Illinois General Assembly
State Government: Elected Officials | State Legislative Bodies
Recent News About Illinois General Assembly
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Illinois' cell phone taxes are the highest in the nation
Illinoisans pay a combined 32.2% tax rate on their wireless service, tops in the U.S., thanks in part to 2017 legislation hiking 911 fees, which was backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan. -
Amend Illinois’ Pension Protection Clause Right, and Act Now
Pensions are Illinois’ biggest problem and they cannot be fixed without an amendment to the state constitution. -
More Madigan loyalists, ComEd officials indicted over roles in alleged bribery scheme
Federal prosecutors unveiled more charges in the investigation that threatens to draw ever closer to Illinois' powerful House Speaker and Democratic Party chairman. -
IL Supreme Court orders restaurant lawsuits vs Pritzker over COVID closures to Springfield judge
Sangamon County Circuit Court Judge Raylene Grischow has sided with Gov. JB Pritzker on similar questions over Pritzker's COVID shutdown powers. -
Cozen O’Connor’s Patrick Martin named to “40 under 40” list by Crain’s Chicago Business
Patrick Martin, Principal and Midwest Director of Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, has been named to the 2020 Crain’s Chicago Business “40 under 40” list. -
Pritzker, A/G ask appeals court to apply ruling OKing Pritzker's COVID shutdown powers statewide
The appeals court on Nov. 6 became the first state appeals court to shoot down the challenge to time limits on Pritzker's emergency powers. But, because of the way it was issued, it can't be used yet by other courts hearing cases based on similar claims challenging Pritzker's authority. -
Geneva restaurant lawyers: Appeals court judges OKing Pritzker's powers 'play politics,' now appealing to IL Supreme Court
Lawyers for FoxFire restaurant in suburban Geneva say they'll ask the Illinois Supreme Court to answer the question of whether Gov. JB Pritzker can continue governing by executive orders for as long as he deems necessary. -
Appeals panel: IL law doesn't cap Pritzker's ability to declare disasters, use emergency powers vs COVID
Appellate judges in Elgin said a Kane County judge was wrong to grant an order blocking Gov. JB Pritzker from forcing a Geneva restaurant to shut down indoor dining as part of Pritzker's efforts to reduce COVID-19 spread in the state. -
UPDATE: McHenry County judges: Pritzker can shutdown restaurants, even if restaurants go out of business
A McHenry County judge said surging COVID-19 infection claims are enough to justify Gov. JB Pritzker's orders shutting down restaurants and bars. -
More suburban restaurants sue Pritzker over COVID shutdown orders
Lawsuits were filed against Gov. JB Pritzker in McHenry and DuPage counties. -
Orland Park mayor: Enforcing Pritzker restaurant orders would leave village open to federal civil rights lawsuits
In a video statement, Orland Park Mayor Keith Pekau said state law delegates enforcement of Pritzker's COVID orders to state agencies and officials, not local police agencies, cities and villages. -
Judge: 'Fair Tax' ballot language not 'misleading' enough to force IL election officials to correct it
A Cook County judge has issued a written order explaining why she denied an emergency order forcing state officials to correct alleged misleading information about the so-called "Fair Tax" amendment sent to Illinois voters. -
Madigan spent millions to elect, retain Illinois Supreme Court Justice Kilbride
Committees controlled by the speaker of the Illinois House funded more than half of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride’s campaign contributions in 2010. Kilbride is up for retention again this year. -
Judge denies emergency order to block alleged misleading 'Fair Tax' ballot descriptions
A Cook County judge has denied a temporary restraining order sought by opponents of the so-called Fair Tax Amendment, to correct allegedly 'misleading' information from the state concerning the goals and effects of the progressive income tax amendment. -
Lawsuit: Illinois 'Fair Tax' amendment ballot language will mislead voters, must be corrected
The lawsuit, filed by the Illinois Policy Institute and three retirees, asserts the language was written by its Democratic supporters to persuade voters, not to inform them, and disguises the true extent of the powers that would be granted to Illinois lawmakers to tax income, including retirement income. -
Appeals panel: IL law shielding Lyft, ride hailing services from lawsuits for drivers' bad deeds is constitutional
A woman who had been raped by a Lyft driver had argued the Illinois state law regulating ride-hailing services is unconstitutional, because it treats those ride services differently than taxicabs. -
IL Supreme Court: Stepparents through civil unions have same parental rights as those through traditional marriage
The state's high court said the Illinois Civil Union Act always meant to give stepparents who enter a family through a civil union the same rights as those who enter through traditional marriage. -
Trial lawyers keep funding Madigan political war chest, despite bribery scandal; $161K donated in September
Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, who is also chairman of the Democratic Party of Illinois, has been implicated in a federal bribery investigation. Trial lawyers, however, continue to donate money to Madigan's campaign organization. -
Judge nixes bid to block Illinois Vote by Mail over fears of Dem cheating; Affirms limits on ballot harvesting
A federal judge in Chicago said fears of Democratic vote fraud are only "speculative," as he refused a request from Cook County Republicans to slap a hold on Illinois' new election rules, including vote by mail. -
Big Chicago building owners sue ComEd over alleged Madigan bribery scheme
Several Chicago building owners say electric rates skyrocketed, while ComEd pocketed hundreds of millions in profits, thanks to its allegedly successful efforts to allegedly bribe Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan by hiring his allies.