McSweeney Bill Prohibiting Tax Dollars for Legislative Sexual Harassment Payouts Signed

A press release from State Rep. David McSweeney: McSweeney Bill Prohibiting State-Funded Sexual Harassment Payoffs Now Law Springfield, IL –Taxpayers in Illinois can now rest easy knowing state money will not be used to protect state legislators from sexual harassment … Continue reading

Legislators’ “Cadillac” Health Benefits

State Rep. David McSweeney is featured in an article about legislators’ health insurance in an Illinois Network News article.  (The Illinois News Network is a part of the Illinois Policy Institute.) The headline is GA health benefits cost taxpayers $1.2 … Continue reading

Legislators Visiting Jacobs HS Next Tuesday Night

An invitation for Algonquin School District 300: Community Invited to D300 Legislative Forum on February 23 at Jacobs High School Community Unit School District 300’s Board Community Engagement Committee will host The District 300 Legislative Forum at Jacobs High School on … Continue reading

Bruce Rauner Says “Political Stunts” Won’t Solve Pension Crisis

A press release from GOP gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner: Rauner Statement on Gov. Quinn Suspending Lawmakers’ Pay Republican candidate for governor Bruce Rauner issued the following statement regarding Pat Quinn’s plan to suspend lawmakers’ pay: “This would be a good … Continue reading

About Half of Legislative Pensions Increased 3% July 1st, Health Benefit Deductions of 1% Begin for All State Retirees

It’s unlikely that many, if any, current members of the Illinois General Assembly know it, but their delaying pension reform past the end of June benefited about half of their retired colleagues. Who won? Those with birthdays in the first … Continue reading

BGA Rolls Out State and Local Government Pension Data Base, Downstate Police & Fire Missing

An email arrived from the Better Government Association’s Andy Shaw. It announces the unveiling of its data base of state and local governmental pensions. “We’ve updated the BGA Payroll Database of 500,000 government workers with 2012 numbers and, for the first time, … Continue reading

Tryon Proposes Bill to Tax Visiting Wisconsin Legislators

State Rep. Mike Tryon (R-Crystal Lake) is introducing legislation today that will apply the Illinois income tax to visiting legislators from Wisconsin and Indiana. Noting that the Democrats passed legislation to “close corporate loopholes” which resulted in Illinois taxing planes … Continue reading

The Lawyer-Legislators’ Defense

One of the way lawyers in the General Assembly make money is by attracting clients who have not only a business agenda, but a legislative agenda. Because state law does not require attorneys to list their clients, there’s no central … Continue reading

Income Tax Hike, Best Cure: Dose of Prevention

The following was written by my former colleague Penny Pullen. She serves as state president for Eagle Forum of Illinois and is active in Republicans of Wheeling Township. “No man’s life, liberty or property is safe while the legislature is … Continue reading