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Prairie State Wire

Friday, November 22, 2024

News from October 2017

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Illinois still waiting on IMPACT when it comes to Medicaid management

By John Severance | Oct 22, 2017

There's no end in sight for the 30 years of frustration for Illinois in regards to an upgrade of its Medicaid Management Information (MMI) system, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).

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'Illinois economy continues to sputter' as state loses nearly 11,000 jobs in September

By Brent Zell | Oct 22, 2017

Illinois' unemployment rate remained at 5 percent in September despite the state losing nearly 11,000 non-farm jobs, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) reported recently.

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Even Democrats appear angry at Pritzker, Kennedy over tax returns

By Brent Zell | Oct 22, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party is asking when two Democratic gubernatorial candidates will release their tax returns after they pledged to do so.

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The math doesn't add up, group contends, as Chicago schools lose students but gain funding

By Michael McGrady | Oct 20, 2017

Illinois' largest school district stands to benefit even more than it probably had hoped thanks to the education funding formula passed recently, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

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Chicago, Rauner go shopping for Amazon's new headquarters

By Sean Fowler | Oct 19, 2017

Chicago's broad shoulders are ideal for carrying Amazon's new headquarters, Gov. Bruce Rauner said recently, according to a press release.

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Illinois issues first $1.5 billion of anticipated $6 billion in bonds to cut debt

By Sean Fowler | Oct 19, 2017

Illinois took the first steps toward getting rid of half of its $15 billion debt by issuing $1.5 billion in bonds on Tuesday, ahead of a plan to sell $4.5 billion more next week, according to a press release.

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Mock petition puts Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls on Madigan ticket

By Claudia Balthazar | Oct 18, 2017

The Illinois Republican Party is "circulating" a parody petition for the top three Democratic candidates for governor, labeling them as part of “The Tax Hike Team" working under the tutelage of House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago).

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Illinois vendor debt climbs back toward $16 billion

By Michael McGrady | Oct 18, 2017

Illinois’ unpaid vendor debt has increased slightly since early October, ticking back up to near the $16 billion peak of September, according to the Illinois’s comptroller’s website.

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Rauner never wavered on pro-choice stance, study determines

By Robert Hadley | Oct 18, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner angered much of his base by turning Illinois into the first state to force taxpayers to fund abortions, but he never lied about his pro-choice stance, according to a fact-check by the Better Government Association (BGA) and PolitiFact Illinois.

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GOP tosses some mud at Madigan's first Facebook presence

By Sean Fowler | Oct 18, 2017

Internet users easily saw through House Speaker Michael Madigan's (D-Chicago) Facebook debut recently, despite his attempts to portray himself as caring for children and the elderly, according to a press release from the Illinois Republican Party.

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Amazon-type 'sweetheart deals' often lead to kissing cash goodbye, group contends

By Robert Hadley | Oct 17, 2017

Amazon’s recent announcement that it was searching for a new headquarters got interested cities across the country scrambling to put together incentives to lure the retail giant, according to Leanna Garfield’s article in Business Insider.

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Pritzker ties to Blagojevich raise pay-to-play questions, GOP says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Oct 17, 2017

Billionaire J.B. Pritzker and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s had a "pay-to-play” relationship exemplified in a recent newspaper article, the Illinois Republican Party said in a press release.

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Policy institute worries that $1.5 billion bond issue could backfire on Illinois

By Michael McGrady | Oct 16, 2017

Illinois continues to teeter on the brink of junk bond status, with an expected $1.5 billion bond issue possibly pulling it over the edge one way or the other, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

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Rauner predicts worker rights win at nation's highest court

By Claudia Balthazar | Oct 16, 2017

Rauner predicts worker rights win at nation's highest court

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High cost, unclear future seen in Rauner plan to give low-income students private education

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 16, 2017

Illinois has implemented a tax scholarship school plan that utilizes state resources to underwrite private school enrollment in the hope of saving the cash-strapped state money over the long haul.

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Illinois revenue director earns Tax Foundation honor

By Nathan Davis | Oct 16, 2017

Connie Beard's efforts in streamlining Illinois' tax policies have earned her an honor from the Tax Foundation, a Washington-based non-profit organization, according to a press release.

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Ives cites Harold as next female leader in waiting

By Glenn Minnis | Oct 16, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) takes exception with Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich’s recent assertion that the state is suddenly devoid of female leaders in government with the imminent retirements of Lisa Madigan and Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie (D-Chicago) and the departure of Sen. Christine Radogno (R-Lemont).

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Chicago Catholic school rejects notion of hiding its identity

By Angela Underwood | Oct 15, 2017

A Catholic high school in Chicago will not remove religious icons from the premises to push higher enrollment the way a California school has done.

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Dems push Pritzker on Madigan backing, say mum won't cut it

By Robert Hadley | Oct 15, 2017

Democratic candidate for governor J.B. Pritzker refused to confirm whether House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) was backing his candidacy during a meeting last week of the Illinois Democratic County Chairmen’s Association, according to a press release from the Illinois Republican Party.

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GOP: Democratic County Chair group falls in line for Madigan, endorses Pritzker

By Robert Hadley | Oct 15, 2017

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) continues collecting endorsements for J.B. Pritzker, his gubernatorial pick, according to the Illinois Republican Party.