Latest from Rich Miller
As state lawmakers work on a spending plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1, choosing the most conservative outlook would most definitely be the prudent path.
This state is far too important and its position has long been far too precarious to sacrifice it on the altar of national ambition.
The top brass in the U.S. attorney’s office needs to figure out why they have had such a miserably low initial conviction rate lately.
“You’ve seen what DOGE proposed, what Elon Musk proposed,” Gov. JB Pritzker said recently. “We don’t know if there’s going to be Medicaid cuts, which would have a severe impact on the people of the state and on our budget.”
Democrats have far more trust in mailed-in ballots than Republicans, so they’re much more likely to sign up for the permanent vote by mail program.
Pretty much everyone at the statehouse has said that funding won’t happen without reform. But the transit leaders are still demanding lots more money without interference with their governance.
One bill would authorize community colleges to offer four-year bachelor’s degree programs. The other proposal centers on reforming local government structures, particularly townships.
Lawmakers are looking at bills to keep the system going for some 18,000 kids in foster care as insurance companies pull out.
Health care, human services and public safety make up other core services that will get 9.1% less in real dollars than in fiscal year 2000, according to the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.
“There’s a number of things that we have done that I think really changed the environment and have helped us get to the point that we’re at today,” Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch told columnist Rich Miller.