Statewide Update—Feb. 17, 2011

Photo courtesy lilhelen/Flickr

State Journal Register—Pension changes likely to be decided by state Supreme Court, “It will be up to the Illinois Supreme Court to decide whether changes to pension benefits for current state employees are constitutional, House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, said Wednesday.”

• Bloomington Pantagraph—Lawmakers: Quinn’s proposal mostly falls short, “Although most lawmakers found at least a little to like about the governor’s relatively brief, broadly themed speech, all agreed it will be tough to reach an agreement on how to pay a mountain of old bills while financing current programs.”

• SouthtownStar—Editorial: Better, but Quinn’s budget still falls short, “We wholeheartedly agree that Regional Offices of Education are a waste of money—we learned that firsthand when we uncovered the corruption taking place at the Suburban Cook County office under the beleaguered Charles Flowers, who is charged with stealing $376,000 in public funds.”

• Daily Herald—Illinois EPA asks state to act against salt discharge in Bartlett, “The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency released a statement saying Bluff City Materials Inc. stored as much as 50,000 tons of salt at one time at 1950 Vulcan Blvd. in Bartlett and asking the attorney general’s office to take steps to make sure the salt is stored in an environmentally safe way.”

• Rockford Register Star—Rockford, Winnebago County leaders back school board review, “Mayor Larry Morrissey and Winnebago County Board Chairman Scott Christiansen said an independent review of the School District’s financial state could help settle the disagreement between the district’s money experts and its teachers union.”

Statewide update—Feb. 16, 2011

• SouthtownStar—Quinn plays it close to vest, “Quinn is scheduled to lay out his budget proposal at noon today before a joint session of the General Assembly. The governor has guarded specifics on his budget plan, but he’s expected to propose a mix of painful spending cuts and ways to raise money for the state coffers.”

• (AP) Daily Herald—State police director to go to another agency, “Quinn announced that Jonathon Monken, acting director of the state police for nearly two years, will take over as chief of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The Senate was poised to block his appointment as permanent police chief Wednesday.”

• (Gatehouse News Service) Rockford Register Star—GOP seeks to reinstate death penalty if Quinn signs repeal, “Two Republicans have introduced bills that would reinstate and further reform the death penalty if Gov. Pat Quinn signs a bill abolishing it.”

• Naperville Sun—U.S. Census shows Naperville still growing, “The census is one way to ensure counties and municipalities receive their fair share of state and federal funding. These numbers also are used to redraw federal, state and local legislative districts taking into account population shifts since the 2000 census.”

• Park Ridge Herald Advocate—City Budget: Uptown TIF debt going nowhere soon, “So far the TIF District has not generated the amount of revenue needed to pay debts the city incurred. As a result, money from the city’s general fund has been used to pay TIF expenditures, including annual bond payments. In 2011-12, the city expects to make $2.9 million in bond payments.”

• Rockford Register Star—Harlem Township supervisor proposes raise for employees, “Supervisor Doug Aurand proposes a 2 percent wage increase for all township employees this year as part of the 2011-12 township budget, which was presented today. The board is scheduled to approve the new financial plan March 14.”

• St. Louis Post Dispatch—Drug tests for Illinois lawmakers up for debate, “Part of the Republican attempt to crack down on drug abuse during this legislative session is a bill requiring candidates for state Representative or state Senator to submit a drug test with their nominating papers.”

Statewide update—Feb. 15, 2011

• (AP) State Journal Register—Quinn signs bill limiting free mass transit access, “Gov. Pat Quinn signed legislation Monday that ends a policy of letting all senior citizens ride free on mass transit systems. Now, elderly people above a certain income level will have to pay.”

• (Gatehouse News Service) Peoria Journal Star—Expect Quinn to seek more cuts, new taxes, “Even with higher income taxes, Illinois won’t have enough money to pay all its expenses for the coming year, let alone cover the billions in old bills that have been allowed to pile up.”

• State Journal Register—IDOT hiring case in hands of federal jury, “Either 16 Republicans were fired from their former jobs at the Illinois Department of Transportation early in the reign of Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich because of their party affiliation, or IDOT leaders at the time were just trying to follow budget office orders to reduce headcount – and didn’t even know which party label fit some of the 16.”

• Rockford Register Star—Late state funds mean school cuts in South Beloit, “The South Beloit School District is preparing to cut between $350,000 and $500,000 from next year’s budget on account of delinquent state money.”

• SouthtownStar—Preckwinkle donor gets job, big pay, “Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle is recommending that the board approve a huge pay raise — more than $43,000 — for one of her newest hires, a high-ranking staffer who’s been a regular contributor to her campaigns.”

• SouthtownStar—Judge orders new hearing in Oak Lawn election case, “A Cook County judge on Monday ruled that a challenge to the nominating petitions of an Oak Lawn trustee candidate should return to the village’s election board for an evidence hearing.”