Under either of 2 bills being considered by the legislature, utility customers would see a small increase in a monthly renewable energy charge — a few dollars a month for a typical household, proponents say.

Under the proposal, the inspector general would be allowed to open investigations and issue subpoenas without approval from lawmakers on the Legislative Ethics Commission. If the inspectors find wrongdoing, they will be allowed to release their findings to the public.

Giving taxpayers greater access to public records might expose more wrong-doing, or it might make dishonest public servants think twice about what they are doing. Even honest government can benefit from public scrutiny and input.

U.S. states collectively held a record $74.9 billion in rainy-day funds at the end of fiscal 2019, the ninth-straight year of increases, according to the latest data from The Pew Charitable Trusts. States theoretically could run operations for a record median 27.9 days with those savings while Illinois has enough for less than one day.

The proposals would prohibit members of the General Assembly from working as lobbyists or in a manner that would require them to register as a lobbyist while they are an elected official. The proposal further bars their immediate family members, spouses or others living with them, from being paid as lobbyists. Any violation would be considered a Class A misdemeanor.

Illinois residents say the government must take action, with 52% saying the government should prioritize addressing high health care costs, including prescription drugs, according to the survey; The government should also prioritize preserving consumer protections and getting health insurance to those who can’t afford coverage, according to survey results.

By levying a $1 tax on any financial transaction completed in the state, supporters have said it would bring in estimated $6 billion annually, not accounting for any behavioral backlash. The Chicago Board of Trade, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, and the Chicago Board Options Exchange would all be targeted by the new tax.

In addition to the $7.3 million in cannabis excise taxes that consumers paid, there’s the state’s 6.25 percent sales tax that’s also applied to the sales of adult-use cannabis. That generated an additional $3,147,928 in taxes.

Opponents of Senate Bill 2565 have said higher speed limits on interstate highways would lead to more crashes, and so the measures have been put in the Senate Transportation Subcommittee on Special Issues – which has no members.“Which means it will be difficult to pass,” Oberweis said. “But they said there will be a hearing on that later on.”

You’ve got Oregonians seeking to cascade into Idaho, Virginians who identify as West Virginians, Illinoians fighting to escape Chicago, Californians dreaming of starting a 51st state, and New Yorkers who think three states are better than one. Illinois state Rep. Brad Halbrook said, “Downstate voices are simply not being heard.”