Government - State

SPRINGFIELD – The U.S. Supreme Court granted an extension Tuesday for Illinois's attorney general to decide whether to appeal a court order permitting the state's gun owners to carry concealed firearms.

SPRINGFIELD – The Illinois Legislature's special session will cost about $40,000 a day, which includes a $111 daily payment to lawmakers to defray the cost of food and lodging while they work in the state capitol.

SPRINGFIELD – Unable to overcome a stalemate on the state's $97 billion pension crisis, Gov. Pat Quinn and legislative leaders are working on a new plan that involves forming a bipartisan committee this week and reconvening the Legislature for an additional session in July.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is asking the U.S. Supreme Court for another monthlong extension of time to decide whether to appeal a lower court order allowing citizens to carry concealed guns.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois university employees would pay more toward their pensions and receive annual retirement-pay increases tied to inflation in a reform plan the Senate president supports, a spokeswoman said Sunday.

SPRINGFIELD – As lawmakers strain again this week to find a fix for the state's $97 billion pension crisis, the stalemate between House Speaker Michael Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton highlights the evolving relationship between two powerful Democratic friends who've seldom had such a prolonged disagreement on such an urgent issue.

CHICAGO – A solution to Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation state pension crisis remained far from reach Friday, as legislative leaders and Gov. Pat Quinn said they would try again to pass a plan backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan – one that failed in the Senate last month and is unlikely to pass next week.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois transit advocates want to tie a tax on gasoline to the price at the pump as part of an aggressive fundraising effort to get a toehold on what they say are rapidly deteriorating roads, rails and bridges.

Sarah Riccardi knows people who have been charged with drunken driving and people who have died in crashes caused by alcohol.

SPRINGFIELD – Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan is planning a fresh vote on his plan to overhaul the public-employee pension system, despite a request by the governor for compromise with the Senate.

CHICAGO – A rare intra-party battle began taking shape Tuesday among big-name Democrats in Illinois, as former White House chief of staff Bill Daley positioned himself to try to unseat a governor he blames for failing to resolve the state's financial crisis and other pressing issues.

CHICAGO – Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley announced Tuesday he is forming a committee to explore running for governor in 2014, saying Illinois deserves political leaders who are prepared to fix the state's unemployment, pensions and education woes.

CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn proposed a middle route Monday between two rival plans holding up a solution to Illinois’ nearly $100 billion pension crisis, but it’s unclear whether Democratic House Speaker Michael Madigan will support it.

CHICAGO – Gov. Pat Quinn proposed a compromise Monday to solve Illinois' nearly $100 billion pension crisis, but it's unclear whether the powerful Democratic House speaker will agree to the plan.

CHICAGO – Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon is urging Illinois communities to consider banning assault-style weapons before new legislation is signed that could prohibit local governments from doing so in the future.