Prairie State Wire

Prairie State Wire

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

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Politics

Rep. Skillicorn introduces fireworks bill aimed at helping merchants recoup gas tax losses

By Karen Kidd | Jul 30, 2019

Illinois state Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-Crystal Lake) is pushing a bill that would remove the state's restrictions on fireworks sales so that tax-burdened Illinois businesses will have a shot at the profits currently being earned by merchants in neighboring states.

From McHenry Times

McConchie seeks more clarity on wage-theft bill

By Kyla Asbury | 3 months ago

During a recent hearing before the Senate Executive Subcommittee on Special Issues, Illinois state Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) asked for more clarification on a bill that intends to protect construction employees from wage theft.

Politics

GOP chair Schneider wants answers from Speaker Madigan as probe reveals payments to former aide

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 26, 2019

Illinois GOP Chairman Tim Schneider is demanding answers from House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) in the wake of an ongoing criminal probe where several people with close ties to the longtime Democratic leader have already been implicated.

Politics

Pritzker condemns Kankakee County Democratic chairman's inflammatory social media post

By Robert Hadley | Jul 25, 2019

Kankakee County Democrats are keeping mum after Gov. J.B. Pritzker condemned a social media post comparing the red MAGA (Make America Great Again) hat worn by many supporters of President Donald Trump to a pointed Ku Klux Klan hat.

Politics

Illinois Christian Home Educators director fears repercussions of bill to add LGBT curricula

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 25, 2019

Illinois Christian Home Educators (ICHE) Executive Director Kirk Smith thinks the state government is at risk of doing more harm than good by pushing a plan to add lessons about gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people to public school curricula.

Politics

Onetime primary opponent says legal case against Madigan is strong, 2016 'fraud' will be revealed

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 25, 2019

Jason Gonzales insists that his legal stand against Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) is about much more than losing a 2016 Democratic primary at the hands of the Illinois House Speaker's powerful political machine.

From SW Illinois News

Sen. Rose, Charlie Daniels agree: Pritzker's decision on state fair's musical act hits a sour note

By Glenn Minnis | 3 months ago

Illinois state Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) fears that this year’s DuQuoin State Fair may come to be remembered for all the wrong reasons.

Politics

Institute for Illinois' Fiscal Sustainability: Pension buyout saved state a fraction of early projections

By Karen Kidd | Jul 24, 2019

The pension buyout plan that was supposed to save Illinois $445 million in fiscal 2019 did not come close to achieving its goal, a nonpartisan policy-analysis group recently announced.

Politics

GOP complains about Democratic references to KKK

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 23, 2019

A growing number of Republican supporters are crying foul over a recent post made to social media by Kankakee County Democrats comparing conservative voters to members of the Ku Klux Klan.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Ives to run in 6th District Republican primary

By Glenn Minnis | 3 months ago

For former Illinois state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton), her recent decision to run in 2020 against U.S. Rep. Sean Casten (D-Downers Grove) in the 6th Congressional District comes down to her love for America.

Politics

Shaky science behind Durbin, Casten and Foster positions on climate change, environmental expert says

By W.J. Kennedy | Jul 23, 2019

The positions of three Democratic members of Congress on climate change – including a proposal that the U.S. government sell climate bonds – are premised on faulty science, one climate expert says.

Politics

ISRA seeks court order to prohibit new law from requiring gun dealers to obtain state licenses

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 18, 2019

As part of its recently filed lawsuit challenging the legality of the state licensure law enacted by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, the Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) is also seeking a temporary restraining order that prohibits enforcement of Senate Bill 337, also know as the Gun Dealer Licensing Act.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Ives sets sights on GOP bid in 6th Congressional District

By Glenn Minnis | 3 months ago

Former state Rep. Jeanne Ives (R. Wheaton), who narrowly lost her bid to unseat then Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner in the GOP primary just over a year ago, is back in the political spotlight after announcing her run in the 6th Congressional District.

Politics

Despite upheaval, threats of closure, tax credit scholarship program earns top marks in first year

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 18, 2019

Juan Rangel knows what kind of impact the state’s tax credit scholarship (TCS) program can have on children and families.

Politics

Illinois State Rifle Association files suit over new law targeting federally licensed gun dealers

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 18, 2019

The Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) has filed a lawsuit challenging the legal validity of the state licensure measure that Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed off on in one of his early acts in office.

From Rock Island Today

Former Illinois Rep. Schilling to run in Iowa

By Glenn Minnis | 3 months ago

Former U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling (R-Colona), who left Illinois with his family nearly three years ago in part to escape the rising taxes, is now running for office in the Iowa's 2nd Congressional District.

Politics

Independent auto dealers association vows to fight Pritzker's new law capping trade-in tax credits

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 17, 2019

Scott Alpeter, executive director of the Illinois Independent Auto Dealers Association (IIADA), sees just one winner emerging from the enactment of a new state law that caps trade-in tax credits for most vehicles in Illinois at $10,000.

Politics

'Dirty tricks' alleged in 2016 primary were not illegal, Team Madigan claims in Speaker's defense

By Karen Kidd | Jul 16, 2019

Even if Illinois state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) used "dirty tricks" to fend off 2016 primary challenger Jason Gonzales, the strategy allegedly employed was not illegal, according to a re​cent court filing.

Politics

Gun owners win a round in California court as ISRA braces members for continued fight for rights

By Glenn Minnis | Jul 16, 2019

Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) Executive Director Richard A. Pearson did not hold back his enthusiasm in a recent bulletin he sent to members celebrating a victory for the Second Amendment as the result of a California court case.

Politics

Former Democratic senators demand higher salaries for Illinois legislators in lawsuit

By Colin Froment | Jul 16, 2019

Former Illinois Sens. Michael Noland (D-Elgin) and James Clayborne (D-East St. Louis) filed a lawsuit against the state which, if successful, will increase state lawmakers’ salaries to more than $81,000 by 2020 to rank Illinois' legislative salaries as the nation’s fourth-highest.