Prairie State Wire

Guilty plea but no bail revocation for driver in Cottrell's hit-and-run death

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 27, 2020

Jose Rodriguez, an illegal immigrant from Honduras, remains free on bail after pleading guilty to the hit-and-run death last June of 39-year-old Corey Cottrell of Normal, a father of two.

Automatic Voter Registration allows 'room for chaos and potential fraud,' House candidate Breen says

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 27, 2020

Illinois House candidate Peter Breen (R-Lombard) is not altogether shocked that the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) program overseen by the Secretary of State’s office is mired in controversy over mistakenly registering nearly 600 non-citizens.

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.

From Idaho Business Daily

Idaho ranks 2nd best in new economic outlook analysis

By Idaho Business Daily reports | 3 days ago

Idaho finished second in a study by the website Rich States, Poor States that examined the 50 states’ economic outlooks based on 15 weighted policy measures.

From Idaho Business Daily

Idaho ranks 29th best on corporate tax study

By Idaho Business Daily reports | 4 days ago

Idaho finished 29th in a study by the Tax Foundation examining how well states have structured their corporate income tax systems in 2020.

GOP lawmakers seek to suspend automatic voter registration until glitch is addressed

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 23, 2020

Illinois state Senate and House Republicans gathered at a press conference on Wednesday to discuss concerns with the state's automatic voter registration (AVR) program.

ILGOP Chairman Schneider demands action as non-citizens were registered to vote in 2018

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 23, 2020

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider is demanding that a state-run program that automatically registers voters be immediately suspended amid reports that non-citizens were certified and cast votes in 2018.

Property Tax Relief Task Force poised to miss another deadline

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 22, 2020

The Property Tax Relief Task Force, an 88-member legislative leviathan, missed one deadline for presenting its final recommendations for property tax relief in Illinois, and it’s about to miss another for putting those recommendations into action.

Harmon is named new Illinois Senate President

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 22, 2020

The Illinois Senate elected Sen. Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) as its next president after former Senate President John J. Cullerton resigned on Sunday.

Lobbying reform commission hears opinions from local officials

By Kyla Asbury | Jan 22, 2020

The Joint Commission on Ethics and Lobbying Reform recently spent several hours listening to officials from city, county and state agencies regarding the possibility of stricter restrictions on lobbying activity.

Illinois businesses await guidelines for new sexual harassment-training law

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 21, 2020

Employers in Illinois are anticipating an increase in lawsuits stemming from a new sexual harassment-training law, and three weeks into the new year they still await guidance from the state on how best to comply.

Democrats' plan 'is to continue to raise taxes' and make 'out like bandits,' claims candidate Breen

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 20, 2020

Illinois House candidate Peter Breen (R-Lombard) is hoping the important message behind the failure of a property tax relief task force appointed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker does not get lost in translation.

From McLean County Times

GOP members of property tax task force voice their frustrations

By Kyla Asbury | 9 days ago

Illinois state Rep. Dan Brady (R-Bloomington) told a press conference last week that House Republicans will continue to fight for property tax reform despite the failed efforts of the Property Tax Relief Task Force recently assembled by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

Illinois GOP calls on Senate President candidates to support fair maps

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 18, 2020

Illinois Republican Party officials are calling on Sens. Kim Lightford (D-Maywood) and Don Harmon (D-Oak Park), the two finalists for the position of next state Senate President, to publicly endorse fair maps.

From Idaho Business Daily

Idaho not among the 36 states with major tax changes in 2020

By Idaho Business Daily reports | 10 days ago

Idaho was not included in a new analysis from the Tax Foundation identifying 36 states that have major changes to their tax codes taking effect this year.

From Idaho Business Daily

Idaho job growth this year projected at 1.8%

By Idaho Business Daily reports | 11 days ago

Job growth in Idaho is expected to reach 1.8 percent by the end of 2020, down from the state's 2019 job growth of 2.5 percent, according to a new study by Kiplinger that assessed state economic outlooks.

Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady said to have voiced private support for abortion funding, gun control legislation

By W.J. Kennedy | Jan 17, 2020

Former high-level aides to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has revealed that Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) told the then governor he was right for signing HB 40 in September 2017, the law requiring Medicaid funding of abortions. At a separate meeting, Brady also recommended that the governor sign gun control bills should they reach his desk.

Rep. Casten is either 'presumptuous' or 'has trouble with the rules,' Ives says

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 17, 2020

Illinois congressional candidate Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) would like to know when her 2020 opponent in the 6th District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove), will finally stand up and take some accountability.

Health care policy expert issues warnings about pot legalization

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 15, 2020

With recreational marijuana use now legal across most of Illinois, one renowned health care policy expert says he hopes the state does not follow the path set by Colorado and other pot-legalization pioneers.

GOP Chairman: Who else knew about 'the rape in Champaign'?

By Glenn Minnis | Jan 15, 2020

Illinois Republican Party Chairman Tim Schneider believes that the sudden resignation of former state Sen. John Sullivan (D-Rushville) as Director of the Department of Agriculture in the wake of a controversial 2012 email by a longtime associate of Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) raises yet more questions while answering none.