Illinois State Politics
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Senator tries last-ditch push to boost horse racing industry in Illinois
May 29, 2025 5:33 pm - City officials from Decatur and Illinois horse racing advocates joined an effort this week by Sen. Patrick Joyce, an Essex Democrat, to push lawmakers to approve legislation intended to revive a long-stalled south suburban “racino” and open a path for a new racetrack and gaming facility in Decatur.
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Pritzker threatens to veto any budget containing ‘broad-based’ tax increase
May 28, 2025 8:50 pm - Gov. JB Pritzker said Wednesday he will not sign a budget that includes broad tax hikes to fund new spending as lawmakers are in the final hours of budget negotiations.
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Goodbye, RTA. Hello, NITA? Suburban lawmakers divided over new transit billMay 28, 2025 7:09 pm - Lawmakers propose creating the Northern Illinois Transportation Authority to govern transit agencies, integrate fares and boost security, but suburban Republicans are concerned about Chicago having undue influence.
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Will transit be cut by 40%? Metra, Pace and CTA pushed to the brinkMay 27, 2025 7:44 pm - The fate of Chicagoland public transit hangs in the balance this week as legislators rethink how Metra, Pace and the CTA will be governed and funded.
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Political Roundabout: Mayors in Crespo’s corner, Schneider gets primaried, and is a service tax on tap?May 26, 2025 11:03 am - Suburban mayors are springing to the defense of Democratic state Rep. Fred Crespo of Hoffman Estates. That and more in the latest edition of Political Roundabout.
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State budget talks enter final week amid fears of congressional cuts
May 25, 2025 4:06 pm - With the state budget deadline looming, Illinois lawmakers are grappling with falling revenues and possible federal cuts that could drastically impact health care and other key programs.
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This week politicians can prove they value small businessesMay 24, 2025 1:16 pm - We started with a robust agenda this year in Springfield, which included reining in overly restrictive occupational licenses and supporting folks laid off from their jobs and ready to start businesses.
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‘Vital step’ to ending discrimination: Senate approves bill raising age for senior road examsMay 22, 2025 5:44 pm - Policy also allows family members to report unsafe drivers of any age. Now it’s up to Gov. JB Pritzker who has to sign the bill to make it a law.
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Illinois lawmakers push to ban ‘forever chemicals’ in firefighter gear due to cancer risk
May 21, 2025 9:17 am - A bill to ban the sale of firefighter protective gear containing “forever chemicals” is gaining momentum in the Illinois General Assembly, as lawmakers, union leaders and firefighters themselves warn that the very equipment designed to save lives may be silently endangering them.
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‘The worst emergency I’ve seen’: Crespo reflects on ouster by House speaker over budget planMay 20, 2025 5:59 pm - “We’re going to move forward as a collective,” Speaker Chris Welch says. Lawmaker says he was “just trying to be helpful.”