Illinois State Politics from the Chicago Journal.
Chicagoland News
Thomas Cullerton, a Democrat from the Chicago suburb of Villa Park, was sentenced on a federal embezzlement charge for fraudulently receiving salary and benefits from the Teamsters union.
Illinois Politics
A reluctant politician and no-nonsense prosecutor whose career success was tempered by personal tragedy, Ryan died at his home in DuPage County on Sunday after “several lengthy illnesses,” family spokesman Dan Curry said.
Illinois Politics
The suit asks a judge to prevent election authorities from counting mail-in ballots that arrive in the days following in-person voting, arguing that a ballot “is not a legal vote unless it is received by Election Day.”
Chicago Politics
The bribe was part of a scam that involved popular but technically illegal “sweepstakes” games and involved the state senator and the son-in-law of a once-powerful Cook County politician.
Illinois Politics
At issue is a sign retailers must post on each fuel pump as a result of the General Assembly and Pritzker freezing the motor fuel tax from its scheduled automatic inflation adjustment.
Law
The 78-year-old was thought to be seeking another term in November but she announced her retirement will be effective July 7, 2022.
Chicago Journal
Governor Pritzker blamed Republicans who opposed tactics to stop the spread of COVID-19 and suggested LaSalle visitors who refused to comply with safety measures such as face coverings and social distancing unwittingly carried the virus into the LaSalle nursing home.
Chicago Journal
Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Tuesday signed into law a state budget that aims to soften the blow of inflation with $1.8 billion in tax breaks and direct payments to Illinois consumers, an outline Republicans derided as an election-year ploy.
Illinois Politics
The move recalls a darker fiscal period in the early 2000s when feuding Gov. Rod Blagojevich and House Speaker Michael Madigan cobbled together state spending with “fund sweeps,” taking what appeared to be large unspent balances in special funds to shore up the operating budget.
Chicago Journal
The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Lindsey LaPointe (19th District), directs state pension funds to eliminate any investments in Russian-based companies, prepares the state to accept Ukrainian refugees, and sets up a group to study Russian money-laundering in Illinois real estate.
Chicago Journal
There’s nothing illegal about the ad or the way it was executed, said Kent Redfield of the University of Illinois at Springfield, but Pritzker “putting money into a second group and having that group spend the money on your behalf is something less than maximum transparency.”
Illinois Politics
Illinois Democrats outlined anti-crime measures Friday amid pressure from rising violence and Republican critics, promising more in the final days of the Legislature's spring session.