Springfield News
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Although it has been a relatively mild winter in Illinois and natural gas prices are low, residents gas bills haven’t budged — due in part to the cost of ongoing efforts to replace decades-old natural gas pipes.
A crew works in 2015 to replace a gas line in Portage Park. [Heather Cherone/DNAinfo Chicago]
A years-long dispute over the pipe replacement project between consumer groups and the utility companies heated up this week with the introduction of two bills.
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State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee)
Legislative Inspector General Carol Pope on Tuesday determined State Rep. Allen Skillicorn (R-East Dundee) was actually marching in the Harvard Milk Days Parade when he was recorded as voting on 23 bills in the House chamber on the last day of session in June.
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A bill tabled at the 11th hour a year ago in order to ensure Republican support for the state’s operating budget and infrastructure plan has reemerged in Springfield, and has a new opponent: farmers.
State Sen. Mike Hastings said SB 1407 is needed to protect firms from hiring out-of-state workers. [Hannah Meisel/The Daily Line; submitted]
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Local governments are once again asking lawmakers to restore the share of income taxes municipalities receive from Illinois’ income tax back to 10 percent — a figure cities and towns haven’t seen in a decade — as part of the Illinois Municipal League’s legislative platform for the General Assembly’s spring session.
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Fresh off of a legislative win capping the price of insulin in Illinois, State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) and State Sen. Andy Manar (D-Bunker Hill) are working to create a Prescription Drug Affordability Board, which would limit what Illinoisans would pay for certain medications.
State Rep. Will Guzzardi (D-Chicago) speaks on the floor of the Illinois House. [Hannah Meisel/The Daily Line]
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Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) raked in $95,000 in campaign contributions from six major players in Illinois’ video gaming industry, including operators, a gaming parlor chain and the umbrella association that protects video gaming interests, according to reports filed this month with the Illinois State Board of Elections.
Senate Democratic colleagues applaud new Senate President Don Harmon (D-Oak Park) after being elected to his new leadership post Sunday evening. [Hannah Meisel/The Daily Line]
[Solar Energy Industries Association]
