Sara Wojcicki Jimenez
State Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez sits behind a stack of reports and findings related to the House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force.
Rachel Otwell/NPR Illinois

IL + #MeToo: “You Can’t Legislate That”

This month marks a year since the Me Too movement went viral as a hashtag on social media (after having first been started in 2006 by Tarana Burke.) This week, we hear from several women in Illinois whose work in government has been affected. Today we hear from State Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez of Springfield who is the Republican spokesperson for the House Sexual Discrimination and Harassment Task Force.

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton and then-Senate Minority Leader Christine Radogno in early 2017.
Brian Mackey/NPR Illinois

Voices In The News 2017

As we get ready to welcome 2018, let's take time to review another wild year in Illinois government and politics. We heard state Senators trying to craft a “grand bargain” to end the budget impasse — and 16 Republicans breaking with the governor to do just that. It was also the start of campaign season, and a time of increasing anger by and about politicians. Here now are some of the voices that made news in 2017.

Piggy bank with Illinois state bird and flower
Mike Thomas/Illinois Public Media

Illinois Misses Deadline To Pass Budget, Consequences Hover

A $36.5 billion plan to rebuild Illinois' crumbling finances passed a critical test on Friday, but a powerful legislative leader said no deal would be reached before a midnight deadline — meaning Illinois will enter its third consecutive fiscal year without a budget.

And it means entering dangerous territory: The state comptroller will be unable to cover basic services ordered by courts, road construction and Powerball ticket sales could halt, and the state's credit rating could be downgraded to "junk."

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