Latest news with #Illinoisans'
Axios
19-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Illinois state lawmakers face deadline and a budget crunch
State lawmakers are trying to balance the 2026 budget, weighing the tough decisions of what to prioritize when there's less money to dole out. Why it matters: The Illinois General Assembly has until May 31 to pass the budget, and agencies that have asked for extra money say not getting it would severely impact Illinoisans' daily lives and the economy. Driving the news: Revenue for the proposed 2026 budget is more than $500 million short of what Gov. JB Pritzker projected in February. The latest: One item lawmakers can check off the list is funding a new Bears stadium. The team has reportedly said it is not seeking state money for the project. By the numbers: The state's budget office projects a little under $54.9 billion in revenue, down from the $55.45 billion previously forecasted. Revenue from the feds, like Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, was down nearly $280 million. Lower sales tax revenue — which the state attributes to tariffs and an uncertain economy — fell short of projections by about $150 million. Zoom in: Two big ticket items lawmakers are considering are mass transit and CPS. Flashback: The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) in April launched a full-press campaign calling for the state's help as they anticipate a $770 million budget shortfall. The money: RTA, CTA, Metra and Pace leaders say they need $1.5 billion to avoid major service cuts ranging from fewer CTA and Metra routes to thousands of job cuts. The latest: Sen. Ram Villivalam and transit employees told the media last week that money has to be tied to reform, including safer transit. Some of the safety measures Villivalam mentioned were security dedicated to public transit and social services for people experiencing mental health episodes that could be dangerous for them or others. The senator could not answer where any money would come from if reforms were made. Meanwhile, the state's largest school district is facing a $530 million deficit, which prompted teachers and administrators to bring their concerns to the capitol last week. Friction point: Outgoing CPS CEO Pedro Martinez has put the ball in Mayor Brandon Johnson and state lawmakers' court as he told reporters he expects either or both to cough up $300 million toward next year's budget. Martinez will be gone when the next school year starts as he's taking a new job in Massachusetts after the school board fired him without cause late last year. The school board has not hired his replacement. Between the lines: Both of these are Chicago-area issues, often a tough sell for downstate and rural lawmakers who say the city already sucks all the air out of the room and takes from their districts' needs.
Yahoo
22-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Devastating consequences': Pritzker emphasizes importance of protecting Medicaid from federal cuts
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — Gov. JB Pritzker (D-Ill.) warned federal cuts to Medicaid would have devastating consequences for millions of Illinoisans during a roundtable at Peoria on Friday. Pritzker is making stops throughout the state for the 'Standing up for Illinois' tour to rally Illinoisans to push back on the 'extreme' Trump agenda. On Friday, he visited EP!C, a disability services organization in Peoria, accompanied by local advocates and Medicaid recipients. 'The consequences for people will be devastating. People will be stripped of their only access to potentially life-saving treatment. And I will say this for myself. I believe that blood will be on their hands. People will lose their lives as a result of what they're trying to do,' said Pritzker. Republicans are looking to cut $800 billion from the budget to help pay for a $4.5 trillion tax cut. Pritzker said the only way they can do that is by gutting Medicaid. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk and congressional Republicans in their crusade to give an enormous, massive tax cut to the wealthiest people in the country, have put working Illinoisans' health care on the chopping block,' he said. Impact on people and hospitals Home care worker Jessica Bolmer is fighting cancer, and chemotherapy is not cheap. She said Medicaid is the only reason she has a roof over her head. 'Medicaid is not just something that the government hands to people that are lazy and don't want to get jobs. I went through all the steps. I went to college, I worked a job, I worked two jobs and still ended up sleeping in my car,' she said. You probably know someone receiving Medicaid benefits too. Pritzker said one in four Illinoisans depends on Medicaid, to the tune of $8 billion a year. 'These are working parents and they're seniors. They're people with disabilities. There are friends, there are neighbors, people that we care about,' he said. Bolmer also worries about her home care clients who depend on Medicaid. She got into the field after moving back home to care for her ailing father 'If Medicaid gets cut, so many people are going to suffer. I do home care still today because I fell in love with helping people maintain their independence, freedoms and dignity. That my clients are just so dependent on Medicaid and the community care programs. They wouldn't have these without them,' she said. Medicaid is the largest insurer of nursing homes in Illinois. It also covers nearly half of children's healthcare in Illinois. If the cuts go through, Pritzker warned the state healthcare system and hundreds of thousands of jobs are at stake. 'Rural hospitals depend upon Medicaid to stay open and to serve small towns. Critical access hospitals, and safety net hospitals in cities depend upon Medicaid. If we lose Medicaid, we're going to lose hospitals. Illinois hospitals and health systems support 445,000 full-time jobs, and they anchor many of those rural communities I mentioned. Hospitals not only will close, but people working at those hospitals will lose their jobs,' he said. An empty chair Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Ill.) was invited to Friday's roundtable, but did not show up. Many members of the audience, who said they want a town hall with their congressman, expressed their displeasure with loud boos. LaHood has previously said Republicans are not going to touch Medicaid, Medicare or Social Security in the reconciliation bill. WMBD has reached out to the congressman's office for comment. Call to action The Pritzker administration has taken proactive steps to expand healthcare access, reduce medical debt, and process thousands of Medicaid applications. 'We ought to be expanding health care, not cutting back. We ought to be investing in our healthcare infrastructure. We ought to be erasing hundreds of millions of dollars in medical debt. And guess what? That's what we've done in the state of Illinois,' said Pritzker. 'We need to go forward. We're not going back. But Donald Trump and Elon Musk, if they're successful at cutting Medicaid, no state in the country has the money to backfill what they're going to take away,' he said. Pritzker encouraged the audience to advocate for their rights, before its too late. 'We can't wait for that damage to set in. We have to do something right now. Now is the time to stand up for Medicaid, for our working families, for each other,' he said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill in the Illinois capitol would create more guardrails for tax levies
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WCIA) — A new bill introduced into the Illinois General Assembly aims to give taxpayers a more transparent voice when local governments discuss tax increases. A newly introduced bill aims to prevent local governments from raising levy taxes behind closed doors. The legislation requires local government to create a referendum where voters will have a say before any tax increase happens. Bill proposed in state legislature would allow 18- to 20-year-olds to drink legally in Illinois with parent or guardian The bill's sponsor, State Representative John M. Cabello, (R-Machesney Park), said this is something that should be in place. 'I see that our taxes are constantly going up and up and up and up and I firmly believe that the taxpayer should have a say if a government is going to raise their taxes,' Cabello said. ' If it's going to be good for the folks and the government wants to do it, let it go to a referendum.' Levied taxes are taxes local government bodies, like school districts, municipalities and counties, collected from business and property owners to help pay for public services and programs such as infrastructure, police and education. Sen. Durbin files bill aiming to curb gun trafficking to cartels The budget for the levy tax is based on the needs of the local government. There are laws that restrict how much the levy tax can be increased annually. The bill comes with rules in place; for any referendum to hike levied taxes, it must include a sunset clause with the specific time when the tax increase will expire. If the purpose is to bring in revenue to pay off debt, then the tax increase must end automatically when the debt is paid off. For any other reason, the tax raise must end no later than ten years unless the public vote to extend it by referendum. This bill would empower Illinoisans' oversight while creating challenges for local government. Protesters converge on Illinois Capitol as tensions over Trump actions rise in the chamber A spokesperson for the Illinois Municipal League, which represents local government bodies in the statehouse, said the group opposes the bill as it could potentially reduce their revenue. School districts and municipalities often rely on the levy tax for construction, renovation, urgent financial needs and to keep essential services running without the delay of voters' approval. With this law, it could prevent them from adapting to economic and event shifts. In the current law, many tax increases do not have a time limit. Cabello said tax increases shouldn't continue after the project it was requested for is complete. 'If they have a plan and they say, look, this the school building or the project is going to be completed by this date and we will have it fully paid off by 2048 then it should sunset in 2048,' Cabello said. 'It shouldn't just be a tax that continues on forever.' If the bill becomes law, it will limit municipalities' home ruling power. The Illinois Department of Revenue will take charge to ensure the rules are implemented. The bill is now assigned to a committee. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
