Springfield News
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OCT 20, 2017
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(L to R) Our guests Stacy Davis Gates (CTU), Matt Murphy (Mac Strategies), and Dan Shomon (Dan Shomon Inc.) preview the upcoming veto session at the Illinois General Assembly on The Daily Line's Aldercast. Credit: A.D. Quig
This week on The Daily Line’s Aldercast, publisher Mike Fourcher joins a panel of Springfield lobbyists to break down what might happen during next week’s veto session at the Illinois General Assembly. On Tuesday, the members reconvene to finish up the 2017 legislative agenda, all while they’re passing petitions for 2018 elections. So what’s being prioritized and what will be left behind?
Democrats are talking about passing a student loan forgiveness program. Conservatives want to pass a new law limiting abortions paid by taxpayer money. After the mass shooting in Las Vegas, momentum seems to be building for some kind of gun reform. What else is on the slate? And how much will actually get through that could be signed by Gov. Bruce Rauner? Our group of Springfield lobbyists sounds off:- Matt Murphy, a former Republican state senator from the Northwest Suburbs, now a lobbyist with Mac Strategies
- Dan Shomon, a long time state senate Democratic staffer who later became the campaign manager for then-Senator Barack Obama. Dan is also a lobbyist who runs Dan Shomon Inc.
- Stacy Davis Gates, a one-time teacher, now the Chicago Teachers Union’s legislative director.
Questions, comments, or recommendations? Send us an email: [email protected]. -
OCT 20, 2017
The wide, unpredictable distribution of renewable energy sources on the electricity grid was the topic of a pair of policy session panels before the Illinois Commerce Commission Thursday. Held in Chicago’s Bilandic Building, the first panel focused on the infrastructure needs of the interstate transmission system as the use of distributed energy resources (DER) increases. The second panel examined the market economics of renewables. -
OCT 20, 2017
Job loss figures from the Illinois Department of Employment Security (DES) have punched a hole in employment data from across the state. Three state pension funds meet for the final time this year, while Automatic Voter Registration needs a cash injection to get it established across the state.
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OCT 19, 2017
Editor’s Note: Excluded from this map are those committees which are scheduled to meet but which currently have no legislation to consider beyond simple resolutions. The Daily Line publishes a complete schedule of weekly meetings and agendas for state legislative and executive bodies every Monday morning.
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OCT 18, 2017
Interstate Commerce Commission staff attorney William Harvey answers questions before the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Tuesday, which was held in a 5th floor Bilandic Building auditorium, rather than it's usual 6th floor hearing room. Credit: Mike Fourcher
The Joint Committee on Administrative Rules reviewed and entered no objection to 29 rules submitted by Illinois agencies Tuesday, only pausing briefly to act technical questions on new rules on renewable energy, energy efficiency and teacher and principal licensing. The hearing, held in a substitute fifth floor auditorium in the Bilandic Building in Chicago, as the normal hearing room was taken by separate hearing on pensions. -
OCT 18, 2017
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OCT 18, 2017
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OCT 17, 2017
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OCT 17, 2017
New rules for the Renewable Portfolio Standard, loosened rules for teacher licensure, and the elimination of a taxpayer ombudsman at the Illinois Department of Revenue are expected to sail through the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR) meeting Tuesday morning. Committee members contacted by The Daily Line say every one of the 29 items up for consideration are slated for the “No Objection” list.
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The week’s press conference schedule suddenly picked up steam yesterday, adding a new slate of bill showings and issue-focused talks by advocacy groups to the Springfield calendar. With only six days left before the General Assembly gavels in for its October Veto Session, more groups are expected to jockey for lawmaker attention before the week’s end.
