Peoria Standard

Spain calls attention to Dec. 6 hearing date for Illinois redistricting challenges

By Karen Kidd | Nov 12, 2021

Three federal lawsuits challenging redistricting maps that the governor signed into law earlier this year are expected to be heard in early December and a west central Illinois lawmaker is trying to get the word out.

Luft: Leadership term limits 'a good first step' for better unity, change

By Karen Kidd | May 6, 2021

Bipartisan legislation to make it harder for a legislator to serve decades in a House or Senate leadership role has been gaining sponsor support in the upper chamber after representatives approved the policy.

Pritzker 'went back on his word' to support fair maps: Spain

By Karen Kidd | May 6, 2021

A central Illinois lawmaker recently tried to remind Gov. J.B. Pritzker of his longtime promises to support fair maps and veto anything less — but the state's top executive has changed his position.

Butler: Illinois' loss of seat in Congress 'a great blemish on the prestige of our state'

By Karen Kidd | Apr 29, 2021

Illinois' dramatic population drop over the past decade and the subsequent loss in Congressional representation is all the fault of Democratic majorities born of gerrymandering, a Springfield House representative said during a recent news conference.

Bennett: 'Contact your health department to find a nearby vaccination center'

By Karen Kidd | Apr 20, 2021

State Rep. Thomas Bennett (R-Watseka) is urging everyone eligible in Illinois to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the state opens up vaccination eligibility to those 16 and older.

Peoria Heights company Pearl Technology acquires IAS Technology in Peoria

By Karen Kidd | Mar 7, 2021

A recent acquisition of a Peoria-based audiovisual systems integration firm by a multifaceted organization in Peoria Heights bodes well for the future, the CEOs of both companies said in a recent news release.

Anonymous donor behind $500,000 gift to foodbank says motivated by COVID-19-exacerbated food insecurity

By Karen Kidd | Jan 12, 2021

Food insecurity exacerbated by the still on-going COVID-19 pandemic was behind the anonymous $500,000 year-end donation to Central Illinois Foodbank, the donor said in a statement released as part of a recent food bank news release.

Expect city income taxes to follow passage of Pritzker's 'fair tax,' Illinois Policy Institute warns

By Karen Kidd | Nov 2, 2020

A constitutional amendment that would pave the way for Gov. J.B. Pritzker's so-called "fair tax" also would open the door for something Illinois currently does not have – city-levied income taxes.

From Quincy Reporter

Sen. Tracy on redistricting: 'Let the people decide!'

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

With the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision ruling out federal oversight in gerrymandering cases, Illinois Senate Republicans are again pursing a state constitutional amendment to allow voters to decide the issue, a 47th District Senator said in statement issued earlier today.

From West Central Reporter

Rep. Hammond renews call for fair maps, supports petition to end gerrymandering

By Karen Kidd | 5 years ago

A Republican Illinois House representative from the 93rd District earlier this week renewed her call for fair maps and pushed support for an independent map-drawing petition following a U.S. Supreme Court decision not to hear gerrymander cases.

Democratic colleague and abortion bill co-sponsor 'very surprised' by Pappas' comments, 'if true'

By Karen Kidd | May 1, 2019

Remarks about castration as a way to reduce abortion numbers are out of character for the freshman Illinois lawmaker alleged to have made them by a Republican official, said one of her Democratic colleagues during a recent interview.

Spain mum about Wirepoints calling 'Fair Tax' dishonest

By Karen Kidd | Apr 26, 2019

As Illinois Democrats continue to push for the so-called "Fair Tax" that has been called dishonest by state policy journal Wirepoints.com, state Rep. Ryan Spain apparently doesn't want to discuss it.

Wirepoints report lends credence to Rep. Butler's warning about Pritzker's progressive tax plan

By Karen Kidd | Apr 23, 2019

The recent push by Illinois Democrats behind the so-called "fair tax" that one online news outlet calls dishonest brings to mind warnings earlier this year by a Republican state House representative that such a tax would further strain Illinois' already overburdened middle class.

From Prairie State Wire

Illinios education officials want half the state's budget, Wirepoints warns

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois education officials are out to get half of the state's budget—and they just might—to the detriment of the state's taxpayers, according to an online Wirepoints newsletter issued earlier today.

From Prairie State Wire

Legislature overrides some Rauner vetoes, fails on others

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's outgoing Republican governor saw a few of his vetoes overridden during the Fall Veto Session in Springfield and a few new laws have been passed, a QUAD city area lawmaker said in a summary recap released last week.

From Prairie State Wire

State facing huge debt for public-sector retiree health benefits, says Wirepoints

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois's "other debt disaster" is $73 billion in unfunded state retiree health insurance benefits and more than twice that amount owed over the next four decades, according to a special report issued this week by an online news outlet.

From Prairie State Wire

FY19 Budget: 'Not one penny should be spent on pork,' Ives says

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Illinois Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) believes state lawmakers need to reject political pork spending that was hidden in the budget passed earlier this year.

From Prairie State Wire

Pro-economic liberty group launches campaign against soaring Illinois property taxes

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Supporting a proposal to cut Illinois property taxes in half and a slate of political candidates who would help make that happen is part of Liberty Principles PAC's recently announced "Save Your Home" campaign.

Brady points to parallels between Pritzker, previous Democratic governors

By Karen Kidd | Aug 30, 2018

The ranking Illinois Senate Republican recently blasted Democratic gubernatorial candidate J.B. Pritzker over his willingness to raise taxes.

From Prairie State Wire

Better Government Association says Obama didn't say fathers in the home is a solution to gun violence -- but he did

By Karen Kidd | 6 years ago

Sometimes the fact-checker needs a good fact-checking.