But legislative back-and-forth shows complexity of state lawmaker pay law By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The complexities of Illinois’ legislator pay laws were on display again this week as the state’s comptroller insisted in a video message that there will be no raises for lawmakers this year. Comptroller […]
State of Illinois
Pritzker lifts ban on worship services starting Friday
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – People in Illinois will be allowed to attend worship services starting this weekend without fear of prosecution as the state enters Phase 3 of Gov. JB Pritzker’s “Restore Illinois” reopening plan. Pritzker made the announcement during his daily COVID-19 briefing Thursday in Chicago, […]
Illinois Secretary of State facilities to begin reopening June 1
Illinois Secretary of State facilities will begin reopening for business on June 1 with a focus on new drivers, those with expired driver’s licenses or ID cards and vehicle transactions for the first two months. Beginning June 1 facilities in Chicago North, Chicago South and Chicago West will open on […]
Lawmakers pass budget package to close out special session
By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Senate on early Sunday morning passed a budget package authorizing $42.8 billion in general revenue spending next year, although much of that remains tentative depending on the progression of the COVID-19 pandemic and potential congressional action that could send more financial aid […]
Senate GOP: Stay in session until we have bipartisan reopening plan
Brady: ‘This discussion needs to go beyond 2:30 in the afternoon press conferences’ By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – On just the third day of legislative session since March 5, Senate Republicans called a socially distanced outdoor news conference Friday morning to argue for a more collaborative approach to […]
Vote-by-mail expansion headed for governor’s signature after Senate passage
Bill also allows curbside voting, makes Election Day a state holiday this year By BEN ORNERCapitol News Illinoisborner@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – A major expansion of voting access for the 2020 general election is headed to the desk of Gov. JB Pritzker after the Illinois Senate overwhelmingly passed the measure Friday. After […]
Workers’ comp omnibus passes both houses
Deal between business, labor sees near-unanimous support By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD — A compromise bill between business and labor which deals with COVID-19 and workers’ compensation passed the House on Friday with broad bipartisan support and will head to the governor. House Bill 2455 was carried by Democrats Linda […]
Illinois unemployment rate climbs to record 16.4% in April
New jobless claims in May appear to level out By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois unemployment rate in Illinois reached a staggering 16.4 percent in April, the highest rate recorded since the modern system of tracking joblessness began in 1976, the Illinois Department of Employment Security said […]
GOP seeks to remove graduated tax measure from ballot
Pritzker says call shows Republicans ‘lack confidence’ in their position By JERRY NOWICKICapitol News Illinoisjnowicki@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – State Republican leadership is pushing for a vote in the upcoming legislative session to remove a graduated income tax amendment question from the November general election ballot. “Times have changed dramatically since this […]
IDES confirms data breach in online unemployment system
‘Glitch’ allowed access to personal data in Pandemic Unemployment Assistance system By PETER HANCOCKCapitol News Illinoisphancock@capitolnewsillinois.com SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Department of Employment Security has confirmed that a new online portal that processes claims for federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance briefly allowed public access to applicants’ personal information including Social Security […]