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ISN fact checks Quinn’s State of the State
By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Statehouse News spoke with lawmakers, a university president and people outside of the state Capitol to go between the lines of Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State address. In 35 minutes, Quinn outlined his agenda for the spring legislative session, referring to investments in higher education and tax breaks designed to employ more veterans for his 2012 jobs agenda.
IL lawmakers underwhelmed with Quinn’s speech
By Benjamin Yount and Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Jerry and Melanie Howlett didn’t get to watch Gov. Pat Quinn’s State of the State speech Wednesday afternoon.
Quinn lays out jobs plan, cloudy on funding source
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn on Wednesday said increased state spending in critical areas will spur much needed job creation in Illinois. But Republican legislators had harsh criticism for a plan they say will cost the cash-strapped state roughly $500 million. During his State of the State address , which came a year after the state’s individual and corporate income tax rates skyrocketed, Quinn said he’d like to create tax credits for families and businesses, invest more money in education and upgrade the state’s aging water systems.
Quinn to focus on jobs, lawmakers want more than talk
January 31, 2012 By Benjamin Yount Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD – When Governor Pat Quinn steps behind the podium to deliver his state of the state speech, lawmakers who will be listening say he’d better have some specifics to back up his talk of jobs.
IL lawmakers want more than job talk from Gov. Quinn
By Benjamin Yount and Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers say they want to hear more from Gov. Pat Quinn than just talk about jobs — they want a plan. Quinn is expected to make employment a cornerstone of his State of the State address at noon Wednesday. “Gov.
Cutting Illinois Medicaid costs could prove tough
January 30, 2012 By Benjamin Yount Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD – A new report says Illinois is going to have some big bills to pay in the next five years, but controlling the biggest cost may be very tough.
IL to struggle with controlling exploding Medicaid costs
January 30, 2012 By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ difficulties reining in its pension costs are expected to pale in comparison to its efforts to control Medicaid, the state’s other big expense.
Increased IL higher ed funding goes to pensions
January 24, 2012 By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — llinois’ 12 percent increase in higher education spending this year isn’t going to benefit students. Instead, the additional funding for fiscal 2012 is going into the State Universities Retirement System , or SURS, to address its underfunded pension program.
IL looking for hat trick of pension, Medicaid, tax reform
January 20, 2012 By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn is set to outline his priorities for the upcoming legislative session during the State of the State address Feb. 1, but taxes, public pensions and Medicaid are expected to dominate the discussion here this spring.
Quinn targets two IL facilities for closure by October
By Andrew Thomason and Stephanie Fryer | Illinois Statehouse News “My administration is committed to increasing community care options and improving the quality of life for people with developmental disabilities and mental health conditions,” Quinn said in a written statement. “The approach we are taking will allow for the safe transition of care for some of our most vulnerable citizens to community care setting.” The administration said the facilities, which when combined employee about 550 people, would be closed in October.
