Chambana Sun

City of Champaign has $520,000 available in COVID-19 relief funds for small businesses

By Kyla Asbury | Sep 29, 2020

Champaign's Small Business Incentive Program has been amended to include the COVID-19 Relief Grant, which will provide more than a half-million dollars of Community Development Block Grant funding to small businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus.

Marron criticizes Pritzker, questions IDES unemployment system data breach

By Kyla Asbury | Jun 18, 2020

House Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) joined several House Republicans during a press conference to discuss a massive data breach that occurred last month involving the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES).

Halbrook criticizes Pritzker's emergency regulations

By Kyla Asbury | Jun 8, 2020

State Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) said at a recent news conference that he does not agree with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's emergency rules, saying they were causing harm to many small businesses.

Drive-thru COVID-19 clinics have nearly non-existent wait times

By Kyla Asbury | Jun 7, 2020

Despite concerns of COVID-19, lines at drive-thru testing sites are nearly non-existent, an Illinois state official said.

Rep. Marron urges legislature to take up Pritzker's Illinois reopening plans

By Kyla Asbury | May 26, 2020

State Representative Mike Marron (R-Fithian) wants the legislature to discuss reopening plans and fix the unemployment system for residents yet to see relief two months into the pandemic.

Representative Mike Marron says FOID card system needs to change

By Kyla Asbury | Apr 9, 2020

House Rep. Mike Marron (R-Fithian) says constituents are unhappy with the Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card process in the state and it needs to change.

Senator Rose disagrees with proposed budget tax increase

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 28, 2020

State Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) while Gov. J.B. Pritzker makes a good speech, he did not agree with what Pritzker said during his budget proposal address last week.

From Prairie State Wire

Republican lawmakers disappointed in governor's budget proposal

By Kyla Asbury | 4 years ago

Illinois Republicans were disappointed after hearing Gov. J.B. Pritzker's budget proposal last week

From Prairie State Wire

Bipartisan group of lawmakers, fair-mapping advocates speak out against gerrymandering

By Kyla Asbury | 4 years ago

A bipartisan group of legislators and policy watchdogs met Thursday to discuss their commitment to bringing fair district mapping to state and local politics throughout Illinois.

From Prairie State Wire

Republican leaders would have liked more from Pritzker's speech, but will run with 'spirit of collaboration'

By Kyla Asbury | 4 years ago

While House and Senate Republicans were critical of many aspects of Gov. J.B. Pritzker's State of the State address on Wednesday, most remain hopeful that he was sincere about bringing about a spirit of bipartisan collaboration.

From Kankakee Times

Pritzker's State of the State failed to address most pressing issues, Sen. Barickman says

By Kyla Asbury | 4 years ago

State Sen. Jason Barickman (R-Bloomington) wants fair maps to be a focus for this year's legislative agenda, but was disappointed that Gov. J.B. Pritzker did not discuss the idea during his State of the State address on Wednesday.

From Prairie State Wire

Americans for Prosperity-Illinois urges passage of License to Work Act

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

Americans for Prosperity-Illinois (AFP-IL) recently held a press conference to show its support for a senate bill that would end the practice of suspending state motorists' driver's licenses for non-driving offenses.

House Republicans caution that progressive tax plan will drive more businesses out of Illinois

By Kyla Asbury | Jun 2, 2019

State House Republicans gathered last month in Springfield to explain why the graduated income tax structure Gov. J.B. Pritzker is pushing to replace the current flat tax system will drag the Illinois business community even further down the scale than it already is.

Rep. Caulkins speaks out against the 'jobs tax'

By Kyla Asbury | May 31, 2019

House Rep. Dan Caulkins (R-Decatur) urged a No vote on the graduated income tax amendment to the state's constitution during Monday's session.

Marron says graduated income tax would cause more problems

By Kyla Asbury | May 31, 2019

House Rep. Michael Marron (R-Fithian) supported a no vote on the House floor about the graduated income tax amendment, saying it would cause more problems.

From Kankakee Times

Bennett on graduated income tax structure: 'Stop digging,' bring people back to Illinois

By Kyla Asbury | 5 years ago

House Rep. Thomas Bennett (R-Watseka) said Monday that Illinois has dropped in population because it already has such a high tax burden, and the graduated income tax structure would make that even worse.

Halbrook on graduated income tax amendment: 'Where are the reforms?'

By Kyla Asbury | May 31, 2019

House Rep. Brad Halbrook (R-Shelbyville) strongly opposed the graduated income tax proposal in a session on Monday, saying it will cause more citizens to flee the state.

Sen. Rose voices concerns about HB 2691

By Kyla Asbury | May 15, 2019

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) spoke in opposition of a bill that opens up funding to more individuals for college.

Rose applauds bill that credits tornado victims

By Kyla Asbury | Apr 17, 2019

Sen. Chapin Rose (R-Mahomet) applauded the effort of a Democratic senator for a bill that will provide a tax credit to individuals whose properties suffered from tornadoes last year.

State Rep. Marron pushes for a task force to address coal-ash deposits along Vermilion River

By Kyla Asbury | Mar 22, 2019

Rep. Mike Marron (R-Danville) held a press conference Thursday to discuss legislation he introduced that would create a task force to study how coal ash affects the state.