CAPITOL BRIEFS: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 CAPITOL BRIEFS: Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019 Thursday, January 31, 2019 Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is imploring the General Assembly to be realistic with revenue projections this year to avoid adding to the state’s backlog of unpaid bills. A compromise budget passed last year was hailed as balanced by many lawmakers, but will actually add $1.5 billion to $2 billion to the state’s backlog, which was estimated about $7.3 billion as of Thursday.
Illinois can follow other states’ lead to $15 minimum hourly wage Illinois can follow other states’ lead to $15 minimum hourly wage Thursday, January 31, 2019 As it considers raising its minimum wage to $15 an hour, Illinois has a few examples to follow. Three states and Washington, D.C., have approved the significant jump to $15 an hour. And each of those states has done it differently.
Windhorst vows to work for southern Illinois, conservative principles in Springfield Windhorst vows to work for southern Illinois, conservative principles in Springfield Thursday, January 31, 2019 When newly-elected state Rep. Patrick Windhorst sat down for an interview on Tuesday, Jan. 29, he and other House Republicans had already lost their first legislative skirmish. It was an attempt... Read more
Rep. Tom Weber optimistic as 101st General Assembly begins Rep. Tom Weber optimistic as 101st General Assembly begins Thursday, January 31, 2019 On his first business day in the Illinois Statehouse, newly-elected Rep. Tom Weber settled into his new office, a jar of homemade beef jerky on his desk, and smiled with a cautious sense of... Read more
Lawmaker wants panel to help state agencies spend wisely Lawmaker wants panel to help state agencies spend wisely Wednesday, January 30, 2019 A Woodstock representative wants a private-sector commission to examine the spending habits and management practices of state agencies. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have discussed... Read more
Senate Labor Committee discusses path to $15 minimum wage Senate Labor Committee discusses path to $15 minimum wage Wednesday, January 30, 2019 Divisions between business and labor interests were on display Wednesday at the Illinois Senate Labor Committee’s hearing on raising the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 to $15 per hour... Read more
Bristow ready to be more vocal in Statehouse Bristow ready to be more vocal in Statehouse Wednesday, January 30, 2019 One of the first lessons state Rep. Monica Bristow learned about her job was to keep answers short, and be careful about saying too much. Bristow (D-Godfrey), appointed in December 2017 to... Read more
Already tested, Wilcox begins first elected term in Senate Already tested, Wilcox begins first elected term in Senate Wednesday, January 30, 2019 Newly-elected state Sen. Craig Wilcox (R-McHenry) already has a slight leg up on his other freshman colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly. That’s because he has already seen... Read more