Statewide Update—Jan. 24, 2011

• Southtown Star—Worker’s compensation reform could delay borrowing, “Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago) would consider it a “positive side benefit” if progress on worker’s comp makes Republicans more willing to consider borrowing money to pay bills, said spokesman John Patterson.”

• State Journal-Register—Illinois Democrats scoff at rival states’ tax claims, “Illinois Democrats are fighting back against Indiana’s effort to lure companies by portraying the Hoosier state as a better place to do business.”

• Chicago Tribune—Plan would charge state retirees more for health care, “The new push is a crackdown on the rising cost of health care for retired state workers. The program costs the state nearly $500 million a year, and more than 90 percent of the retirees and survivors pay no premiums.”

• State Journal-Register—Top aide leaving attorney general’s office, “Besides being deputy chief of staff for Madigan, Smith has served as the attorney general’s public access counselor for a year, since changes to the state Freedom of Information Act took effect that were aimed at increasing government transparency.”

• Chicago Tribune—Editorial: Curb free rides, “Free rides, of course, aren’t free. The Regional Transportation Authority estimates they cost the transit system $38.5 million in 2009.”

• Rockford Register Star—There’s ‘a lot of mistrust’ on Rockford School Board, “Board President David Kelley said he doesn’t think the board will make substantial progress regarding self-improvement before April 5, [election day].”

• State Journal-Register—Opinion: There’s a reason recall process is convoluted, “…it could be used to oust someone just because they made an unpopular decision. Trying to avoid that is one reason the recall process now part of the state constitution is as convoluted as it is.”

• Rockford Register Star—Rockford City Council to hear outsourcing report at meeting, “The city is hoping to trim some of its $5.5 million deficit by hiring outside agencies.”

Statewide Update—Jan. 5, 2011

• Chicago Tribune, Editorial—Legislators should look at cutting state spending first, “If you cut deeply and still don’t have enough revenue to balance the budget, then you can talk with the people of Illinois about more taxing and borrowing. But only then.”

• Bloomington Pantagraph—Death penalty vote near for lawmakers, “Lawmakers could vote to abolish the death penalty in Illinois as soon as Wednesday.”

• Southtown Star—State democrats nearing vote on tax increase, “Illinois Democrats are edging closer to a possible vote on raising income taxes during a lame-duck session of the state Legislature.”

• State Journal-Register—Plan to limit pension sweeteners advances in Illinois House, “A state constitutional amendment aimed at making it harder to sweeten public employee pensions moved to the floor of the Illinois House Tuesday, but its sponsor, House Speaker Michael Madigan, couldn’t answer key questions about the measure.”

• Bloomington Pantagraph—State lawmakers sign off on redistricting roadmap, “The proposal, approved on a 67-46 vote, requires lawmakers to hold a minimum of four public hearings about new legislative districts.”

• Herald-Review—City primary puzzle shows need to reform law, “The Illinois General Assembly has plenty on its plate right now, but it might be time to update municipal election laws.”

• Daily Herald—Lake County Laborers agree to concessions, “Laborers working for the Lake County Forest Preserve District have agreed to shave raises under a proposed two-year contract extension.”

Statewide Update—Dec. 14, 2010

Editor’s Note: The BGA Think Tank’s “Statewide Update” is a daily summary of policy and government news from around the state. Each morning we scan news outlets from Rockford to Belleville and bring you the headlines that influence policy makers across the state.

• Bloomington Pantagraph, Editorial— More timely budget figures welcome addition: “Government transparency doesn’t just mean making information public; transparency includes making that information easy to find. Therefore, Illinoisans should be happy to see a new “page” on the state of Illinois website that provides more timely information about expenditures — and how they match the budget.”

• State Journal Register (AP)— Gov. Quinn terminates Put Illinois to Work program: “Quinn says he will now focus on passing legislation to increase incentives for businesses to hire new workers.”

• Rockford Register Star— State unemployment insurance tax will go up for nearly all businesses: “A firm’s tax rate is calculated using three factors: its “experience factor,” based on how many of its former employees have filed unemployment claims; the state’s experience rate, calculated by the fund’s expenses and revenues; and an additional fund-building rate to help keep the fund liquid.”

• Peoria Journal Star— District 150 will raise its taxes: “Property taxes to rise 2.4% next year for those within boundaries.”

• State Journal Register, Editorial— Nix illogical expansion of gambling: “We don’t foresee an expansion like this one bringing in more gambling money … We also see it as another step toward treating gambling not as a tourist draw — an important component of the argument for legalizing riverboat gambling 19 years ago — but as a means of extracting money from Illinois citizens.”