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Senate looks to raid funds to pay old bills
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD – In order to pay down overdue bills, Illinois Senate Democrats want to siphon cash from special funds that support myriad projects — including Boy and Girl Scouts, tourism, energy assistance and transit development. The fund raids are part of a broader budget crafted by Senate Democrats , which was approved in part by a senate committee Monday night.
Group offers 59 ideas for cutting $2.7B in Medicaid
May 21, 2012 By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Three Illinois Republican state senators and a libertarian think tank proposed 59 reforms to make Medicaid more cost effective while providing better care for its recipients. Democratic Gov.
Quinn to IL lawmakers: Focus on pension, Medicaid reform
May 21, 2012 By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Pat Quinn refused Monday to discuss the possibility of gambling expansion in Illinois , insisting he wants lawmakers to focus on Medicaid and pension reform.
IL Senate Dems come out with budget of their own
By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — With 13 days left in the regular spring session, the Illinois Senate Democrats rolled out a budget that relies on facility closures, layoffs and 4-percent spending cuts for most state agencies. Still, the budget outline spends $16.9 billion on day-to-day state services such as the Illinois State Police, elementary and secondary education and Medicaid — about $600 million more than what the House is budgeting.
Appeals court sides with Quinn on denying pay raises
May 18, 2012 By Andrew Thomason Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — A federal appellate court Thursday upheld Gov. Pat Quinn ’s decision last year to deny state employees pay raises . In July, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 31 filed suit in the U.S.
Week in Review: Betting on iGaming, controversy over Nation of Islam
By Stephanie Fryer and Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers must craft next year’s budget and fix huge deficits by May 31, but the closest they came to addressing those problems was a proposal to tax online gambling. Other issues from a proposed minimum wage increases to the Nation of Islam were getting everyone’s attention, as well.
Study says cuts to home care lead to rising costs elsewhere
May 17, 2012 By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn wants to cut $11 million in Medicaid spending on home health care and, according to a new study, the move could lead to higher costs in nursing homes and hospitals.
Senate rejects Nation of Islam follower for human rights commission
May 17, 2012 By Stephanie Fryer | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois senators Thursday rejected the reappointment of a co-founder of a group dedicated to a former Nation of Islam leader to the state’s Human Rights Commission . Elijah Muhammad was a leader of black Muslims, and the coalition runs a website about his beliefs and involvement with the Nation of Islam.
IL school chief warns of possible cuts to general state aid for schools
By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ school chief this week sounded the alarm on possible cuts to the amount of money the state will give local schools during the coming fiscal year. Gery Chico , chairman of the Illinois State Board of Education , called on parents, taxpayers and school officials to contact their state representatives about a House proposal that would eliminate $258 million — or more — as lawmakers try to address the state’s backlog of bills.
Feds give IL $32M to set up health exchange despite law’s uncertainty
May 16, 2012 By Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services gave Illinois $32.7 million to set up a health insurance exchange — even as legislative efforts to do so were abandoned amid uncertainty about the national health-care law’s future.