THE iLLINOIS OBSERVER
Illinois Budget
Greg Harris: “Illinois Budget Choices Before Us Are Dire”
Editor’s Note: State Rep. Greg Harris (D-Chicago) is the Chairman of the Illinois House Human Services Committee and a member of the House Appropriations Public Safety Committee. By Greg Harris Last week, the Illinois House voted to pass House Joint Resolution 69 and House Resolution 706, which are the House proposals to divvy up available … Continue reading
What Are the Prospects for Illinois Strip Club Tax Pushed by Senator Toi Hutchinson?
(Springfield, IL) – February 19, 2012. Legislation has been filed in the Illinois legislature placing a $5 tax on each person that enters an Illinois strip club, raising the question: what are the bill’s prospects in Springfield? Continue reading
Illinois-Backed Disabled Children Housing Closes; Gov. Pat Quinn Announces New Illinois-Backed Disabled Housing Program
(Chicago, IL) – December 19, 2011. Here’s an example Illinois state government dysfunction at its worst. Continue reading
Video: Next Year’s Illinois Budget Faces Turbulence, Says Top House Budget Lawmaker
(Chicago, IL) – December 16, 2011. The chair of a key Illinois House budget panel this week warned that next year’s state budget will be as “challenging” as the one lawmakers crafted earlier this year. “Next year’s budget is going to be as much of a challenge as last year’s,” said State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz … Continue reading
Illinois “Budgeting for Results” Initiative Praised, Panned
(Chicago, IL) — November 2, 2011. The Illinois Budgeting for Results Commission today issued their first report to Governor Pat Quinn and the state legislature detailing their recommendations on how to restore state’s fiscal health, bringing praise from Quinn and ridicule from some state vendors. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn’s Veto Pen Slashes $376 Million from Illinois Budget
(Chicago, IL) — June 30, 2011: 8:00 p.m. With no public fanfare, Governor Pat Quinn today signed the fiscal year 2012 Illinois budget while vetoing $376 million from the budget sent to him by the legislature. Quinn issued the following statement: “Line by line, I have carefully examined the budget passed by the General Assembly … Continue reading
$30 Million “Mistake” Could End Mental Health Care for Thousands of Illinois Residents without Illinois Senate Action
(Springfield, IL) – June 18, 2011. A $30 million clerical “mistake” could end mental health care for tens of thousands of Illinois residents with legislative action by the Illinois Senate next week. Continue reading
Rep. Sara Feigenholtz Slams State Budget Decision to Restrict HIV/AIDS Drugs Access
(Chicago, IL) — April 18, 2011. The Illinois Department of Public Health announced its plans last week to restrict access to the AIDS Drug Assistance Program to new applicants with incomes at or below 300% of the federal poverty level versus the current 500% limit, drawing opposition from top HIV/AIDS activists and an angry reaction from a top Illinois House Democrat. Continue reading
Senator Matt Murphy Favors Illinois Budget Deal Pushed into Summer Overtime
(Springfield, IL) — April 11, 2011. Though Illinois Senate Republicans are taking steps to work with Senate Democrats on the fiscal year 2012 Illinois budget, the GOP’s budget point person would however like to see the Illinois General Assembly fail to reach an agreement on time with Governor Pat Quinn, forcing the legislature into a summer overtime session. Continue reading
Speaker Michael Madigan Says House Budget Revenue Projection Would Prevail over Senate’s
(Springfield, IL) — March 31, 2011. A budgetary battle could be brewing in the state Capitol, but not necessarily between Republicans and Democrats. Continue reading
Rep. Michelle Mussman Spearheads Bi-Partisan Effort to Cut Lawmaker Salaries 10%, Abolish Raises
(Springfield, IL) — March 30, 2011. A bi-partisan group of Illinois House lawmakers are pushing a legislative effort to permanently cut legislative salaries by 10% and deny legislators any future raises. Continue reading
Senator Matter Hunter Criticizes Illinois Human Service Budget Cuts by Gov. Pat Quinn
(Chicago, IL) — March 30, 2011. In an op-ed published yesterday, State Senator Mattie Hunter (D-Chicago) criticized Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed cuts to the Illinois Human Services budget. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn’s Plan to Cut Illinois School Bureaucracy Draws Little Legislative Support
(Springfield, IL) — March 25, 2011. Illinois’ regional superintendents are realizing they might not make the cut for state money in Gov. Pat Quinn’s attempt to close the more than $13 billion budget gap. Continue reading
Senate GOP Leader Christine Radogno Pushes Illinois Budget Cuts, Aiming Ax at Education, Human Services
(Springfield, IL) — March 17, 2011. Illinois Senate Republicans are pushing a plan that shaves $5 billion off of Governor Pat Quinn’s introduced budget of $35.4 billion. The cuts are necessary if the state is to finally dig itself out of the budget hole of the past several years, senators said Thursday. Continue reading
Illinois House, Senate Dems May Be at Odds on Illinois Budget
(Springfield, IL) — March 4, 2011. The state’s next budget could be much smaller than Governor Pat Quinn outlined last month. Or it could be the same. Or larger. Continue reading
State Rep. David Leitch Questions $336 Million Raises at Illinois Department of Human Services
(Springfield, IL) – March 4, 2011. It’s going to be a tough year for the Illinois Department of Human Services if it can’t find places to trim its budget, consolidate and address the rationale behind recent pay raises. Continue reading
Extra $1 Billion is “Found” for Illinois Budget
(Springfield, IL) – March 2, 2011. Illinois may have just over a billion dollars that’s not included in Governor Pat Quinn’s new budget. But lawmakers in Springfield say just because they may have the extra cash, it doesn’t mean they will spend it. Continue reading
Easing Budget Crisis, Gov. Pat Quinn to Reduce Illinois Human Service Mid-Year Budget Cuts
(Chicago, IL) — February 24, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn has personally intervened to reduce the $208 million mid-year budgets cuts slated for the Illinois Department of Department Humans Services, cuts which had threaten to eliminate 80% of the Illinois substance abuse and treatment services and wipe out other human service programs by March 15, according … Continue reading
Dem, GOP Lawmakers Act to Halt Gov. Pat Quinn’s Mid-Year Drug, Alcohol Treatment Budget Cuts
(Springfield, IL) — February 23, 2011. Illinois lawmakers today unveiled a bi-partisan Illinois House resolution calling on Governor Pat Quinn to halt the elimination of all state funding for non-Medicaid drug and alcohol treatment services effective March 15, claiming the mid-year budget cuts will trigger the discharge of 55,000 treatment clients and the lay off of more than 5,000 workers. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Slashes Illinois Human Services Budgets
(Springfield, IL) – February 16, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn today presented his fiscal year 2012 Illinois budget to the Illinois General Assembly and—despite reams of rhetoric of spilt and spouted on his commitment to the most vulnerable of Illinois residents—he sliced hundreds of millions of dollars from Illinois human services budgets, leaving multitudes, including: infants, … Continue reading
Illinois Human Services Face Budget Cuts Next Year, Says Top Illinois House Democrat
(Chicago, IL) — February 14, 2011. Despite recent soft pedaling by Governor Pat Quinn on potential Illinois budget cuts in next year’s budget, the Illinois House budget negotiator says Illinois human services face budget cuts. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Shifts Gears on Illinois Human Services Budget Cuts–For Now
(Chicago, IL) – February 8, 2011. After several weeks of clear signals floating out of Governor Pat Quinn’s administration that substantial mid-year budget cuts were on deck for Illinois human service providers, the governor’s office has backtracked—for now. First, the advocacy group Illinois Partners, which has been publicly sounding the budget alarm for the last … Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Wants “Grassroots” Campaign to Pressure Lawmakers on Bonding Bill
(Chicago, IL) — February 4, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn‘s Administration is seeking to launch a “grassroots” campaign to build legislative support for a $8.7 billion bonding bill that would pay the Illinois’ overdue bills. Quinn’s staff started today reaching out to lobbyists and key state vendors asking them to sign a letter to lawmakers advocating … Continue reading
Looming Illinois Human Service Budget Cuts Are Planned Reductions, Quinn Spokesperson Says
(Chicago, IL) – February 2, 2011. Hundreds of millions of dollars of looming cuts to Illinois human service provider budgets by Governor Pat Quinn are not “additional cuts” but rather planned reductions that the state is “continuing to work to implement”, according to a Quinn budget spokesperson. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn May Be Burying Illinois Human Service Budget Cuts in Snow News
(Chicago, IL) – February 1, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn may be aiming to take advantage of “Snowmageddon” that is battering Chicago and the Midwest to announce at the end of the week a new round of mid-year budget cuts on Illinois human social service providers, totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. Continue reading
Illinois Human Service Budget Cuts Coming
(Chicago, IL) — January 28, 2011. Despite the recently enacted Illinois income tax increase, which breathed a sigh of relief within the ranks of Illinois human service providers, Governor Pat Quinn will be imposing additional budget cuts on these groups in the current budget, according an Quinn administration source. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Agrees to 75% Illinois Income Tax Increase to Balance Illinois Budget
(Springfield, IL) – January 7, 2011. Governor Pat Quinn and top legislative Democrats in Springfield say they have an agreement that will erase Illinois’ $15 billion deficit, send more money to Illinois schools and limit state spending for three years. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Will Likely Make Mid-Year Illinois Budget Cuts
(Chicago, IL) — December 17, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn will likely be making mid-year cuts to the out-of-whack Illinois budget, according to multiple sources. Continue reading
Illinois Budget: College Gets $2.1 Million Quinn Construction Grant; Illinois Owes School $2.6 Million
(Chicago, IL) — October 15, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn yesterday announced a $2.1 million grant for infrastructure and energy-efficiency projects at South Suburban College in Holland, but Illinois owed the school $2,633,995.70 in overdue payments, as of July 22, 2010. Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Illinois State Board of Education Finance Committee Launches in Chicago Next Week 1st of 6 Budget Hearings
(Chicago, IL) – October 13, 2010. The Illinois State Board of Education’s Finance and Audit Committee is launching in Chicago next week its first of six public budget hearings across the state to help shape budget recommendations that will be submitted to the Governor and General Assembly in January 2011. Continue reading
As Unpaid Bill Backlog Rises to $8.75 Billion, Illinois Now Ranks Worst in Nation for Late Payments to Human Service Agencies, New Report Says
(Chicago, IL) — October 7. Illinois is the worst state in the nation for late payments to nonprofit human service providers, according to a new report released today by the Urban Institute. Continue reading
Senate President John Cullerton Taps Senator Dan Kotowski to Take Lead Role in Pushing New Illinois Budget Law
(Chicago, IL) – October 6, 2010. State Senator Dan Kotowski (D-Park Ridge) announced this week that he has been tapped by the Illinois senate president to take the lead role in the implementation a new state budget law. Continue reading
Illinois Election 2010: Governor Pat Quinn Hears a Ticking Sound on the Illinois Budget as Election Day 2010 Approaches
Governor Pat Quinn’s gubernatorial campaign yesterday called on GOP opponent State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) to detail his plan for the Illinois budget, arguing that the campaign clock was ticking. Continue reading
Illinois Budget: GOP Senator Larry Bomke Backs Illinois Tax Increase to Pay State’s Bills
(Springfield, IL) — July 27, 2010. This is what statesmanship looks like. State Journal-Register political reporter Bernie Schoenberg today reports that State Senator Larry Bomke (R-Springfield) has asserted the kind leadership that has been gravely absent from GOP lawmakers until now. State Sen. Larry Bomke, R-Springfield, told Gov. Pat Quinn’s chief of staff Monday he … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Governor Pat Quinn’s Office Fears Illinois Medicaid May Face $750 Million Cut
(Springfield, IL) — July 23, 2010. Furlough days for thousands of state workers and much later Medicaid payments could be just the beginning. Governor Pat Quinn‘s office is, for the first time, acknowledging that the state may not get $750 million from Washington for the neediest families in Illinois. The so-called FMAP money — Federal … Continue reading
Another Illinois Budget Problem for Pat Quinn: Illinois Quietly Borrows Billions from Feds to Pay Unemployment Checks; Ranks 6th in Loan Debt
(Chicago, IL) — July 10, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn is staring at another debt bomb. While Quinn has been struggling to pay nearly $6 billion in unpaid bills to state vendors and wrestling with a potential $4.1 billion loan to pay Illinois’ pension systems, Illinois has quietly borrowed billions from the federal government to replenish … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Would Bill Brady Cut Governor Staff Salaries by 10%?
(Chicago, IL) — July 7, 2010. What policy would State Senator Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) adopt toward gubernatorial staff salaries were he to become governor? Would he cut top staff salaries by 10%? The Associated Press yesterday revealed that Governor Pat Quinn has handed out 43 raises to 35 staffers, averaging 11.4%, over the last 15 … Continue reading
Governor Pat Quinn Hands Out Raises to Top Staff; Senator Bill Brady Says Quinn “Lost Control of State Government”
(Chicago, IL) — July 6, 2010. Oof. A new report by the Associated Press reveals that Governor Pat Quinn has handed out 43 raises to 35 staffers, averaging 11.4%, over the last 15 months. Some raises exceeded 20%. Can you spell b-o-n-e-h-e-a-d-e-d? Illinois is approximately .37¢ away from insolvency. It has a $13 billion deficit. … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Senator Bill Brady and Governor Pat Quinn Duel over Budget “Failure”
(Chicago, IL) — July 1, 2010. At the start of the new Illinois budget, Bill Brady and Pat Quinn yesterday were hurling some version of “fail” at each other in dueling statements. Welcome to the Illinois budget debate. Senator Brady was first out of the grate, criticizing Quinn on the new Fiscal Year 2011 budget … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Governor Pat Quinn Saves AIDS Drugs Program from Budget Cuts
(Chicago, IL) – July 1, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn announced today that state funding for the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program would be spared. In fact, Quinn will help more people. The program, which provides life-saving HIV medications to low-income people with HIV, will be sufficiently funded to “serve approximately 4,500 clients a month – … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Governor Pat Cuts Illinois Budget $1.4 Billion; Illinois Human Services, Education Take Big Hits
At a press conference in Chicago, Governor Pat Quinn today announced budget reductions of $1.4 billion, slicing $312 million from Illinois human services, $241 million from local Illinois schools, $100 million from Illinois colleges and universities, and $15 million from the Illinois State Police. Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Senator Dave Syverson Makes Outrageous Budget Blooper
State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) yesterday outrageously—and erroneously—claimed that Illinois has “the richest Medicaid system in the country” while criticizing Governor Pat Quinn over the new Illinois budget. Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Rep Patti Bellock, Senator Dave Syverson Attack Governor Pat Quinn on New Illinois Budget as Federal Medicaid Support Fades
State Rep. Patti Bellock (R-Hinsdale) said Quinn wanted the most optimistic numbers he could find, and now the state is going to have to pay the price. Continue reading
Gov. Pat Quinn Gives Illinois Public Universities Power to Borrow to Pay Bills
(Springfield, IL) June 8, 2010. With Illinois unable to pay its bills, Governor Pat Quinn today signed a bill into law that allows Illinois’ public universities to borrow money in anticipation of already-authorized state funding. “This legislation will give our public universities an important fiscal tool to manage through this unprecedented economic crisis,” said Quinn. … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Pat Quinn Hints at Special Session
(Springfield, IL) — May 27, 2010. After Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) today adjourned the Senate without passing the $4 billion pension borrowing bill, Governor Pat Quinn shortly afterward issued a statement that said the legislature had not finished its work, hinting at a special session. “Our task is not complete, and there’s more that … Continue reading
Advocates, Lawmakers Want Governor Pat Quinn to Reject Waiting List for People Needing HIV/AIDS Medication; Quinn Non-Committal
(Chicago, IL) — May 24, 2010. “What a clear example of what a fiasco this budget is,” said State Senator Heather Steans (D-Chicago). Steans was commenting on a state advisory panel vote on May 21 to urge the state to immediately close the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) to new applicants and begin a … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Senator Mike Jackobs Says a “Governor Bill Brady” Will Need to Swallow an Illinois Tax Increase
(Springfield, IL) — May 20, 2010. Democratic lawmakers say the state’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year will be finalized in a matter of days, even though consensus on key matters is still lacking. Lawmakers are planning to return to Springfield next week and Democrats want to finalize a budget to pass to Governor Pat … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Senator Larry Bomke Expects Speaker Michael Madigan to Push New Budget Through House Without GOP
(Springfield, IL) — May 19, 2010. Republican lawmakers in the Springfield area are lamenting that the Illinois General Assembly could pass a version of the Illinois state budget and conclude the legislative session by the end of this month. With strong majorities in both the Illinois House and Senate, Democratic lawmakers can push through a … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Illinois Democrats’ Proposed State Budget Electoral Genius?
(Springfield, IL) — May 7, 2010. Could there be political gold even in a fiscal calamity? The Illinois state budget promoted Illinois Democratic leaders, which was yesterday approved by the Illinois State Senate and now is being considered by the House, may offend public policy process idealists but could prove to be electoral genius for … Continue reading
Illinois Budget: Governor Pat Quinn, Jerry Stermer Meet with Conference of Women Legislators on Mental Health, Other Issues
(Springfield, IL) — April 29, 2010. State Rep. Karen May (D-Highland Park) reports via her Facebook Page that Governor Pat Quinn, and chief of staff Jerry Stermer today met with the Conference of Women Legislators about funding for day care, mental health services, alcohol and drug dependence and women’s health initiatives. In Quinn’s proposed budget, … Continue reading
David Ormsby, Editor
Gov. Pat Quinn
- McHenry County Blog | Pat Quinn Tells Truth about Pension ... Cal Skinner
- Pat Quinn Criticizes Scott Walker On Jobs The Huffington Post News Editors
- Will Governor Pat Quinn Sign Illinois Budget on Thursday? « Child ... Marge Berglind
- Quinn: Lawmakers Must 'Show Some Fortitude' On Pension ... Todd Feurer
- Governor Pat Quinn Puts His Foot Down On Gambling Expansion ... Mark
- Senate narrowly backs Quinn on facility closures - Capitol Fax.com Rich Miller
- Gov. Pat Quinn Releases 2011 Federal, Illinois Taxes David Ormsby
- Democurmudgeon: Gov. Pat Quinn exposes Scott Walker as a fake ... Democurmudgeon
- Chicago News Bench: No, Really, Pat Quinn Still Sucks More Than ... TM-1000
- Advocates Seek Illinois Child Welfare Vision from Governor Pat Quinn Marge Berglind
IL General Assembly
- General Assembly puts health exchange bill on back burner - Crain's Chicago Business May 10, 2012
- IL educators react to proposed state budget cuts - WREX-TV May 11, 2012
- Violence Against Women Act Survives Partisan Fight, Quinn Told Not To Close ... - Patch.com May 9, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - MarketWatch (press release) May 1, 2012
- You Paid For It: IL General Assembly Scholarship Program - FOX2now.com May 7, 2012
- Our Opinion: Anti-bully bill should get OK - The State Journal-Register May 10, 2012
- Illinois State University considers 4.4 percent tuition increase - Herald & Review May 10, 2012
- American Progressive Bag Alliance Urges Illinois General Assembly To Pass ... - PR Newswire (press release) May 1, 2012
- Asian-Americans to have state caucus - WBEZ May 8, 2012
- Suburban mayors also urge state to pass pension reform - Chicago Sun-Times May 10, 2012
The Capitol Fax Blog
- Question of the day May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Political cover or political payback? May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Illinois Needs Private Sector Jobs Now! Why Labor Leaders Support Senate Bill 1849 May 10, 2012 Advertising Department
- Senate narrowly backs Quinn on facility closures - Chamber backs Quinn pension reforms May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- House approves bill to effectively end free employee health insurance premiums May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 - VIDEO *** Smith hearing resumes today (LIVE Coverage and Video) May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- *** UPDATED x2 *** Not a big deal at all, but it’s probably time to delegate a bit more May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Morning Shorts May 10, 2012 Owen Irwin
- *** LIVE SESSION COVERAGE *** May 10, 2012 Rich Miller
- Protected: SUBSCRIBERS ONLY - COWL review, supplement to today’s edition and a Statehouse roundup May 10, 2012 Rich Miller