Springfield News
-
8:00 a.m. - Springfield - The House Appropriations-Human Services Committee will meet in C-1 of the Stratton Building for a subject hearing on HFS. The committee still has two measures to consider: HB4096, from Committee Chair Rep. Greg Harris, and HB4736 from Rep. Fred Crespo.
-
Fostering education - Pushing out of the Illinois Senate on a 40-15 vote, Sen. Christina Castro’s (D-Elgin) SB2846 has made it to the House. It would set aside funds for the Youth in Care Last Dollar Grant. When FAFSA, Pell and student loans fall short, the Last Dollar Grant would build a funding bridge into Illinois community colleges for young adults aging out of the state’s care. Former foster kids have extraordinarily high rates of incarceration and corrections encounters compared to other 18-year-olds in Illinois. Bill proponents say it would cost the state less than $1 million to send more than 700 students to college.
-
- Active shooter drills - Yesterday, the Senate approved a bill requiring Illinois schools to hold active shooter drills with students. Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounds the legislature over whether there are enough votes to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the Gun Dealer Licensing Bill today. SB2350 passed the Senate unanimously Tuesday.
-
While the decades-awaited Equal Rights Amendment has been parked in the Illinois House Rules Committee since April 11, other pieces of legislation are gaining traction in the General Assembly this week which seek to address issues predominantly affecting women.
-
Double-decade bust - Twenty years after first winning his position as chair of the Democratic Party of Illinois, House Speaker Mike Madigan has been re-elected to the post. Madigan’s re-election busted previous records, making him the state party’s longest-tenured chairman. The single dissenting voice? Peter Janko of Marengo, who supports Madigan for Speaker but wants “new blood” chairing the party.








