This week, the Pritzker Administration claimed victory after Moody’s Investor Services upgraded the state’s bond rating by one notch, putting Illinois two steps above a junk-bond rating. While this rating is largely reflective of the massive influx of federal funding, the state’s long-term fiscal outlook is still dire. As an example, Illinois is still saddled with an unsustainable pension system.
As of June 11, the Illinois Gaming Board has officially granted permission to begin the construction of the temporary Hard Rock Casino in Rockford, which State Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) says is a major step forward for the casino project. “I am very excited that the Hard Rock temporary casino structure has finally been given the green light to move
Illinois law-abiding gun owners may soon bear the brunt of burdensome restrictions passed by the General Assembly. On June 15, the House of Representatives approved a “Fix the FOID” bill that would allow for individuals to voluntarily offer their fingerprints in exchange for a more automatic renewal of their FOID cards and CCL licenses. The bill had already passed the Senate
Gov. Pritzker has signed a major election reform bill into law that will expand curbside voting and allow polling places in county jails for those waiting on their trial. Senate Bill 825 includes uniform cybersecurity standards for election offices and creates a permanent vote-by-mail registry. The bill also mandates that high schools provide a one-page document of information for students
In addition to fixing budget errors, the Senate was called back to the Capitol June 15 to a vote on an omnibus energy bill that would eliminate coal-powered energy by 2035 and natural gas by 2045. No deal was reached and lawmakers were sent home. In addition to closing the Prairie State Energy Campus and Springfield’s City Water, Light and
Omnibus energy bill stalls again When Senate President Don Harmon called Senators back to the Capitol for a one-day session on June 15, Senate Republicans were told to expect a vote on an omnibus energy bill that would eliminate coal-powered energy by 2035 and natural gas by 2045. In addition to closing the Prairie State Energy Campus and Springfield’s City
In the overnight hours of May 31-June 1, majority party Democrats rammed through a nearly 4,000-page budget that guides spending for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2021. No committee hearing was held, and legislators were not provided with an adequate amount of time to read and understand the document. As approved and sent to the Governor, the Fiscal
The House of Representatives took up a measure this week that had already passed the Senate on May 31, which would allow for individuals to voluntarily offer their fingerprints in exchange for a more automatic renewal of their FOID cards and CCL licenses. Approved by the House on June 15, the bill now heads to the Governor. State Senator Syverson
A massive explosion at a grease manufacturing plant in Rockton (near Rockford) created giant plumes of smoke and led to the evacuation of about 1,000 residents within a two-mile radius of the plant. Remarkably, more than 50 employees inside the Chemtool plant at the time of the explosion got out safely. Fire officials were limited in their ability to use
After getting a glimpse of what an energy package may look like on June 10, State Senator Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) is cautioning that the so-called energy reform proposal appears to be a massive bailout that will raise rates on consumers. Sen. Syverson says while legislation has not been filed yet and the nuances are fluid, the proposed reform package has
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