One consideration Pritzker says is how he could best fight the changes coming from the Trump administration. “So, you know, how I play a role in that is something I have not decided, but I certainly will be in the fight,” he said.

There has been legislation introduced by Illinois Republicans that would temporarily halt fuel tax rate hikes linked to the CPI. They argue that there is plenty of money in the state’s road and construction fund and that it is time motorists receive some relief at the pump. As of May 12, the Illinois Road Fund had nearly $3.7 billion.

In addition to providing taxpayer-funding stipends for student teaching, HB 1375 would create emergency rule-making procedures for the program. State Rep. Steven Reick said during floor debate that not having the money does not constitute an emergency under the Illinois Administrative Procedures Act.

Despite a push from some Democrats in the majority caucus for progressive revenue, last week, Gov. JB Pritzker indicated there won’t be a need for tax increases. “We’d all like to have more resources, but I think the funding is there to do the things that we absolutely must do,” Pritzker said.

“So Crespo — who’s served in Springfield for 18 years, six years longer than Welch himself — is now a Democratic Party member in exile for not being a ‘team player.’ The unmistakable message: in Welch’s House of Representatives, Democratic moderates who think for themselves and question their own party’s orthodoxies are unwelcome.”

The number of state workers has risen to the highest level since 2008. The Department of Central Management Services says the total headcount is now 55,340. That’s compared to 50,544 in 2019 — about a 9.5 percent increase. This includes a 44 percent increase in staffing at the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and a 15 percent increase in direct care worker roles at the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS).

The bill now would mandate that if the housing provider charges a move-in or move-out fee, the housing provider must provide an itemized list of the cost of the services, including “bundled services.” The measure also would prohibit so-called “junk fees.”

Lawmakers could swap a shell bill with the contents of House Bill 2540, introduced by state Rep. Stephanie Kifowit. The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability described the bill as making “significant changes to the Illinois Pension Code.” Actuaries estimate the package would cost taxpayers an additional $76 billion by 2050 for just three of the five statewide pension systems.

This migration didn’t happen by accident. It was driven by specific policy choices. States such as Tennessee, Alabama, South Carolina and Texas have aggressively courted manufacturers by promising business-friendly policy environments. You can see this on several different fronts. Florida, Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, South Carolina and North Carolina, all built more housing per capita than all of Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Pennsylvania, California, New York and Massachusetts.

Gov. Pritzker, 59, had a net worth of $3.7 billion, which made him the 359th wealthiest person in the U.S. and 15th wealthiest in the state. Lukas Walton, 38, the grandson of Walmart founder Sam Walton, is No. 1 in Illinois.

“Belvidere’s turnaround preceded the Trump administration. It was led by local people who didn’t give up on their community when its major employer, the Stellantis plant, was idled in early 2023. And it was aided by the United Auto Workers, who negotiated a national contract with Stellantis that included a promise to reopen the plant.”

Macomb, Illinois, is at the heart of a new Rust Belt: Across the U.S., colleges are faltering and so are the once booming towns around them. Enrollment is down at many of the nation’s public colleges and universities, widening the gap between high-profile campuses and struggling schools. Starting next year, there will be fewer high-school graduates for the foreseeable

Veteran Democratic strategist Robert Creamer said the absence of clear leadership within the party has created space for a new generation of Democrats—one where JB Pritzker’s unapologetic and almost Trumpian bravado might just strike a chord with the party’s frustrated voters.

>Right now, the city does not allow them, creating further budget binds in the state; If allowed, the state is projected to make another $250 million and the city would net between $50 and $70 million. But Chicago officials say the terminals would impact the city’s agreement with Bally’s.