Springfield News
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Prospects for passage of SB1657 in the House, a bill creating state gun dealer licenses, dimmed Tuesday with the absence of Sen. Iris Martinez (D-Chicago). A key component of Rep. Kathleen Willis’ (D-Northlake) strategy to garner votes in the House includes passage of a trailer bill, SB333 FA1, which would limit license fees and give dealers a five year period to comply with new regulations.
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Following the Saturday appointment of Legislative Inspector General Julie Porter by the ethics commission, Senate President John Cullerton has promised swift action during the second half of Veto Session. Cullerton intends to arm the office with new statutory authority.
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NOV 07, 2017
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NOV 07, 2017
State Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Northlake) is counting votes this week with plans to call her gun dealer regulation bill, SB1657, on Wednesday if she has the votes. Following last weekend’s mass shooting in Sutherland Springs, Texas, gun control advocates are taking a different tack in the second week of veto session, after Rep. Marty Moylan’s (D-Des Plaines) bump stock and trigger modification bill failed in the House by a wide margin.
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NOV 03, 2017
Cook County Democratic Party officials gather around Sen. Kwame Raoul (D-Chicago) after announcing their endorsement of him for Illinois Attorney General. Credit: Mike Fourcher.
Eight candidates trooped through the crowded conference room in downtown Chicago. Then the Cook County Democratic Party decided after two hours of speeches and about fifteen minutes of deliberation to endorse State Sen. Kwame Raoul for Illinois Attorney General. While candidates often trot out their resumes and tout their policy plans at slating meetings, the endorsements are usually as much about relationships than they are about qualifications.
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NOV 03, 2017
A bipartisan Medicaid funding bill that keeps many of Illinois’ safety net and rural access hospitals open will be likely delayed until January, say members of a legislative panel tasked with crafting the legislation. The legislation, while free of partisan rancor, will likely lead to major changes in Illinois’ hospital system, possibly even hospital closures.
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NOV 01, 2017
After a House panel heard testimony from victims of alleged sexual harassment by lawmakers, House Speaker Michael Madigan (D-Chicago) committed to throwing his weight behind the search for a new Legislative Inspector General and equipping the office with the necessary authority to conduct independent investigations into lawmaker ethics breaches.
