Illinois Government News

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois General Assembly has just two weeks left in Springfield before it adjourns for the summer, leaving lawmakers with a tight deadline for action on issues including tackling the state's pension crisis, gay marriage and how guns will be allowed to be carried in public.

An Illinois agency manager might have to delay retirement. A former university secretary wonders if she'll have to cancel vacations.

Former acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service Steven Miller was rolling along pretty good on Friday, bravely facing down his inquisitors from the House Ways and Means Committee .

In what appears to be a situation of dueling pension reform measures, the Senate bypassed consideration of a pension measure being pushed by the House Speaker to debate the merits of a pension proposal backed by the Senate President.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at the news this week that the Illinois Retired Teachers Association says it will sue even if the most wimpy pension reform bill - backed by the government worker unions - becomes law.

Area state representatives say they'd like to have a House vote on Senate President John Cullerton's union-backed pension reform bill.

Please consider this commentary as Part 5 of the "Raw Milk Regulations and Transparency" series presented in this paper every week since the April 17 issue.

Surrounded by Midwestern cornfields, it's hard to think of Illinois as part of the Wild West.

The Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation is looking for 10 people to honor as Illinoisans of the Day at the fair this August in Springfield.

Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, center, is congratulated by Sen. Terry Link, D-Waukegan, right, after a vote on gambling expansion last year.

Congresswoman Robin Kelly , a Democrat, voted yesterday to uphold Obamacare and protect Illinois' working families, women and seniors by voting against the Patients' Rights Repeal Act, which marks the 37th effort of the Tea Party-led House Republicans to derail the law.

The Illinois House voted 62 to 51 to pass Senate Bill 1 , pension reform amendments to the pension bill for four of the five pension systems in Illinois crafted by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, May 2. SB1 must first pass the Illinois Senate before it reaches Gov.

The scandal forced the acting head of the Internal Revenue Service [IRS] to step down this week, and is prompting Congressional investigations.

THE ISSUE: 2 fatal Streator motorcycle accidents OUR VIEW: Everyone has a duty to be careful May is Motorcycle Awareness Month in Illinois.

Yes, it sucks to be the Illinois Republican Party. The Democrats have veto-proof majorities in both houses of the General Assembly, and a Republican last won the governorship when the Bulls last won an NBA championship.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation on Friday.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation today.

Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn must decide if he will sign a measure allowing the use of marijuana for medical purposes after the state Senate approved legislation on Friday.

The mother of a southwestern Illinois teenager killed a car crash is being accused of giving her son beer and whiskey before the accident.

Add Triple-A to the list of organizations opposed to a higher speed limit. Brad Roeber, president of the Aurora-based Triple-A Chicago Motor Club, says his organization is concerned about safety.