TAXES
House Republicans Raise Alarm on New Service Tax Proposal. Deputy House Republican Leader Ryan Spain and State Representative Joe Sosnowski joined with small business owners this week to decry a new proposal making the rounds in Springfield that would establish a new sales tax on services across the state. This new service tax would cover almost all services consumers rely on, ranging from streaming services to dry cleaning, haircuts to vehicle repairs, and everything in between. Proponents are pushing the new tax as a bailout to fill the void for years of mismanagement in the Chicago region's mass transportation system, which is facing nearly a billion-dollar budget shortfall in 2026.

House Republican members of the Illinois House Energy & Environment and Public Utilities Committees held a Capitol news conference on Tuesday to warn of a coming summer energy cost crisis and offer solutions to expand energy production capacity.

The Republicans held the press conference after last week sending the House’s Energy & Environment Committee Chair and Vice Chair a letter explaining the urgent need for hearings into the recent results of the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) capacity auction which returned a shocking $666.50 per Megawatt-day price across all zones in the summer. That same price just one year ago was $30.

As cold air settles in outside, it’s vitally important to keep your house as warm and safe as possible. Winter weather can be brutal in Illinois, especially in the northern part of the state. There are a number of tips and tricks for homeowners to be aware of to save on those winter heating bills. Consider these do’s and dont’s of keeping your house warm and safe during the winter months:

The colder months often bring higher energy bills for homeowners. If you live in the north with harsh winters, heating your home may be more expensive than cooling it in the summer. People also tend to be home more during the winter months, which can drive up energy usage. Shorter days, long and dark nights, holidays and more time off work can also contribute to increased energy usage. 

Natural gas usage has remained a hot topic in Illinois and across the country. The public and media focus has been on the recent Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) rulings that significantly lowered proposed rate increases from several providers. However, behind the scenes natural gas is being targeted and hearings are expected to be held in 2024 to discuss its future in Illinois.