Illinois State Senate
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Recent News About Illinois State Senate
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Illinois legislative analyst offers employers tips on handling employee medical marijuana use
Some employers in Illinois are still coming to grips with legalized medical marijuana use. But in some ways, legalized medical marijuana has resulted in little change in employer and employee policies, said Chris Lindsey, Marijuana Policy Project's legislative analyst for Illinois. -
Appellate justices: Reform state hospital permitting process 'corruption tax' jacking up Illinois health care costs
While unanimous in their support of a state permit granted to build a new hospital in McHenry County, two of the three members of an Illinois appellate panel have called on state lawmakers to reform or end the hospital permitting process one of the three justices called “nothing more than an additional corruption tax added to the cost of healthcare in Illinois.” -
Some pushing bankruptcy as solution to troubled Illinois public budgets
In Illinois, increasing pension obligations are consuming more of its taxpayers’ dollars, pushing cities and towns to cut core services and raise property taxes just to keep up with the payments, policy experts say. -
Failed state senate candidate files $1 million defamation suit vs incumbent state senator over campaign flier
Two weeks after his bid to win the Democratic nomination for the Illinois State Senate seat representing several south suburban communities ended in defeat, a Hazel Crest lawyer and local library board member has brought a defamation lawsuit against the incumbent state senator who bested him, claiming a flier allegedly distributed by the incumbent’s reelection campaign went too far. -
Senate Democrats OK $3.9 spending bill; Republicans: Without the cash, it’s a sham
SPRINGFIELD — Senate Democrats on Thursday passed a bill to OK nearly $4 billion in state spending while their GOP colleagues called the effort a hoax on the public and even on the institutions the money is intended to benefit. -
IL college, university officials paint grim funding picture; Pensions 'sucking the air' out of higher ed
University presidents and other higher education officials have told lawmakers they must decide what they want from the state’s colleges and universities. -
Democrats fail to override Rauner MAP grants veto; Compromise effort may be next
SPRINGFIELD — Democrats on Wednesday came up two votes shy of overriding Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of a bill to authorize $721 million to fund tuition grants and community colleges. -
Durkin: Workers comp compromise could be key to unlock budget impasse in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — House Minority Leader Jim Durkin on Monday suggested the workers’ compensation system might be the point where Republicans and Democrats get together and start breaking the month-long impasse that has left Illinois without a budget. -
Rauner to lawmakers: Make a choice; Democratic leaders: Little has changed
SPRINGFIELD — Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner used his annual budget address Wednesday to put two choices before legislative Democrats who control both houses of the state legislature: The General Assembly can grant him, the state’s chief executive, the authority to make the cuts that will allow Illinois to spend what it’s bringing in, about $32.8 billion Or, Rauner said, lawmakers can agree to some of what he considers essential economic and political reforms and he’ll work with them on a combin -
Illinois family law, child custody rules undergo overhaul
The start of the new year has brought significant changes to family law and the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act (IMDMA), affecting every practitioner and the families they represent in Illinois. -
Brawl over bargaining bill resumes in Springfield; with no AFSCME contract, stakes are high
SPRINGFIELD — The hotly disputed interest arbitration or “no strike-no lockout” bill is back in play in the state Capitol. -
US Supreme Court's move to freeze Obama Clean Power Plan win for 30 states fighting new carbon regulations
The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with nearly 30 states in granting a stay of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan. -
Judge slaps restraining order on access to Topinka campaign money amid lawsuit by late comptroller's son
The campaign funds of the late Judy Baar Topinka are now formally frozen, thanks to an order issued Jan. 22 in Cook County Circuit Court. Cook County Judge Anna Helen Demacopolous granted a temporary restraining order to Topinka’s son, Joseph Baar Topinka, which he’d requested as part of his complaint against Nancy Kimme and Bradley A. Burnett, the chairwoman and treasurer, respectively, of Citizens For Judy Baar Topinka. -
2016 brings changes in statewide labor and employment laws
As 2016 approaches, many new labor and employment laws are set to take effect come January 1. Because the bulk of the legal changes will occur at the state and local levels, legal observers advised employers to stay informed of important changes that may affect their employment practice. -
Survivor band member Sullivan rocks Huckabee campaign for using 'Eye of the Tiger' at rally
Will Mike Huckabee rise up to the challenge of his legal rival? Palatine-based Rude Music, owned by Survivor guitarist Frankie Sullivan, is taking the former Arkansas governor to court over the allegedly unauthorized use of song "Eye of the Tiger" at a public event of his presidential campaign. -
Former Illinois resident U.S. citizens, including vets, now living in Guam, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, sue for right to vote absentee
A group of American citizens and former Illinois residents, including several veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces, now living in Guam, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories, have challenged state and federal laws allowing citizens residing in certain U.S. territories the right to vote absentee in presidential and congressional elections, while denying that right to those residing in other territories, violates their rights. -
Madigan comes up short on SB 1229 override
House Speaker Mike Madigan said on multiple occasions he had the votes to override the governor’s veto. -
Ill. GOP hit with lawsuit over use of altered photo in campaign flier
A photograph used in a campaign mailer in a suburban legislative race is now an exhibit in a lawsuit that was lodged late last month against the Illinois Republican Party, a prosecutor and others. -
WSJ editorial knocks Quinn’s ‘stocking stuffers’ to ITLA; Outgoing governor signs two controversial, legal-related bills into law
QuinnLabeling him “America’s worst governor,” the Wall Street Journal notes in a Dec. 22 editorial that Pat Quinn in his final days as chief executive enacted two laws that are “stocking stuffers” for the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association.Quinn on Friday signed into law legislation, Senate Bill 3075, that will reduce the number of jurors hearing civil cases from 12 to six and increase juror pay to -
Fees to file in Supreme, appellate courts will double Jan. 1
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