May, 2017 Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

Cabello calls gun violence bill one step in crime-fighting crusade

By Hoang Tran | May 30, 2017

Rep. John Cabello (R-Machesney Park) doesn't think stricter sentencing for repeated gun violence offenders is the answer to Chicago's crime rate -- but it is part of it, he argued on Monday.

Manar attacks Kankakee Times for publishing school funding numbers

By Michael McGrady | May 26, 2017

Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) is demanding a state investigation after the Kankakee Times reported on the anticipated district-by-district financial impact of his Senate Bill 1, which promises to change the state's formula for dispensing money to public schools.

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.

Report shows 'true' accounting of pension liabilities more than double what governments say; Expert: debt is 'utterly absurd'

By Ann Maher, Madison County Record | May 26, 2017

Financial expert Mark Glennon of Wilmette says in his analysis of a new study on state and local pensions that the options available to reduce the substantial obligations facing Illinois funds include amending the state constitution or going through federal bankruptcy.

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.

Stadelman, Syverson, Bivins oppose Senate move to raise income tax

By LGIS Newsfeed | May 23, 2017

Without the help of Republicans, Senate Democrats voted Tuesday to fix the budget by raising the Illinois income tax and expanding the sales tax.

GOP rep chides chamber: Pick a revenue number and get budget going

By Hoang Tran | May 19, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) chastised the House for its lack of progress on a state budget estimate, calling it a failure of the chamber.

Critics pan $5,000 fine over Mautino financial reports, request criminal inquiry

By Glenn Minnis | May 19, 2017

The Illinois State Board of Elections slapped a $5,000 fine on Auditor General Frank Mautino's campaign committee on Monday for failing to comply with board order to update financial disclosure reports filed in 2014 and 2015.

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.

'Absurd' math used to calculate 'Comeback Agenda,' financial pro says

By Karen Kidd | May 18, 2017

There won't be any coming back for high-wage earners who will exit Illinois in a hurry if the so-called "Illinois Comeback Agenda" passes, a financial services professional said.

If budget hopes are scrapped, Illinois could become first 'junk' state

By Glenn Minnis | May 15, 2017

The chances that Illinois will reach a budget before May 31 and avoid seeing its bond rating lowered to the worst of any state in history are 50-50 at best, according to Mark Glennon, founder of the business and government website WirePoints told the Sangamon Sun recently.

Proposed tax poised to topple home builder industry, group argues

By Justin Stoltzfus | May 12, 2017

Cutting the red tape rather than wrapping the home construction industry in more regulations and taxes is the only way to keep such businesses in Illinois, Dennis Sweeney told the Rockford Sun recently.

Study: Seven percent of Rockford employees earn $100K+

By LocalLabs News Service | May 12, 2017

Some seven percent of Rockford employees earn more than six figures, according to an analysis of Illinois municipal compensation by Local Government Information Services (LGIS).

Double funding for dropouts requires repercussions, Syverson contends

By Hoang Tran | May 8, 2017

School districts that get extra money to help deal with high dropout rates also need to be held accountable should a high school student drop out again after being re-enrolled, Sen. Dave Syverson (R-Rockford) said on Tuesday during debate on Senate Bill 446.