Durbin noted that Biden’s promise to pick a black woman for the bench “is not the first time that a president has signaled what they are looking for in a nominee….“They’re all going to face the same close scrutiny. This is a lifetime appointment to the highest court in the land. And I just hope that those who are critical of the president’s selection aren’t doing it for personal reasons.”

“The state has yet to make any of the significant financial reforms needed to eliminate the structural deficit and reduce Illinois’ economically burdensome taxes. Spending in the state budget actually has increased – significantly – under Gov. J.B. Pritzker relative to baseline expectations in the state budget. Even if lawmakers and the governor make no further increases to spending in the fiscal year 2023 budget, which is unlikely given that Pritzker has proposed spending increases in each February budget address of his term, then total spending during Pritzker’s first term will be up nearly $5 billion, or 3% higher than

“Politicians may argue, hey, what’s all the fuss? After all, this isn’t taxpayer money we’re talking about. True, but this is money politicians receive from fellow citizens because they’re elected officials gearing up for campaigns. It’s not money meant to enrich politicians’ lives with trips to the Caribbean and taxidermic extravagances like mounted animal heads. And it certainly shouldn’t be spent on fighting off criminal indictments.”

The regularly scheduled State of the State and budget address will go on as planned at noon Wednesday, only at a new venue – the Old State Capitol in Springfield. It was previously scheduled for the House chambers at the current Capitol.

The Senate Education Committee unanimously endorsed two bills that would allow retired teachers to work as substitutes more days in a school year without losing any of their pension benefits.

This is the second time IDOC halted intakes from county jails during the pandemic. The Illinois Sheriff’s Association filed suit against IDOC in March 2020. An appellate court sided with the agency and the Pritzker administration in August 2020, finding that the governor has the authority to control the movement of persons within a disaster area under the authority of a disaster proclamation.

Said Sen. Chapin Rose, “And I want to say one last thing on the whole Republican versus Democrat argument. I’m tired of it. Kids on a bus that were shot at were not Democrats or Republicans. They’re kids.”

Any of the governor’s proposals would need to be approved by the legislature. “Money from COVID, that’s what he’s going to be using to quote-unquote kind of patch the budget instead of doing the real fundamental reforms that need to take place in this state,” Senate Minority Leader DanMcConchie said.

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said it’s “vitally important” to keep schools open safely through public safety measures such as masking, testing and vaccinations. “We know we can keep our schools open,” said Pritzker, a Democrat whose largest school district — Chicago — recently faced a crisis over this very issue.

According to the report, Illinois added 262,600 jobs in 2021, but still lags the state’s pre-pandemic employment level. For each unemployed Illinoisan, the number of job openings was 37% lower than the national average in 2021, making it more difficult to find a job in Illinois than in most states.

Out of concerns of the most recent COVID-19 wave that has now subsided, legislative leaders have canceled every session day so far this calendar year with the exception of one. They are set to return Feb. 15.

The former head of the office that oversees hiring, firing and discipline within the Illinois State Police will need to wait a while to press his claims that a politically connected former employee, who now faces criminal charges, falsely accused him of sexual assault and then used her political ties to Gov. JB Pritzker to get him removed, because he allegedly caught her falsifying payroll records to rake in overtime pay.

If passed, SB 3856 would require colleges to provide all necessary coursework materials for rental, free of charge for Illinois students. The College Board says the average student budget for textbooks and supplies in the 2020-2021 school year was over $1,200 at 4-year public institutions.

Senate President Don Harmon said that the body will turn to its remote committee process this week, rather than meeting in-person. The House will do the same, according to the press release. It is unclear how the governor will deliver the State of the State address.