Democrats: Opponents should ‘put votes behind’ specific graduated tax counterproposals Democrats: Opponents should ‘put votes behind’ specific graduated tax counterproposals Thursday, March 28, 2019 High-ranking Illinois Democrats gave support to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s proposed income tax overhaul Thursday, calling on opponents of the plan to offer specific alternatives to balancing the state’s long-term budget deficit. Mirroring fellow Democrat Pritzker’s rhetoric, the group framed the $3.2 billion structural deficit issue as having three solutions: 15 percent across-the-board cuts to all state budgets and programs, including education; a 20 percent income tax increase on every Illinoisan; or the graduated tax which they say lowers the tax rate for 97 percent of...
Graduated tax opposition targets four House Democrats in ad campaign Graduated tax opposition targets four House Democrats in ad campaign Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Less than a week after a group tied to Gov. J.B. Pritzker launched television advertising in favor of the governor’s marquee graduated tax proposal, another dark money group launched a campaign aimed at persuading a group of Democratic legislators to oppose the measure. Ideas Illinois is calling on four Democrats in the House to oppose “the Pritzker-Madigan Jobs Tax on middle...
Budget analysts: Evidence-based school funding model working, needs more funding Budget analysts: Evidence-based school funding model working, needs more funding Wednesday, March 27, 2019 Illinois’ new evidence-based school funding model is effectively driving added funding to the state’s neediest school districts, but the state must double its annual added investment... Read more
Three energy bills pass committee; could be packaged together by end of session Three energy bills pass committee; could be packaged together by end of session Tuesday, March 26, 2019 The state’s various energy industries all had their say at a pair of House committee hearings Tuesday in which three widely discussed energy bills advanced with their sponsors promising... Read more
Proposed amendment would require two-thirds vote on new taxes in Illinois Proposed amendment would require two-thirds vote on new taxes in Illinois Tuesday, March 26, 2019 As the Democratic-controlled state Legislature mulls a constitutional amendment to change the state’s income tax structure, Republicans in the Illinois Senate are touting a plan to require a... Read more
Audit details delays, mishandling of Legionnaires’ disease response from Rauner administration Audit details delays, mishandling of Legionnaires’ disease response from Rauner administration Monday, March 25, 2019 Illinois’ auditor general detailed delays, mishandling and poor communication from former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration in its response to a deadly Legionnaires’ disease... Read more
House committee advances bill to ban for-profit immigrant detention centers House committee advances bill to ban for-profit immigrant detention centers Friday, March 22, 2019 A bill banning for-profit prisons in the state, including immigrant detention centers, advanced out of committee at the Illinois Capitol this week. State Rep. Kelly Cassidy, a Chicago Democrat,... Read more
Environment and conservation briefs: Lead pipes, coal ash, state park fees Environment and conservation briefs: Lead pipes, coal ash, state park fees Thursday, March 21, 2019 Briefs from Senate Environment Conservation Committee and other Capitol happenings: Lead in school drinking water, coal ash, Starved Rock State Park parking fees. Read more