendor debt inches up, continues to hover at $9.7 billion

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 21, 2017

The state of Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt trickled upward to $9,750,610,362.34 as of Dec. 20, marking the third straight week the amount has hovered around that level, according to the state comptroller’s office.

Gubernatorial Candidate Jeanne Ives interviewed by ECWd

By LGIS News Service | Dec 20, 2017

Gubernatorial Candidate Jeanne Ives interviewed by ECWd

Ives steps up call for state pension reforms

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 19, 2017

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) intensified her push for pension reform during a press conference Tuesday in Chicago where she made what she called a “transformational policy announcement.”

Watchdogs: Property assessors in 36 counties not qualified to hold office

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 19, 2017

Fifty-five property assessors in 36 counties are unqualified for office or did not properly file their paperwork to run for office, according to a recent report from the Edgar County Watchdogs.

From Chicago City Wire

Ives says Illinois taxpayer flight a result of Rauner's broken promises

By Glenn Minnis | 7 years ago

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is pointing to a recent Wall Street Journal article that Gov. Bruce Rauner's betrayal of taxpayers on fiscal issues.

Rauner’s “betrayal” could be costing him endorsements from Illinois congressmen

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 18, 2017

The backlash to what state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) calls Gov. Bruce Rauner’s "betrayal" of conservative and traditional Republicans is showing itself through a series of high-profile non-endorsements for his re-election and weak attendance at some of his fundraisers.