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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.
School choice makes national waves
By Eric Boehm | PA Independent HARRISBURG — Americans like to choose. As consumers, we have an endless number of options when it comes to spending money — we choose everything from the clothes we buy to the colleges we attend. Our grocery stores carry dozens of varieties of breakfast cereal, our ice cream parlors have 31 or more flavors and our towns have churches that represent diverse denominations.
IL lawmakers set to push for school vouchers — again
January 18, 2012 SPRINGFIELD — Lawmakers are set to push for school vouchers this spring following the massive school reform package that moved through the Legislature last year. School vouchers allows students to use taxpayer money to pay for tuition to private schools. Lawmakers like LaShawn Ford say the idea helps kids in schools that are underperforming.
IL lawmakers set to push for school vouchers, again
January 18, 2012 By Andrew Thomason | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Riding the wave of a victory in school reform last year, education activists are gearing up for another push this spring, this time for school vouchers.
New law’s log clogs up hardware store shopping lanes in Illinois
SPRINGFIELD — Cynthia Colletti headed to her local hardware store this week after the handle on her toilet broke. While shopping at Ace Hardware here, she noticed signs in the plumbing aisle that read “Illinois Caustic/Corrosive Substances Act: Effective January 1st 2012” along with a description of the information customers would have to provide before purchasing caustic materials. “I just think it’s an overreaction on the part of the Legislature.
IL economy struggles from mix of factors, some surprising
EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the second story in a two-part series on the state of Illinois after a year of higher personal and corporate income taxes. By Andrew Thomason and Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republican lawmakers and businesses blame the state’ staggering economic recovery on income tax increases, but recent indicators suggest other factors at play, too.
Economy indicators a mixed bag in IL
By Andrew Thomason and Anthony Brino | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois Republican lawmakers and businesses blame the state’ staggering economic recovery on income tax increases, but recent indicators suggest other factors at play, too. Since Illinois increased its corporate income tax by 46 percent from 4.8 percent to 7 percent this past year, several unexpected and expected changes occurred.
