SE Illinois News

'Let the people decide': Niemerg calls for fair maps ballot measure

By Karen Kidd | Jun 23, 2021

Illinois' now-passed partisan redistricting that produced blatantly unfair maps illustrates that the majority who want fair maps need to speak louder, a downstate freshman state representative said.

Crete GOP Chair: Morrison's objections to gender-neutral bathroom bill make him 'a statesman and a hero'

By Karen Kidd | May 4, 2021

A "statesman and a hero" will say the right thing even when a colleague cries "transphobic," a Crete Township Republican official said after Rep. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) was called that by the state House sponsor of a gender-neutral bathroom bill now in the Senate.

From Metro East Sun

Rep. Shimkus' retirement plans on hold – at least for the moment

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

Illinoisans may find out next week whether longtime Southern Illinois Republican Congressman John Shimkus (R-Danville) will change his mind about retiring from the 15th Congressional District seat he has held for more than 20 years.

From Prairie State Wire

U.S. Senate Resolution: No bailing out Illinois

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

The Land of Lincoln is suffering a number of financial woes, fueled in large part by unfunded pension liabilities, but neither Illinois nor any other state should expect a bailout from Uncle Sam, according to a resolution introduced into the senate last summer.

From Southern Illinois News

Sen. Fowler among four state lawmakers planning to attend Carbondale Senior Fair

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

Illinois state Sen. Dale Fowler (R-Harrisburg) is expected to be among four General Assembly lawmakers attending the Senior Fair in Carbondale next week, according to an event announcement and information on the senator's website.

Sen. Righter says he opposed lawmaker pay raise in unbalanced FY2020 budget

By Karen Kidd | Jul 19, 2019

Illinois state Sen. Dale Righter (R-Mattoon) said in a recent statement that he opposed the pay raise for state legislators that ended up being part of the state's unbalanced $40 billion fiscal 2020 operating budget.

From Prairie State Wire

'Dirty tricks' alleged in 2016 primary were not illegal, Team Madigan claims in Speaker's defense

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

Even if Illinois state House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) used "dirty tricks" to fend off 2016 primary challenger Jason Gonzales, the strategy allegedly employed was not illegal, according to a re​cent court filing.

From West Central Reporter

Rep. Hammond renews call for fair maps, supports petition to end gerrymandering

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

A Republican Illinois House representative from the 93rd District earlier this week renewed her call for fair maps and pushed support for an independent map-drawing petition following a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear gerrymander cases.

Bailey on castration suggestion: 'We are not dogs and cats'

By Karen Kidd | Apr 26, 2019

There are better ways to reduce abortions besides forced castration, as reportedly suggested by a DuPage County area lawmaker earlier this month, said state Rep. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) to SE Illinois News during a recent interview.

Russell: Increased minimum wage will result in 'significant net loss of income'

By Karen Kidd | Feb 22, 2019

The six-year minimum wage spike signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker earlier this week will be unlike any other such increase in Illinois, a Saline County official and businessman said during a recent interview.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinios education officials want half the state's budget, Wirepoints warns

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois education officials are out to get half of the state's budget—and they just might—to the detriment of the state's taxpayers, according to an online Wirepoints newsletter issued earlier today.

From Prairie State Wire

IPI: FBI's secret Madigan recordings in affidavit reveal nothing new about speaker's operations

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's powerful House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago), earlier today revealed to be a target in the same FBI investigation that led to an extortion indictment against a Chicago alderman, is not accused of anything new, a think tank reported.

From Prairie State Wire

Legislature overrides some Rauner vetoes, fails on others

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's outgoing Republican governor saw a few of his vetoes overridden during the Fall Veto Session in Springfield and a few new laws have been passed, a QUAD city area lawmaker said in a summary recap released last week.

From Prairie State Wire

State facing huge debt for public-sector retiree health benefits, says Wirepoints

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's "other debt disaster" is $73 billion in unfunded state retiree health insurance benefits and more than twice that amount owed over the next four decades, according to a special report issued this week by an online news outlet.

From Prairie State Wire

FY19 Budget: 'Not one penny should be spent on pork,' Ives says

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) believes state lawmakers need to reject political pork spending that was hidden in the budget passed earlier this year.

From Prairie State Wire

Pro-economic liberty group launches campaign against soaring Illinois property taxes

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Supporting a proposal to cut Illinois property taxes in half and a slate of political candidates who would help make that happen is part of Liberty Principles PAC's recently announced "Save Your Home" campaign.

Winchester received 100 percent of the vote in Hamilton County, affidavit states

By Karen Kidd | May 22, 2018

Robert Winchester, incumbent and longtime Republican State Central Committeeman in the 15th Congressional District who reportedly "lost" that seat in the now-contested race in April, received 100 percent of the vote in Hamilton County, a party official in that county said in an affidavit.

From Prairie State Wire

Better Government Association says Obama didn't say fathers in the home is a solution to gun violence -- but he did

By Karen Kidd | 7 years ago

Sometimes the fact-checker needs a good fact-checking.

Williamson County Board chairman opposes tax freeze, urges Rauner, Madigan to 'stop mandates' instead

By Karen Kidd | Nov 29, 2017

House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) and Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner are more worried about their public image than in freezing property taxes, which state legislators should oppose, Williamson County Board Chairman Ron Ellis said during a recent interview.

12 counties to benefit from Dakota Access Pipeline donation to Illinois 4-H Foundation, FFA

By Karen Kidd | Nov 6, 2017

Illinois FFA Foundation and Illinois 4-H Foundation recently received checks for $60,000 from Dakota Access Pipeline to benefit local youth in the 12 Illinois counties, according to a Nov. 1 release.