(SPRINGFIELD) Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker will announce his proposed budget today with many folks seeking drastic changes on how the state handles illegal immigrants. State Senate Republicans say it’s possible there could be nearly a billion dollar deficit heading into the fiscal year that begins July 1st, noting the taxpayer cost of providing non-citizens with subsidized services. State Representative Blaine Wilhour and others downstate calls it all an injustice to Illinois citizens. The Governor delivers his address at 12 noon today.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Illinois Community College Board has awarded $766,000 to 12 Illinois Community Colleges to help implement virtual reality equipment into existing Career and Technical Education programs throughout the state. The individual grant amounts were awarded based on college program & equipment needs. The only two downstate recipients are Rend Lake College near Ina and John A. Logan College in Carterville.
(SPRINGFIELD) The Business Interruption Grant Program was to provide $585 million for small businesses hit hardest by COVID-19, but an audit done by the Office of the Auditor General shows $11 million was paid to applicants who were not eligible under state law. During a Legislative Audit Commission hearing yesterday, the Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity was shown to have used their own eligibility component for the program and not the one set forth in state law. State Senator Chapin rose and others from downstate noted the funds did not go where they should have and especially where needed.
(SPRINGFIELD) The State Secretary of State’s office is backing legislation that would require more transparency in the financial dealings of lobbyists in Springfield. Officials say the measures are needed in the wake of the recent sentencing of a former aid to House Speaker Michael Madigan, whose corruption trial in slated for later this year. The office maintains lobbyist registrations & statements of economic interest filed by public officials.