Chicago City Wire

From Prairie State Wire

1115 Medicaid waiver will help launch 10 health care initiatives, Rauner says

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Gov. Bruce Rauner said Illinois will be the national leader in mental health services.

From Prairie State Wire

Bill to erase marijuana possession convictions from criminal records shot down by House

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

A bill that would erase marijuana possession convictions from criminal records was rejected recently in the House.

Bills could add millions to billion-dollar pension debt, GOP representatives warn

By Angela Underwood | May 8, 2018

Illinois' billion-dollar pension debt could rise by millions if two Democrats' pension bills are approved by the Senate and Gov. Bruce Rauner.

Bill allowing special pension allowance for 17 Chicago police fund members passes House

By Angela Underwood | May 4, 2018

During Illinois’ colossal pension crisis, Democrats proposed to carve out money for the Chicago Police Benefit Fund for work performed a decade ago.

GOP lawmakers say Ford bill amounts to another mandate cash-strapped schools do not need

By Angela Underwood | Apr 30, 2018

GOP lawmakers said another Democrat mandate on education could cause further financial hardship on already cash-strapped school districts during House floor debate April 20.

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.

Republicans question funding for bill that would increase minimum firefighter pension annuity

By Angela Underwood | Apr 17, 2018

A Democrat-sponsored pension bill that barely passed a committee would raise Illinois's billion-dollar retirement debt amid Republican concerns.

Police pension fund changes bring questions from GOP House panel members

By Angela Underwood | Apr 16, 2018

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

From Illinois Valley Times

House panel backs broadband measure despite concerns about FCC rules

By Angela Underwood | 6 years ago

Ignoring Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations is not the way to run the government, according to three GOP lawmakers who questioned Democrat-sponsored legislation.

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.

From Prairie State Wire

Pritzker wins Democratic nod for governor

By Angela Underwood | 7 years ago

It’s official -- J.B. Pritzker is the Democratic candidate for governor despite coming under heavy fire from the press and public in recent months.

From Prairie State Wire

State Senate debates long and hard over gun legislation

By Angela Underwood | 7 years ago

After returning from a gun violence Senate Walkout on March 14 in remembrance of the month anniversary of the Parkland shooting massacre, five GOP senators had something to say about Democratic sponsored fire-arm legislation.

McAuliffe, Connelly focus on pipes during hearing on Legionnaires' outbreak at vets home

By Angela Underwood | Mar 12, 2018

While veterans watched live from the Quincy Veterans Home, Rep. Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago) and Sen. Michael Connelly (R-Naperville) raised questions about the plumbing system at the vets home that was the direct cause for the Legionnaires' disease outbreak that has killed 13 people since 2015.

Davidsmeyer questions effectiveness of creating a firearms awareness task force

By Angela Underwood | Mar 7, 2018

C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said a proposed dun-violence related task force just another chance for Democrats to grab a headline.

Senate honors Chicago officer killed in line of duty

By Angela Underwood | Feb 15, 2018

All rules were suspended Thursday during Senate floor debate for the presentation of SR410 by Sen. Antonio Munoz (D-Chicago) in honor of Chicago Police Cmdr. Paul Bauer of the 18th District, who was fatally shot Tuesday by an alleged four-time felon in front of the Thompson Center.

McAuliffe tells House-Senate veterans panel of his plans to visit Quincy home

By Angela Underwood | Jan 9, 2018

House Veterans Affairs Committee Minority Spokesperson Rep. Michael McAuliffe (R-Chicago) wanted all the facts at the joint Illinois House-Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee hearing on Tuesday.

Signing of law lowering fees for LLCs called a big day for Illinois' small businesses

By Angela Underwood | Dec 21, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner's signing of SB867 Wednesday drops LLC fees by hundreds of dollars, a welcome measure according to Elliott Richardson, president and co-founder of the Small Business Advocacy Council, a nonpartisan organization based in Chicago.

From DuPage Policy Journal

Khouri: It's wrong for politicians to 'kick the can down the road'

By Angela Underwood | 7 years ago

DuPage County Board member Tonia Khouri said a one-party control or not tax burden is tearing up the state.

Wait over as first day of candidate filing dawns

By Angela Underwood | Nov 28, 2017

Some serious candidates camped outside the Illinois State Board of Elections office in Springfield for almost a week waiting for the doors to open Tuesday morning.

Chicago fundraiser describes career-long harassment at Capitol

By Angela Underwood | Nov 1, 2017

Sexual harassment has been a well-kept secret in the capital for a long time, the founder of a Chicago-based political fundraising organization told a House committee on Tuesday.