Brenden Moore

5 days ago | herald-review.com | Brenden Moore

SPRINGFIELD — Democrats in control of the Illinois General Assembly flexed their supermajorities to muscle through a $55.2 billion state budget plan at the 11th hour that, for the second year in a row, will be balanced by a series of tax hikes and other revenue enhancements totaling more than $1 billion. At the same time, efforts to reform the governance structure of Chicago area public transit agencies and boost funding for public transit across the state hit the brakes.

6 days ago | pantagraph.com | Brenden Moore

SPRINGFIELD — Democrats in control of the Illinois General Assembly flexed their supermajorities to muscle through a $55.2 billion state budget plan at the 11th hour that, for the second year in a row, will be balanced by a series of tax hikes and other revenue enhancements totaling more than $1 billion. At the same time, efforts to reform the governance structure of Chicago area public transit agencies and boost funding for public transit across the state hit the brakes.

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Brenden Moore

SPRINGFIELD — Over the past several months, conversations in the Illinois Capitol about public transit have largely centered around a $770 million fiscal cliff facing Chicago-area agencies and lawmakers' demands for reforms to their governance structures in exchange for the new funds. But there has also been a quiet acknowledgement that the 54 public transit agencies in the 95 counties outside of the Chicago region also have funding challenges that need to be addressed in any legislative measure.

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Brenden Moore

SPRINGFIELD — With just over a day until the scheduled adjournment of the spring legislative session, Democratic lawmakers filed a $55.3 billion spending plan that relies on more than $1 billion in tax hikes and other revenue-generating measures.  The plan for the fiscal year that begins July 1 would not increase income tax or sales tax rates, but it would up so-called sin taxes on tobacco, vaping products and certain gambling activities.

1 week ago | pantagraph.com | Brenden Moore

SPRINGFIELD — Legislation that would authorize a race track and casino in Decatur has cleared the starting gate, but continued opposition from a key player in the gaming industry could keep it from reaching the finish line before lawmakers wrap up their spring legislative session later this week. Senate Bill 1473, sponsored by state Sen. Patrick Joyce, D-Essex, passed unanimously out of the Senate Executive Committee on Wednesday.