By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ difficulties reining in its pension costs are expected to pale in comparison to its efforts to control Medicaid, the state’s other big expense.

By Stephanie Fryer | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Cynthia Colletti headed to her local hardware store this week after the handle on her toilet broke.  While shopping at Ace Hardware here, she noticed signs in the plumbing aisle that read “Illinois Caustic/Corrosive Substances Act: Effective January 1st  2012” along with a description of the information customers would have to provide [...]

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois taxpayers have been hit up twice to cover the cost of extra session days for state lawmakers, but the extra days are not cheap.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News   SPRINGFIELD — If Illinois lawmakers are going to help one or two businesses in the Chicago area deal with high tax bills, some lawmakers say they should help businesses in the rest of the state as well.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ seven endangered prisons and mental health facilities will stay open for at least the next six months after lawmakers gave Gov. Pat Quinn the power to shift nearly $300 million inside the state budget.

By Benjamin Yount | Illinois Statehouse News SPRINGFIELD — Illinois will not retrieve the millions of dollars being paid to retired union leaders who are collecting two pensions for one public job. But lawmakers here are close to ending the double dipping for dozens more.