SE Illinois News

From Prairie State Wire

Senate GOP Leader Bill Brady said to have voiced private support for abortion funding, gun control legislation

By W.J. Kennedy | 5 years ago

Former high-level aides to Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has revealed that Senate Republican Leader Bill Brady (R-Bloomington) told the then governor he was right for signing HB 40 in September 2017, the law requiring Medicaid funding of abortions. At a separate meeting, Brady also recommended that the governor sign gun control bills should they reach his desk.

From Prairie State Wire

Pritzker’s claims of paying down pension debt “simply dishonest,” fiscal watchdog says

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

The recently approved state budget hardly makes Illinois the beacon of fiscal prudence that Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker and legislative leaders claim it is, budgetary analysts at Wirepoints say.

From Prairie State Wire

Madigan 'bullying' income tax increase through legislative process

By W.J. Kennedy | 6 years ago

House Speaker Michael Madigan used his absolute power over the legislative process to move legislation to the floor on Friday that exchanges Illinois’ constitutionally mandated flat income tax with a progressive tax.

Ballot hijinks lead Southern Illinois Republicans to challenge party leadership vote

By W.J. Kennedy | Apr 19, 2018

Governor Rauner and his hand-picked state GOP Chairman Timothy Schneider are declaring victory in Southern Illinois. But did they actually win?

Reis silent on earlier support for embattled Mautino

By W.J. Kennedy | Feb 16, 2018

State Rep. David Reis (R-Willow Hill) had plenty to say on the House floor in October 2015 about his resolution endorsing former Rep. Frank Mautino, a Democrat, for auditor general. But he has nothing to say – at least to SE Illinois News – about Mautino’s ongoing troubles in the courts over questionable expenditures by his now-defunct House campaign.