Questions loom after data center legislation stalls | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The speaker of the Illinois House says he thinks state lawmakers will eventually pass data center regulations, but questions remain over why legislation stalled this spring. The Illinois Clean Jobs Coalition said the state’s House and Senate leadership is woefully out of touch for continuing data center tax breaks and failing to […]
Nearly 100,000 Illinois Uber, Lyft drivers may soon be able to unionize | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A proposal that would allow many Uber and Lyft drivers to form a sector-wide union and engage in collective bargaining passed the Illinois’ legislature last weekend. Illinois is one of only three states to pass a law that allows such contract workers in on labor organizing. State Sen. Ram Villivalam, D-Chicago, […]
Swipe fee battle continues after delay, court ruling | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Illinois is still waiting to benefit from a law promised to generate hundreds of millions of dollars by restricting credit and debit card swipe fees. U.S. District Court Judge Virginia Kendall ruled that a federal order issued in April effectively blocks the Illinois Interchange Fee Prohibition Act that was signed into […]
Amended scooter, e-bike bill heads to governor | Illinois
(The Center Square) – The Illinois General Assembly has passed a bill to regulate e-bikes, scooters and other micromobility devices, but not before the legislation was adjusted due to potential issues with the state’s DUI laws. During the final weekend of spring session, legislators in both the state Senate and House approved the measure setting […]
Taxpayer watchdog calls for accountability after helicopter prom controversy | Illinois
(The Center Square) – A taxpayer watchdog is calling for a potential criminal investigation after allegations surfaced that a suburban Chicago park district official may have used public resources to fund a helicopter prom photo shoot for her daughter. Brian Costin, deputy state director for Americans for Prosperity Illinois, said the allegations involving Quintina Brown […]
Illinois Quick Hits: Housing, megaprojects take backseat to budget talks | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Top Democrat leaders in the Illinois legislature met with Gov. J.B. Pritzker late Friday behind closed doors in the State Capitol. The meeting comes as the General Assembly approaches the final hours before a budget and other major legislative initiatives must pass. The governor told members of the media he is […]
Cost uncertainty follows prescription price cap bill in Senate | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Several Illinois Democrats have made a late-session push to create a state board that would impose price caps on prescription drugs. Prescription Drug Affordability Board legislation remained in the Illinois Senate going into the final weekend of the spring legislative session after financial questions emerged in the House. State Rep. Nabeela […]
Republicans claim fake transparency in early budget, demand better | Illinois
(The Center Square) – At the height of state budget negotiations, Republican lawmakers have said Democrat leaders have again pulled their seat from the table. Meanwhile, progressive lawmakers have continued a push for more new taxes on specific sectors of the state’s economy, which they said will give them the ability to fund programs Illinoisans […]
State absenteeism change follows lowered academic benchmarks | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Months after lowering academic proficiency benchmarks, the Illinois State Board of Education has changed its rating system for public school attendance. Twent-five percent of Illinois students were chronically absent last school year, higher than the national average of 22%. Students are considered chronically absent if they miss 10% or more of […]
Chicago proposes funding tax rebates with salaries from vacant city jobs | Illinois
(The Center Square) – Five Chicago aldermen have proposed new property tax rebates to be funded by salaries for vacant city jobs. Alderman Raymond Lopez filed the ordinance last Wednesday, joined by Aldermen Anthony Beale, James Gardiner, Anthony Napolitano and Brendan Reilly. Under the proposal, each residential property owner could apply once a year for […]