Will County Gazette

From Prairie State Wire

GOP lawmakers join gun-rights advocates at Springfield rally

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

GOP lawmakers and thousands of Illinois State Rifle Association (ISRA) members rallied last week for gun rights in front of the Capitol in Springfield.

From Prairie State Wire

GOP lawmakers demand budget revenue estimate from Democrats

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

GOP legislative leaders want a budget revenue estimate introduced and certified by the Democrats now.

From DuPage Policy Journal

After more than four hours of debate, House passes bills covering education, water systems, voter data

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Creating and altering bills on education, public and private water systems, and election data privacy drove the April 19 House floor debate into hours of discussion.

From Rock Island Today

House Republicans blast call center legislation for its anti-business message

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Rep. Chad Hays (R-Catlin) said GOP lawmakers would not stand one more day of nonsensical Democrat-sponsored legislation after House floor debate of HB4081 on April 19.

From Illinois Valley Times

Let voters have say in consolidating school district staff, Rezin says

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Consolidating school district administration is one way to save taxpayers' money, according to Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris).

McDermed presents bills aiming to provide savings for taxpayers

By Angela Underwood | Apr 24, 2018

Rep. Margo McDermed (R-Mokena) made it clear she is thinking about the future when it comes to property tax relief.

From Prairie State Wire

Wheeler makes plea for change in Sex Offender Registry law

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Rep. Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) wasn't afraid to let her feelings show at the April 17 House Judiciary Criminal Committee hearing on HB816, which would amend the Sex Offender Registry statue to allow judges to use their discretion to add the name of a person convicted of sexually motivated battery to a statewide registry.

From Prairie State Wire

GOP lawmakers love the idea of transparency, but question statewide pension hearing broadcast proposal

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Broadcasting retirement system or pension fund hearings in real time and archiving the recorded video on a website for public access is a great idea, but not necessarily feasible to some GOP lawmakers.

From North Cook News

Bill to extend Illinois Health and Facilities Planning Act clears House despite GOP opposition

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Rep. David Harris (R-Arlington Heights) said the closest thing to eternity here on earth is a government program that ceases to end, like the Illinois Health and Facilities Planning Act.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Curran withstands ribbing from both sides of the aisle during debate of his first bill

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Sen. John Curran (R-Downers Grove) proved he could stand with the best of them.

Rezin questions DCFS, DHR about caseloads at Senate panel hearing

By Angela Underwood | Apr 19, 2018

Sen. Sue Rezin (R-Morris) wanted more information on caseloads at the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Illinois Department of Human Rights (DHR) at the April 17 Senate Appropriations I Committee hearing.

From Prairie State Wire

Two GOP press conferences in one day demand end to gerrymandering

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

House Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) said gerrymandering must end now.

From Prairie State Wire

McConchie says SB 2670 would put property tax power back in public's hands

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Senate Bill 2670 will provide Illinois residents with the power to help control their property taxes, according to state Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorne Woods).

From Prairie State Wire

GOP Senators say enough is enough with graduated income tax proposal

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Seven Republicans took the podium at an impromptu press conference to reject yet another Democrat imposed tax hike.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Senate panel backs plan for property tax exemption for disabled first responders

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

All but one member of the Senate Executive Committee lawmaker approved a homestead exemption for disabled first responders at the panel's hearing April 11.

From Prairie State Wire

Lawmakers warn bill requiring pension fund hearings to be broadcast, while admirable, will be a tough sell

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Sponsored by Rep. Carol Ammons (D-Champaign), HB4413 mandates retirement system or pension fund hearings be aired in real time and suggests archiving the recorded video on a website for public access.

From Chicago City Wire

Police pension fund changes bring questions from GOP House panel members

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Illinois' budget being depleted deleted daily by the pension crisis had Republicans seriously questioning Democratic-sponsored retirement legislation.

From Peoria Standard

Tracy goes three for three on Senate bills

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Legislation proposed by Sen. Jil Tracy (R-Quincy) related to school district funding, tax increment financing (TIF) districts and property tax code changes received full support in the Senate.

Bill to increase Medicaid fraud penalties fails in House committee

By Angela Underwood | Apr 16, 2018

Two Republican representatives want to crack down on Medicaid fraud.

From Prairie State Wire

Rauner signs bipartisan Small Wireless Facilities Deployment Act

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

"Can you hear me now?" will no longer be the question in the Prairie State. Gov. Bruce Rauner was loud and clear Thursday when announcing the Small Wireless Facilities Development Act, which he signed with Republican lawmakers at this side.