(Chicago, IL) – February 25, 2011. Freshman State Representative Daniel Biss (D-Evanston) on Wednesday introduced a Constitutional amendment that would impose term limits on the Illinois General Assembly’s legislative leaders, a measure that force fellow Democrat House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) out of his post. Continue reading
(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
(Springfield, IL) — June 9, 2010. With Illinois’ fiscal crisis continuing unabated, Governor Pat Quinn today signed legislation into law to enable Illinois community colleges to borrow money to pay its bills while awaiting already-authorized state funding. And they’ll be waiting a long, long, long, long time. Did I mention long? “We must give our … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — May 26, 2010. Governor Pat Quinn today vetoed portions of the McCormick Place reform legislation, but the Illinois General Assembly is widely expected to brush aside Quinn’s action and override the veto. “The General Assembly has taken only half a step toward reforming our state’s convention industry,” said Governor Quinn in his … Continue reading
(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
By State Representative Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago) (Springfield, IL) – The desire to know the facts of one’s history is an attempt to understand the age-old questions: Who am I? Why am I here? Where do I come from? For an estimated 200,000 Illinois adult adoptees, they currently are unable to fully answer these questions. Under … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — April 19, 2010. Score a big one for Illinois Governor Pat Quinn. Quinn today joined Missouri Governor Jay Nixon and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood at the Eads Bridge in St. Louis to break ground on the new $667 million Mississippi River Bridge project. Quinn’s disgraced predecessor Rod Blagojevich had earlier in … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — February 22, 2010. The Illinois budget crisis monster is claiming another victim: local schools. From Amanda Reavy at the Springfield State Journal-Register: Illinois state government’s backlog of bills associated with kindergarten through 12th grade schools totals about $725 million, according to Carol Knowles, spokeswoman for Comptroller Dan Hynes. The backlog consists of … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) – February 16, 2010. Here they come. Some 3,000 social service providers and clients, educators and students, faith leaders, seniors, consumer advocates, state and local government employees and others will descend on Springfield for rally in the state capitol on Wednesday, February 17. They are dressing up their call for an income tax … Continue reading
(Springfield, IL) — February 10, 2010. Sick of jumping up from the dinner table to answer political candidates’ automated telephone calls around election day? State Senators Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) and Chris Lauzen (R-Aurora) have answered your call. Righter and Lauzen introduced legislation, Senate Bill 3135, on Monday that would prohibit political “robo” calls to individuals … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — January 25, 2010. State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz (D-Chicago), Chair of the Human Services Appropriations Committee, on Friday convened the committee at a public hearing to tackle the looming financial crisis in the Illinois AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) and HIV prevention programs. The state AIDS drug program, which currently 4,600 people, is … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — December 9, 2009. On the first anniversary of former Governor Rod Blagojevich‘s arrest, Governor Pat Quinn today signed into law a campaign finance bill that imposes Illinois’ first-ever contribution limits in Illinois. “This new law requires politicians to be more candid, open and accountable than ever before. It is a crucial and … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) – December 3, 2009. The Child Care Association of Illinois today bestowed its “Champion for Children” award on four Illinois state lawmakers for their legislative initiatives in behalf of Illinois abused and neglected children and foster families. Being honored were: State Rep. Paul Froehlich (D-Schaumburg), State Rep. Lou Lang (D-Skokie), State Senator Dan … Continue reading
(Chicago, IL) — November 30, 2009. Governor Pat Quinn yesterday signed legislation that protects consumers from unauthorized telephone practice commonly known as “cramming” and praised the bill’s principal backer, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan. “I applaud the Illinois Attorney General’s hard work in support of this new law, which will combat the growing problem of … Continue reading