Statewide Update—Jan. 3, 2011

• State Journal-Register—Tax hike among issues looming for General Assembly: “A tax increase, Medicaid reforms, education reforms and workers’ compensation reforms.”

• Peoria Journal Star—Fired IDOT workers get day in court: “16 ex-employees allege their dismissals were politically motivated.”

• Southtown Star—Dump cleanup more than $1 million: “Illinois taxpayers shelled out more than $1 million in 2010 to rid the state of a huge illegal dump that state environmentalists say was the largest in Illinois history.”

• Chicago Sun-Times, Editorial—Reform bill doesn’t fix pension disaster: “On Thursday, Gov. Quinn signed a bill that would reduce benefits for new hires while putting new requirements on local governments to put in enough money to ensure the pension funds will be healthy. The legislation covers Chicago’s police and fire funds as well as those in Downstate communities — all those outside Chicago — that are governed by different rules.”