Jim Dey: “The scholarship program is one of the provisions in a massive bipartisan educational reform agreement reached in 2017 between former Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and legislative Democrats led by House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton…Politically powerful teachers unions have led the opposition to Invest in Kids. Following their lead, Pritzker called in 2019 for ending the five-year pilot program ahead of schedule.”

“Shrugging off the census mandate, however, is easier said than done. Litigation is inevitable, the results unknowable and the timetable unpredictable.”

A republication of our Wirepoints article.

New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois all received Es – the lowest possible grade – with taxes topping 14%, 15% and nearly 17%, respectively, as a percentage of income. Illinois also has the highest tax burden at nearly $14,000.

However, Republicans worried about the bill moving forward without knowing how Illinois would pay for the pipe removal. “It seems like what we’re trying to do with this money is put 10 pounds into a 5 pound bag,” Rep. Steve Reick explained. “If we could carve off the cost of doing this out of that federal money and not have it be goring someone else’s oxen, I’d be in full support of it.”

Note: This article includes a link to the senators’ letter

As many Illinois politicians talk about moving toward a clean energy future, Hopkins Park mayor Mark Hodge has found support from U.S. Rep. Robin Kelly, a number of state lawmakers and the Rev. Jesse Jackson to put more than 30 miles of natural gas pipeline in a poor, Black community in the name of economic development.

It would be the first political caucus of its kind. They are 22 women, elected to city, county and statewide office, and they are ready to fight to help moms be moms.