SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois house has approved a symbolic measure expressing opposition to passing an income-tax increase during a lame-duck session when fewer votes are required and outgoing legislators don’t have to worry about re-election. Legislators approved a resolution on the matter on a vote of 87 to 12 Wednesday. Resolutions are not…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The Illinois House failed to overturn the governor’s veto of a bill that would have allowed automatic voter registration at some state agencies. Democrats who advocated for the override Tuesday were four votes shy of the 71 needed to have the bill become law despite the rejection from Republican Gov. Bruce…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Gov. Bruce Rauner’s administration is creating two workplace task forces, but leaders of Illinois’ largest public-employees union say it’s an attempt to distract attention from larger contract issues. Rauner’s office announced Monday the new groups will study job-related injuries and workplace violence. Rauner’s office says the union proposed the groups and…
CHICAGO (AP) – Aaron Schock is accused of allegedly using government and campaign money to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, as well as pocketing thousands of constituents’ dollars. The indictment unveiled this month says the 35-year-old former Illinois Republican ex-congressman hosted annual Washington tours and meet-and-greets, charged a special fee and secretly kept some of the…
CHICAGO (AP) – Aaron Schock is accused of allegedly using government and campaign money to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, as well as pocketing thousands of constituents’ dollars. The indictment unveiled this month says the 35-year-old former Illinois Republican ex-congressman hosted annual Washington tours and meet-and-greets, charged a special fee and secretly kept some of the…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – Republican leaders who met with Gov. Bruce Rauner to discuss Illinois’ budget stalemate say Democrats’ absence is inexcusable and won’t help negotiations. GOP leaders state Rep. Jim Durkin and state Sen. Christine Radogno said Monday after their meeting with the Republican governor that their discussion was productive. But Durkin and Radogno…
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – Missouri mega-donors say a newly approved constitutional amendment to cap campaign contributions won’t keep money out of politics. Almost 70 percent of voters on Tuesday approved capping donations to candidates at $2,600 per election. Checks to political parties can’t exceed $25,000. A spokesman for wealthy donor Rex Sinquefield says that…
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) – The top Democratic leaders in the Illinois Legislature say they will not attend a postelection meeting that Gov. Bruce Rauner called for Monday to discuss ending an epic budget standoff. Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan’s spokesman issued a statement Sunday afternoon saying a scheduling conflict would prevent Madigan from meeting with…
( AP ) Police in Portland Oregon have detained several people as an anti-Trump protest-turned violent with demonstrators breaking windows of businesses and starting a dumpster fire downtown. Police termed it a riot. Police termed Thursday’s night’s protest a riot and told people who had not returned to the designated square where the protest took…
COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) – A University of Missouri student who police say was upset over the results of the U.S. presidential election is accused of posting a threat on a social media app. Columbia police say 23-year-old senior chemistry major Gregory L. Phipps was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of misdemeanor harassment. He later was released…