Prairie State Wire

BGA’s Shaw: Local government consolidation would save tax money, improve lives

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 18, 2017

Better Government Association (BGA) President and CEO Andy Shaw is hopeful the tide is finally turning against Illinois’ many and overlapping units of government, according to a recent opinion piece published on the group’s website.

Illinois Policy Institute CEO highlights group's work in 2017

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 18, 2017

Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman recently reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to uprooting the state’s current political system in a message to supporters highlighting the organization’s work over the past year.

GOP lawmakers heading to court to block bill that funds abortions

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 18, 2017

Rep. Peter Breen (R-Lombard) and several other Republican lawmakers and anti-abortion organizations will argue against the implementation of House Bill 40, which increases public funding for abortions, in court on Dec. 28, according to a report from Illinois News Network.

This week in Illinois History: Dec. 18-24

By Robert Hadley | Dec 18, 2017

SCOTUS judge, toy industry pioneer and famed hoops coach among famous citizens with ties to holiday week

This week in Illinois History: Jan. 1-7

By S. Laney Griffo | Dec 17, 2017

Here are some of the biggest events in Illinois history during the first week of the new year.

State partners with Pepsi to design bicentennial soft drink can

By Robert Hadley | Dec 17, 2017

As part of the yearlong celebration of Illinois’ bicentennial, the state has partnered with Pepsi MidAmerica to release a limited edition soft drink can commemorating the state’s birthday.

Rauner joins farmers in Carmi to talk about industry advances, concerns

By Robert Hadley | Dec 17, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner visited Big Prairie Farms in southeastern Illinois to hear from the state’s farmers about industry concerns, including how public policy impacts their business, according to a recent press release from the governor’s office.

Ives: 'Rauner is not in charge in Springfield'

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 17, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) marked the one-year anniversary of Gov. Bruce Rauner signing the Future Energy Jobs Act by again slamming his wisdom in inking the bill into law.

Ives outscores Rauner in tax group's policy survey

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 16, 2017

A Chicago-based taxpayer group has given incumbent Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner unprecedented high marks for his tax policies. His challenger in the primary, Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), scored even higher.

Protecting immigrants in Illinois illegally is costly, group finds

By W.J. Kennedy | Dec 16, 2017

In 2011, Brian McCann’s brother, Dennis, was struck and killed crossing Kedzie Avenue by an immigrant here illegally driving with a 0.29 blood alcohol content. The driver made bail, fled the country and was never prosecuted.

From Chicago City Wire

Ives calls report on deaths at veterans home 'sickening'

By Glenn Minnis | 6 years ago

State Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) is speaking out in the wake of a WBEZ report, "Surviving the War, But Not the Veterans Home," that uncovered that at least 13 residents of a west central Illinois veterans home have died from Legionnaires’ disease over the last two years.

Illinois GOP calls Madigan-Pritzker alliance a 'corrupt scheme'

By C. M. Schmidlkofer | Dec 14, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party has called collaboration between gubernatorial hopeful J.B. Pritzker and established political powerhouse Michael Madigan aimed at securing the Democratic primary – and ultimately governorship of the state – nothing more than a “corrupt scheme.”

Ives heads to Morgan County for meet and greet

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 14, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) will be on hand for a meet and greet in Morgan County on Thursday, when she will speak with supporters about her 2018 Republican primary run against Gov. Bruce Rauner.

White House sides with Rauner in union fight

By Robert Hadley | Dec 13, 2017

A 40-year-old policy requiring nonmembers of government employee unions to pay union agency fees may come to an end, as a lawsuit Gov. Bruce Rauner filed challenging the rule heads to the Supreme Court with the Trump administration's blessing.

Illinois GOP slams Berrios, Madigan for 'shameful practices' regarding assessments

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 13, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party slammed Cook County Assessor Joe Berrios and House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) for the county’s property tax assessment system following a recent Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois report exposing its problems.

Election board lottery puts Pritzker in top spot on Democratic primary ballot

By Angela Underwood | Dec 13, 2017

The Illinois State Board of Elections (IBOE) held its lottery Wednesday to determine ballot position for the March 20 primary for candidates who submitted petitions simultaneously on Nov. 27, the first day of filing. Based on the lottery results, J.B. Pritzker will be the first gubernatorial candidate listed on the Democratic ballot.

State's vendor debt inches lower to $9 billion mark

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 13, 2017

Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt fell slightly during the week ending Dec. 13, registering at $9,028,856,171.59, the state comptroller’s office reported.

From Chicago City Wire

Ives running mate says Rauner sold state 'a bill of goods'

By Glenn Minnis | 6 years ago

Rich Morthland, who was tapped by Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) to be her running mate in her bid to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner, said Ives is starting to elevate Illinois by doing some of the things Rauner promised, but never saw fit to follow through on.

Ives slams Rauner during appearance on southern Illinois radio show

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 12, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), who is vying for the Republican nomination for governor, recently criticized Gov. Bruce Rauner’s performance and vowed to focus on Illinois’ fiscal situation if elected during an appearance on southern Illinois' Newsradio WJPF with Tom Miller.

Dodge says he hopes for immigration reform at federal level

By Glenn Minnis | Dec 12, 2017

Jim Dodge would like to see every branch of government pitted in the job its best outfitted for when it comes to the growing debate over “sanctuary states” and immigration policy.