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Rauner in Rockford to tour Mercyhealth Hospital and Trauma Center-Riverside project

By Caitlin Nordahl | Dec 14, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner recently toured the site of a new medical complex in Rockford, which, when complete, will include a 451,000-square-foot hospital and 81,500-square-foot medical center, a release from the governor’s office said.

Rauner offers condolences to family of slain Rockford officer

By Caitlin Nordahl | Nov 16, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner offered his condolences to the family of Rockford Police Officer Jaimie Cox who was killed earlier this month in the line of duty.

Syverson won't jump on anti-Rauner bandwagon

By Caitlin Nordahl | Nov 3, 2017

Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) has endorsed Gov. Bruce Rauner's re-election bid, citing his accomplishments on school funding, government spending and reform.

16-year-old Rockford pianist named Order of Lincoln winner

By Caitlin Nordahl | Sep 20, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has taken note of Rockford native Emily Bear.

Sosnowski pushing for repeal of Cook County beverage tax

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 24, 2017

The Cook County tax on sweetened beverages could lead to a $1.3 billion loss in economic activity, according to Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford), who has sponsored legislation to repeal the measure, according to a press release.

Sosnowski wants legislators to get back to drawing board on school funding

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 3, 2017

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) says education spending reform should be as simple as A-B-C, according to his website.

Sosnowski asks Roscoe residents to have a cup of joe with Joe

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 3, 2017

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) has set the table for a "Coffee Talk with Joe," at which he will be available to answer questions and listen to concerns on Aug. 15 at Sophia’s Restaurant in Roscoe, according to a press release.

Sosnowski hosting fun, informative health care for families

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 2, 2017

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) will host this year’s Kids’ Health and Safety Fair on Aug. 5 at Rockford Christian School, giving families the chance to learn about the services and programs offered by dozens of agencies, organizations and businesses.

Being 'mad at the math' won't end Illinois' ongoing financial woes, attorney says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 14, 2017

Illinois’ economy will take decades to recover from the state’s current pension and workers’ compensation obligations, to say nothing of the debts continually being added because of a significant lack of reform, according to a blistering analysis from Chicago attorney Eugene Keefe.

Illinois held down by economic, moral decay, analyst says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 2, 2017

While every state around it continues to grow in population and prosperity, Illinois keeps shrinking under the strain of higher taxes and more regulations, Michael Lucci, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, said in an article on the institute's website.

Overtaxed Illinoisans also seeing nation's smallest growth in personal income

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 23, 2017

Illinois’ average personal income growth since the Great Recession is tied with Nevada for the worst in the country, according to data from Pew Charitable Trusts recently published on the Illinois Policy Institute website.

Syverson calls special session a return to negotiating table

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 22, 2017

Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) says a Republican budget plan is the compromise agreement that both sides of the aisle have been waiting for, according to a press release.

All play and no work — yet legislators still draw paychecks, policy pro argues

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 9, 2017

Lawmakers have spent very little time in their seats, but at least they got to have play time, Austin Berg wrote on the Illinois Policy Institute website recently.

General Assembly gives itself another month to reach budget accord

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 8, 2017

The General Assembly will meet in a continuous session through June to try to put a budget in place for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

Madigan rep says Democratic gubernatorial candidates toe the line on tax increase

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 1, 2017

All of the Democrats hoping to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018 are backing Speaker of the House Michael Madigan's budget goal of raising taxes rather than enacting reforms, a Madigan spokesman told the Chicago Tribune recently.

Sosnowski proves there is such a thing as a free lunch

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 1, 2017

Rep. Joe Sosnowski (R-Rockford) will host a free Legislative Senior Lunch on June 6 at Belvidere North High School in conjunction with the Belvidere Chamber of Commerce and Tropical Oasis.

Rauner says end run around Madigan only way forward for Illinois

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 26, 2017

The buckling stops here, Gov. Bruce Rauner said during a call-in radio show recently.

Watchdogs: Who's Joe, and why did Mautino pay him $12,487?

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 26, 2017

As a state lawmaker, Frank Mautino paid nearly $12,500 in campaign fund cash to a man named Joe without keeping any supporting receipts, according to a government oversight group.

Tax analyst: Illinoisans crushed under weight of sales, income, property taxes

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 25, 2017

Illinoisans pay more in total taxes than anyone else in the nation, so any thoughts about adding to that burden need to be forgotten, a tax analyst argued recently.

Small businesses have big role to play in saving Illinois, Rauner says on tour

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 18, 2017

Illinois can't grow unless its small businesses grow, Gov. Bruce Rauner told owners and employees of several of the state's 1 million such businesses on a brief tour recently.

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