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Tag: Illinois General Assembly
NIU State Pension & Budget Update website logo
Northern Illinois University’s updated State Pension & Budget Update website debuts Feb. 22 in conjunction with Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget address. The governor’s address traditionally begins the budget process in the State of Illinois. The updated website includes a link to view or listen to the governor’s budget speech, pension reform information and updates as...
Stack of money next to ruler
In Springfield … This will be a very busy week in Springfield. Gov. Pat Quinn will give his Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Message at noon Wednesday, Feb. 22. You will recall that in his Feb. 1 State of the State message, he talked about his desire to eliminate a tax on natural cost (at an...
Photo of a man hanging his head over a pile of unpaid bills
In Springfield … On January 30, 2012, the Institute for Illinois’ Financial Sustainability at the Civic Federation issued a report, “State of Illinois FY2013 Budget Roadmap: State of Illinois Budget Overview, Projections and Recommendations for the Governor and General Assembly.” The report states that, “given rising Medicaid and pension costs and the scheduled partial sunset of...
On a personal note … I would like welcome Zachary Jordan, a senior at NIU majoring in political science and philosophy, who is interning with our Government Relations Office this spring and will be helping with this column and our legislative updates. Zach has been in the NIU Honors Program for three years, in the...
Photo of a hammer and a nail
Happy New Year, and welcome back to campus. This should prove to be a very interesting year at both the state and federal levels. In Washington, D.C. … Congress has been on holiday recess since mid-December, returning to session this week. Congress did approve the remaining FY2012 appropriations bills Dec. 15, 2011, which comply with the...
In Springfield… The General Assembly completed its work for this calendar year last week with the passage of two pieces of legislation.  The first (Senate Bill 397) was a $330 million package of business tax breaks, primarily directed to retain the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and Sears in Illinois.  It also included the reinstatement of the...
Wrapped up neatly with a bow ...
In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly reconvened Tuesday to try to finalize some issues left pending during the regularly scheduled fall veto session. Senators passed, with a veto-proof majority, a Chicago Mercantile Exchange/Sears tax relief package (HB 1883); however, this bill was defeated in the House by a vote of 99-8. This bill was a...
Photo of child's alphabet blocks spelling the world "FAILURE"
In Washington, D.C. … As expected, Congress last week approved the first “minibus” Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations, which included funding for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science and Transportation-HUD. It also included an extension of the Continuing Resolution so that the government can operate until Friday, Dec. 16. Of special interest to NIU is the increase in the National Science...
State Pension & Budget Update
In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly finished its second week of the scheduled fall veto session Thursday, Nov. 10. However, the House of Representatives has been called back Tuesday, Nov. 29, to deal with some large, outstanding issues. We are uncertain at this time if the Senate also will be called back. Senate Bill 512,...
State Pension & Budget Update
The House Personnel and Pension Committee endorsed SB 512 on a 5-4 vote Tuesday evening, sending the bill to the House floor for consideration. The bill would create three different “tiers” of pension benefits and costs, some of which would compel employees to pay significantly more; another that would offer reduced benefits; and a third...
John G. Peters
NIU President John Peters joined other university presidents and chancellors from around the state Thursday in signing a letter sent to Gov. Pat Quinn that outlines their objections to proposed changes in the state pension system. “Senate Bill 512, backed by the Civic Committee of the Commercial Club of Chicago, is but one approach. As...
Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn
In Springfield … The Illinois General Assembly convened for the first week of the fall veto session, which began Oct. 25. It was a tough week for Gov. Pat Quinn, with the General Assembly taking the following actions: Collective bargaining House Speaker Michael Madigan introduced HJR 45, which seeks to involve the General Assembly in...
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