Illinois Senate leaders plan to vote on a compromise budget deal next week. Democratic Senate President John Cullerton of Chicago and Minority Leader Christine Radogno of Lemont told the Chicago Tribune editorial board that they will put the proposal to a floor vote Wednesday. It would raise income taxes, borrow to pay off overdue bills, expand casino gambling, and freeze local property taxes.
The Illinois House and Senate both voted Friday morning to approve a $600 million short-term funding fix for financially struggling colleges and universities that have been without funding during the state budget stalemate.
U of I President Timothy Killeen and Interim Urbana Chancellor Barbara Wilson told an appropriations committee that some high-profile faculty are looking to leave the university due to the budget stalemate. "I really fear for the brain drain right now," Wilson said. Meanwhile, Killeen says the U of I won't be able to cover the full cost of students' MAP grants should the impasse continue this fall.
With the Illinois Primary coming up next week on March 15th, we’ve been speaking to candidates across the state. Fifteenth District State Senator Napoleon Harris (Democrat, Harvey) is among the three Democrats and two Republicans vying for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Republican Mark Kirk.
The Illinois Senate, led by Democrats, has approved legislation that would let an outside arbitrator settle state-employee wages and working conditions if talks reach an impasse. It passed by a 38-17 vote Thursday and now heads to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner's desk. He vetoed an identical proposal last year.
