U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin warns that Illinoisians could lose coverage from Medicaid cuts, urging Illinois’ three Republican members of the House of Representatives to oppose any budget bill that makes major cuts to services.
Ben Szalinski
Posted inRegional
Partisan politics infiltrating non-partisan local Illinois elections
The Democratic Party of Illinois is using tactics from the 2024 presidential election to support candidates in the April 1 elections for school boards and municipal offices, and is also training candidates and supporting them with a six-figure advertising campaign.
Posted inNews
Pritzker’s Revenue Projections for FY 2026 Fall Short, Sparking Budget Uncertainty
Governor JB Pritzker’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget of $55.5 billion is $737 million higher than the bipartisan Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability’s projection of $54.2 billion, raising concerns about the availability of revenue during budget negotiations.
Posted inPolitics
Lawmakers grill mass transit leaders as clock ticks toward funding ‘cliff’
The Chicago Transit Authority, Metra and Pace face a $771 million funding shortfall in 2026, and lawmakers are proposing various reform plans to address the issue, including empowering the Regional Transportation Authority to coordinate more operations between the agencies.
Posted inNews
Illinois schools continuing DEI initiatives despite federal funding threats
The Illinois State Board of Education is not requiring schools to stop diversity, equity and inclusion lessons, despite the Trump administration threatening to pull federal funding from schools that don’t comply with federal discrimination laws.
Posted inPolitics
Pritzker emerging as one of Trump’s most vocal Democratic critics
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has emerged as one of the most vocal Democrats speaking out against Trump since the Jan. 20 inauguration, using his platform to criticize Trump’s policies and actions.
Posted inLocal
Pritzker must address multi-billion-dollar deficit amid federal funding uncertainty
Governor JB Pritzker will present his seventh budget proposal in Springfield, facing a projected $3.2 billion revenue shortfall for fiscal year 2026 and uncertainty about the future of federal funding.
Posted inRegional
While deficit looms in next year’s budget, current-year revenues remain on track $3.2 billion gap projected for upcoming budget discussions
The Illinois Governor’s Office of Management and Budget projects a $3.2 billion deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, as revenue remains on track but the economy is slowing, and spending is on the rise.
Posted inRegional
Bill to phase out subminimum wage for disabled workers clears General Assembly
The Illinois Senate has approved a bill to end the federal minimum wage exemption for workers with disabilities by 2030, with the aim of treating people with disabilities the same and paying them what they’re worth.
Posted inLatest News
Lawmakers return to Springfield as projected budget deficit looms
Illinois lawmakers are facing a $3.2 billion budget deficit for the fiscal year that begins July 1, with Democrats and Republicans disagreeing on how to address it, with Republicans calling for spending cuts and Democrats defending the state’s spending priorities.
