A new report by the credit rating agency Moody’s says Illinois will set a new record this year when it reports a total net pension liability of more than $300
Report: Illinois Pension Debt Tops $300 Billion wglt.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from wglt.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
WBGZ Radio 2/11/2021 |
By Mark Ellebracht - WBGZ Radio
Illinois State Representative Amy Elik of Fosterburg says the new House Rules approved by the majority party will lead to less transparency and public discussion on legislation. Elik, a Republican, voted against the rules Wednesday calling them almost identical to previous rules that former House Speaker Mike Madigan used to keep his power in the state.
Elik says the rules reduce public input, limit the ability for lawmakers to ask questions during debate, and allow lawmakers to approve legislation without knowing the fiscal impact on state and local government. The vote did, however, limit the terms of the leadership of the speaker and the minority leader to 10 years although Republicans had already set their own rules limiting leaders to 10 years. In an appearance this week on The Big Z, Elik said she’s proud to have been appointed to the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability:
Kimberly Schultz, an assistant general counsel at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services, will succeed Thomas starting next week. Schultz was a policy and budget analyst for the Senate
Rich Hein/Sun-Times; Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP
Illinois House Republican Leader Jim Durkin said he had already spoken with Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch twice in the Democrat’s first ten full days in the top leadership post and the new speaker expressed an interest in “meeting on a regular basis for a cup of coffee or breakfast.”
“That didn’t happen with Mike Madigan,” Durkin told the Chicago Sun-Times.
“Surprise.”
Durkin said “time will tell” if Welch holds to the promise of reaching across the aisle that the Hillside Democrat made in his speech just minutes after ascending to the powerful position leading the House two weeks ago.