This article discusses the State of Illinois’ mounting fiscal challenges which persist despite a major income tax increase enacted in January 2011. The Civic Federation warns that Illinois already has the worst credit rating of all 50 states and could face further downgrades without action to stabilize the State’s finances.
UPDATE: On May 24, 2012 the Illinois General Assembly approved legislation to permit Cook County’s public health system to obtain federal funding for medical services for low-income adults under the Medicaid program. The plan must still be approved by the federal government. House Bill 5007 passed the House by a vote of 62 to 55 and the Senate by a vote of 35 to 22. The Cook County plan…
The Illinois General Assembly passed legislation to end the Legislative Scholarship Program as of September 1, 2012—allowing lawmakers one more opportunity to award the controversial tuition waivers before they are eliminated. House Bill 3810, as amended by the Senate, was approved by the House on May 21, 2012 by a vote of 79 to 32. In addition to ending the legislative tuition waivers as of this…
With two weeks left to go before the Illinois General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn, two budget plans for FY2013 are on the table: Governor Pat Quinn’s recommended budget and an alternative budget framework approved by the Illinois House. The General Assembly is scheduled to adjourn on May 31, 2012. Bills voted on after that date require three-fifths majority to pass, rather than a simple…
This article discusses a bill in the Illinois General Assembly that would extend the life of special taxing districts, or enterprise zones, created to stimulate business growth in blighted areas throughout the State. The Civic Federation says the lack of transparency in tracking companies that benefit from the zones makes it difficult for the Legislature and general public to properly assess…
On May 1, 2012, the Civic Federation announced its support for Governor Pat Quinn’s FY2013 budget recommendation based on an analysis by the Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability (IIFS), the Federation’s State government research arm. This marked the first time that the Federation has supported a Governor’s budget proposal since it founded IIFS in 2008 to expand its State budget research…
This article discusses Illinois fiscal crisis and the Civic Federation’s support for Governor Pat Quinn’s FY2013 proposed budget. Illinois’ already low credit rating could face further downgrades if the current legislative session doesn’t produce sensible reforms that match the magnitude of Illinois’ fiscal problems. The Civic Federation is calling on the Illinois General Assembly to approve the…
(The full text of this article is avalible only to the publication's subscribers.) This article summarizes the Civic Federation’s FY2013 State of Illinois Recommended Budget Analysis, which supports Governor Pat Quinn’s proposed budget as the first budget since the crisis began to offer real solutions to the State’s financial problems. It highlights the Civic Federation’s concern that more…
This Greg Hinz column covers the Civic Federation’s FY2013 State of Illinois Recommended Budget Analysis. The Federation supports the proposed budget because it acknowledges the depth of the State’s financial problems and introduces major reforms that would put Illinois finances on the road to recovery.
(CHICAGO) In a new report released today, the Civic Federation’s Institute for Illinois’ Fiscal Sustainability supports Governor Quinn’s proposed budget for FY2013. The $57.4 billion budget proposal acknowledges the depth of the State’s financial problems and would put Illinois finances on the road to recovery with major structural reforms to the State’s Medicaid program and pension systems. This…
