Governor Rauner has added to his growing list of appointees. Joining the Rauner Administration are:

Randall Blankenhorn - Secretary of the Illinois Department of Transportation

Donald Tracy - Chair of the Illinois’ Gaming Board

Thomas Dunn - Member of the Illinois Gaming Board

James Joseph - Director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency

 House Republican Leader Jim Durkin on Friday selected State Rep. Norine Hammond (R-Macomb) as an Assistant Minority Leader for the House Republican Caucus.

“I am pleased to name Norine Hammond to the House Republican Leadership team,” said Durkin.  “Norine is a highly-respected and thoughtful lawmaker.   She is very clear in her positions and always takes a commonsense approach to solving problems.  Since joining the General Assembly, Norine has demonstrated outstanding leadership skills and will be a great addition to our team.”

Governor Bruce Rauner – State of the State address preparations
Governor’s message: Turnaround necessary.  Preparations continue for the State of the State address to be delivered by Governor Bruce Rauner to the General Assembly on Wednesday, February 4.  The Governor and his executive staff have published an advocacy platform, “The Illinois Turnaround,” that sets forth the broad goals he will be looking for in State policymaking.  Gov. Rauner has fleshed out the points made in this package in a series of speeches delivered in key Illinois cities.

Representative Margo McDermed  is taking up legislation originally proposed by her predecessor, Renée Kosel, that takes aim at a situation involving the College of Dupage that is currently enraging local taxpayers.

Read more.

Even though the Chicago Bears won't be participating in Super Bowl XLIX, Illinois will be well represented when players take the field.

On Super Bowl Sunday, thirty-five players from the Seahawks and Patriots will be wearing helmets made in Salem, IL by Schutt Sports.

The number one maker of football helmets in the nation, Schutt manufactures between 300,000 and 600,000 football helmets each year for professional, collegiate and high school athletes in its Salem and Litchfield Illinois facilities. Schutt is also one of the area’s largest employers.

State Representative Ron Sandack (R-Downers Grove) filed legislation this week that would make Illinois the 25th state that allows municipalities to seek bankruptcy protections under Chapter 9 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.

Chapter 9 allows for bankruptcy protection, but includes a provision that requires a municipality to gain state authorization as part of the filing. Currently, Illinois statutes do not allow for such authorization for municipal governments.

“House Bill 298 would allow desolate and debt-ridden municipalities in Illinois to seek bankruptcy protections through the federal bankruptcy law,” said Sandack. “As more and more municipalities are looking for relief and ways to deal with rising pension liabilities and other costs, this is a tool that can help them stabilize and reorganize financial affairs in ways that benefit taxpayers.” Read more.

Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) has filed HR9 to create a committee to thoroughly examine the existing distribution of education funding in the state. HR9 will create the House Education Funding Advisory Committee to conduct a thorough review of the existing methods of education funding and distribution in Illinois. This proposal was originally made during November’s joint hearing of the House Elementary & Secondary Education Committee and House Appropriations – Elementary & Secondary Education Committee, but was postponed once SB16 was successful halted.  Read more.