“California, New York, New Jersey, and Illinois have each proposed some form of state wealth tax to expropriate their highest earners. These states are already highly taxed, heavily indebted, poorly managed, and experiencing out-migration…The catalyst for the ongoing state tax revolution might, therefore, end up being the utter fiscal mismanagement of America’s largest, most progressive states.”

Despite multiple prior constitutional referendums to change the way courts handle pre-trial release of accused criminals, lawyers for the state’s top Democrats told the state Supreme Court that Illinois lawmakers did not need to follow the same procedures when abolishing cash bail altogether, because lawmakers should be left free to define “bail” in whatever way they believe best fits the state’s policy goals.

Chris Davis at the National Federation of Independent Businesses said although it’s a well-intended act, he still has concerns for small businesses. “They already stay awake at night wondering who’s going to show up for work in the morning and with this added benefit, it’ll be more difficult for them to determine whether they’re going to have to limit their hours.”

Governors from California, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Washington and Wisconsin joined Pritzker in sending the letter to executives at CVS, Walmart, Rite-Aid, Safeway, Health Mart, Kroger, Costco and Target.

The governor’s proposed budget for the 2024 fiscal year calls for an additional $100 million for Monetary Award Program grants.

State Rep. Sue Scherer said that if every foster family received SNAP benefits, more parents would enter the foster care system. “We’re losing a lot of foster parents because of the fact that they can’t get SNAP benefits unless they qualify, not counting these children that they take on.”

“You have heard from the first responders about the incidents of rape, sexual abuse, the neglect of residents, and even starvations that we can document in the state of Illinois that have taken place in (group homes),” said state Rep. Charlie Meier. House Bill 1298 would require the Department of Human Services to establish a system of sight inspections at the facilities.

Moody’s Investors Service has upgraded Illinois’ bond rating to A3, marking the eighth credit upgrade the state has received in less than two years. In its announcement, Moody’s cited the state’s “improving governance” as a key factor in its decision. Moody’s is one of many firms that now assesses companies and governments on an “environmental, social and governance,” or ESG, framework.

Illinoisans bet more than $275 million on March Madness in 2022, with the state netting more than $2 million in tax revenue. Revenue totals for sports betting in 2022 were the second highest in the nation behind New York.

The latest complaint against Proft follows one filed by the state Democratic Party on Nov. 4, just days before the election, alleging Proft’s PAC illegally coordinated with Bailey’s campaign to oppose Pritzker’s bid for reelection. As an independent expenditure PAC, People Who Play By The Rules is not allowed to coordinate spending activities with a political candidate.

Prosecutors and sheriffs from more than half of Illinois counties filed civil suits, which were consolidated last year. They argue the Illinois constitution requires a system of monetary bail and the legislature doesn’t have the power to remove it.

House Bill 1533 is sponsored by State Rep. Barbara Hernandez. Anyone caught declawing a cat would be subject to an Illinois Department of Agriculture fine of $500 for the first offense and $1,000 for a second violation.

“Fascinating to listen to both sides,” Gov. JB Pritzker said. “It’s clear to me that there’s one side has the much better argument on the SAFE-T Act and I think that will prevail.”

Deputy Solicitor General Alex Hemmer, representing Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Democratic legislative leaders, argued that the legislature has set policy for decades that affect the pretrial process for Illinois criminal defendants, while Jim Rowe, the state’s attorney for Kankakee County, argued that judges should have the option to set a cash bail as “a tool in the toolbox” to ensure that defendants come to the courthouse for trial. The justices gave no timeline for when a decision in the case will be released.

State Rep. Justin Slaughter expects the Illinois Department of Returning Residents Affairs would require roughly $75 million per year to help people get access to housing, potential jobs and financial assistance. He said the governor would appoint a formerly incarcerated person with lived experience to lead this department.

“We have seen the effects of the SAFE-T Act, and we have seen that crime is extremely important to the constituents that we serve all across this state,” state Sen. Steve McClure said. “It is important as ever that the people that are serving on the prisoner review board are the most qualified.” According to state data, board members make $92,305 per year.

“…the House has taken a step backward, repealing that reform and going back to the days when the Rules Committee only allowed a select number of favored bills to move forward in the process, in direct contradiction of Speaker (Emanuel “Chris”) Welch’s promise to continue to reform the rules and bring the chamber out from (Michael) Madigan’s shadow.”

Jim Dey: “…Illinois legislators have grasped for new gambling revenues like a drowning man lunges for a life preserver. Why? They want the revenue. More important, there’s little resistance to levying taxes on activities in which otherwise-tax-averse citizens voluntarily participate.”

“As more and more benefits are legislated by pro-employee lawmakers, more and more employers try to evade the legal employment relationship,” Michael LeRoy said. Some employers will have to bite the bullet and comply, he said, but there will be others who respond by saying “How much can I outsource my work?”

The Illinois Law Enforcement Training and Standards Board sought an opinion from the attorney general on its authority to expand permission for concealed carry to former sheriff’s correctional officers and state prison guards as prescribed by a law that took effect Jan. 1. But Attorney General Kwame Raoul’s office declined in part because it expects lawsuits over the board’s unwillingness to administer the expanded program.

Questions over the influence of campaign cash on the public’s perception of judges’ ability to remain impartial has long been a subject of concern among the legal community in Illinois and elsewhere, resulting in relatively recent calls for a strong rule to make clear when judges should step aside from hearing cases involving people or organizations that fueled their election campaigns.