Former Illinois Rep. Joe Walsh says he’s becoming a Democrat

(The Hill) — Joe Walsh, who previously represented Illinois’ 8th Congressional district as a Republican, said Tuesday he is becoming a Democrat, marking the end of his five-year streak as a political independent after leaving the GOP in 2020.

Walsh announced his formal affiliation with the Democratic Party in a Tuesday Substack post, saying he made the decision because he views the Republican Party as a threat to democracy and the rule of law and thinks defeating the GOP requires “a broad coalition of moderates, progressives, and, yes, even conservatives.”

Written on 6.3.2025.

Still time for Chicago area transit funding solution, House speaker says

Chicago transit is facing major cuts after state lawmakers failed to pass a funding bill. Three bills that could have helped the Bears get their new stadium also failed.

CHICAGO – Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch put the brakes on the massive transit bill in the House, saying it wasn’t ready for prime time.

But fear not, he says.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Proposal to ban at-home sexual assault kits in Illinois awaits Pritzker’s signature

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — At-home sexual assault evidence collection kits are a scam sold online. Now a bill on the governor’s desk would ban the sale, marketing and distribution of them.

While companies selling those kits claim they offer privacy and control, the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul warned consumers against these kits since 2019, because they likely would not be able to be used in criminal court proceedings for improper evidence collection and chain of custody.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Bill aimed at helping Illinois farmers control deer populations heads to Pritzker’s desk

ILLINOIS (WCIA) — Legislation aimed at making it easier for residents to obtain a hunting permit — and to help control the deer population — has passed both the Illinois Senate and House, and is headed towards the governor’s desk.

Under Senate Bill 710, IDNR would implement new rules for the Deer Removal Permit. Landowners would be allowed to let other individuals "destroy" deer responsible for damage under a permit given to the landowner.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Student-led U of I medication abortion bill passes House, Senate

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A bill expanding access to contraception options, including medication abortion, on Illinois college campuses is heading to the governor’s desk.

On Monday, Planned Parenthood Illinois Action (PPIA) announced the passage of House Bill 3709/Senate Bill 2444, which began with a PPIA GenAction University of Illinois student-led movement. This bill amends the Public Higher Education Act to mandate that public colleges in Illinois with health services and a pharmacy have the ability to prescribe and dispense contraception and medication abortion.

Written on 6.3.2025.

With electric prices going up, advocates tried — and failed — to reform the energy sector

Capitol News Illinois

The Illinois Capitol

SPRINGFIELD — Heading into the end of the legislative session, consumer advocates, renewable energy industry groups and environmental advocates were hopeful about a bill that would have overhauled Illinois’ energy industry.

It would have been the largest energy reform in years, touching almost every part of the state’s electricity sector. Some said it would have been as significant as the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act — the law that requires fossil-fuel burning power plants to shutter by 2045.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Eye On Illinois: Stalling of transit bill means substantial reforms still possible – Shaw Local

With the caveat that no proposed legislation is ever truly dead, it was a relief to see House Bill 3438 idled over the weekend.

The Senate approved a plan to raise new money for struggling Chicagoland public transit agencies, but House members weren’t fully on board with things like a $1.50 adder for every online home delivery order or additional charges for taxi and rideshare purchases and new fees for charging electric vehicles.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Top mayoral aides make the case for local grocery tax, sales tax on services

Chicago needs a sales tax on professional services, a local version of the state-eliminated, 1% grocery tax and a greater share of state income and personal property replacement taxes to close its $1.12 billion budget gap, top mayoral aides said Tuesday.

Chief Financial Officer Jill Jaworski and Budget Director Annette Guzman did not sugarcoat the challenges Chicago faces while talking to a handful of alderpersons at only the second meeting of the City Council’s revenue subcommittee appointed by Mayor Brandon Johnson more than a year ago.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Illinois lawmakers again fail to act on hemp, while a new study highlights growing health concerns

A new report on hemp-derived THC highlights growing concerns over its safety, legality and impact on health — even as Illinois lawmakers have failed again to keep the products away from children.

The report by the University of Illinois System Institute of Government and Public Affairs notes that the lack of regulation of hemp means there is no state oversight of ingredients, potency or marketing to kids.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Illinois’ swipe fee law put on hold while being challenged in court

(The Center Square) – Banking groups are applauding the news that Illinois’ controversial Interchange Fee Prohibition Act is being placed on the back burner for a year.

The law would prohibit interchange fees from being charged on portions of credit and debit card transactions that include taxes and gratuities.

The law is currently being challenged in federal court, so the Illinois General Assembly has moved to delay its implementation until next year.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Illinois freezes permitting of new cannabis shops

Social equity companies are typically mom-and-pop startups that don’t have immediate access to the hundreds of thousands of dollars — sometimes millions — required to get legal marijuana businesses off the ground. Typical business loans are out of the question, since banks essentially refuse to lend to anyone in the marijuana business, and investors have been difficult to come by, or only offer sky-high interest rates that industry experts say border on predatory.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Aid-in-dying bill stalls in Illinois Senate after lengthy House debate

(The Center Square) – Aid-in-dying legislation remains at the Illinois Statehouse after it failed to clear the Illinois Senate before legislators adjourned for the summer.

Lawmakers spent well over an hour on the House floor last week discussing an amended version of Senate Bill 1950, which was initially introduced as “sanitary food preparation” legislation.

SB 1950 took language from Senate Bill 9, or the End-of-Life Options for Terminally-Ill Patients Act, which was introduced by state Sen.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Johnson urges state lawmakers to tax the ‘ultra-rich’ to avert mass transit funding cliff

Following state lawmakers’ failure to pass a mass transit funding bill, Mayor Brandon Johnson urged the Illinois General Assembly Tuesday to steer clear of taxes that hammer working people, and instead turn to the “ultra-rich” to pony up the $770 million to avert layoffs and service cuts at CTA, Metra and Pace.

A bailout bankrolled by a $1.50 tax on food and package deliveries passed the Illinois Senate shortly before the legislature’s midnight Saturday deadline, but it was never called for a vote in the Illinois House.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Seeking stiff sentence for Madigan, feds allege secret effort to block rules on legislators practicing before state tax board

A parade of witnesses in Michael Madigan’s recent corruption trial — including Madigan himself — insisted there were airtight protocols in place to avoid any potential conflicts of interest between the powerful Democratic House speaker’s public duties and his private job as a property tax attorney.

But in asking a federal judge to sentence Madigan to 12 1/2 years in prison, prosecutors wrote in a lengthy court filing Friday that in reality he was working behind the scenes to exert his unmatched political powers to help his own bottom line.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Bill creating guidance for AI technology in Illinois schools heads to Pritzker

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — A bill heading to Gov. JB Pritzker’s desk could help guide the use of artificial intelligence in schools.

A new plan in Springfield could create the state’s first framework for evaluating and implementing AI technology in schools

via Storyblocks

The legislation requires the Illinois State Board of Education to develop statewide guidance for districts and teachers on the use of AI in elementary and secondary education.

Written on 6.3.2025.

A set of Illinois Democratic bills to regulate cryptocurrency head to the Governor’s office

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Two Democratic plans in Springfield would begin some of the first regulations to be put on the cryptocurrency industry.

FILE – Bitcoin logos are displayed at the Inside Bitcoins conference and trade show on April 7, 2014, in New York. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

Mark Lennihan

It would start by requiring all cryptocurrency operators to be registered with the state of Illinois.

Written on 6.3.2025.

5 things Illinois lawmakers did and didn’t get done in spring session

State lawmakers passed more than 400 bills over the last five months, but the spring legislative session that concluded over the weekend will be remembered more for what legislators didn’t get done before the clock ran out.

The hectic final hours in Springfield saw legislators scrambling to get a $55.2 billion budget over the finish line before a midnight deadline, leaving little political bandwidth to rescue Chicago-area transit agencies from a fast-approaching fiscal doomsday, or agree on a plan to boost renewable energy sources.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Why should Illinois medical laws be expected to fall in line with Catholic doctrine?

What? The Illinois Legislature is out of session? Already? And here I want them to consider my Respect the Dead Act, requiring all male residents whose parent has died within the past 30 days to show up at a synagogue and recite the Mourner’s Kaddish.

Not familiar? You’ll have to be, if my law passes. “Yitgadal v’yitkadash sh’mei raba b’alma di-v’ra…” Or for those who don’t understand Aramaic, which is everybody: “Glorified and sanctified be God’s great name throughout the world…” followed by similar sentiments.

Written on 6.3.2025.

Mayor Johnson on transit funding, grocery tax

* At a press availability this morning, Mayor Brandon Johnson was asked about the General Assembly’s failure to pass transit legislation…

Reporter: Are you concerned that this could lead to widespread shutdowns of the CTA bus and rail lines? And are you concerned about what this will mean to Chicagoans who rely on the CTA to get to work and school?

Written on 6.3.2025.

Illinois Senate Minority leader on ‘regressive’ delivery tax, transit funding after lawmakers pass budget

We’re continuing our conversation about the Illinois General Assembly session that wrapped up over the weekend with the passage of a state budget that includes 800 million dollars in new revenue. John Curran, who leads the Senate Republican caucus joins the program to talk about the Republican perspective on the session.

GUEST

State Sen. John Curran
R-Downers Grove,Senate Minority Leader

Originally published on this site

Written on 6.3.2025.