In this issue:
- Renewing the call for ethics reform once again
- State revenue report shows Illinois income tax burden
- Department of Corrections applicant event next week in Pontiac
- Illinois headlines
Renewing the call for ethics reform once again
Once again this spring House Republicans filed legislation and called for ethics reform, and once again those calls were ignored. Now that call is being renewed, yet again, following the resignation of one Democratic state representative and the indictment of another.
Former Representative Harry Benton resigned a couple of weeks ago after the Legislative Inspector General found “clear patterns of conduct” that were “outrageous, unethical, and unbecoming of a member of the Illinois House.” Facing the prospect of expulsion, Rep. Benton chose to resign after the inspector general’s investigation was completed.
Then last week another Democratic state representative, Carol Ammons, was indicted by a federal grand jury charged with wire fraud, making false statements, and obstruction. Prosecutors are alleging that she used campaign contributions for personal reasons, including paying herself and family members for services that were not legitimate, and orchestrated cash kickback schemes by directing inflated payments to third parties who then returned the money to her.
House Republicans have been making this call for stronger ethics laws for years. It was hoped that the high-profile trial and conviction of former House Speaker Mike Madigan last year would have woken up state leaders to the need for reform, but it did not. Maybe, at long last, this will be the scandal that forces those in power in Illinois to finally clean up the mess in Springfield.
House Republican ethics reform proposals include legislation to prohibit the use of campaign funds for a criminal defense related to misconduct as a public official, suspend pension benefits to public officials if they are charged with a felony related to their public service (and permanently withhold those benefits if they are convicted), and allow the Legislative Inspector General to issue subpoenas without prior approval and require completed reports to be made public within 60 days.
The people of Illinois deserve better.
State revenue report shows Illinois’ income tax burden
The state of Illinois had a record amount of tax collection in fiscal year 2026, which ended on June 30. According to an end-of-fiscal-year report by the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (CGFA), the state took in $56.3 billion in revenue for the previous 12 months.
The state collected $34.5 billion in personal income tax revenue alone, which is more than ever before. This record tax collection enabled the state to meet most of its spending commitments for the year, but just barely. This record-setting sum of tax collection for the year meant that the income tax burden on Illinoisans was $1.4 billion higher than the previous year. Illinois’ ever-increasing state budget is dependent on these income tax revenues, which are themselves dependent on continued levels of employment in Illinois. But if layoffs occur, the state will no longer be able to collect these record revenues, most of which is automatically deducted from paychecks.
Other sources of state revenue, such as the corporate income tax, and excise taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, saw declines in FY 26.
Department of Corrections applicant screening event next week in Pontiac
The Illinois Department of Corrections is hosting applicant screening events across the state to look for prospective Corrections Officers and Corrections Treatment Officers. Next Wednesday, they will be hosting an event in Pontiac.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in Corrections, this event will give you the chance to work through the screening process close to home. Don’t miss your chance to take the next step toward joining the Illinois Department of Corrections!
The event will be at the Pontiac Recreation Center, located at 900 N. Elm Street in Pontiac, on Wednesday July 22. Sign-in will run from 7:30 a.m. until 8:30 a.m. The agency asks applicants to plan to be at the venue until at least 5 p.m. Contact DOC’s Central Screening Office at (217) 785-9221 for invitation and paperwork.
Our current bill backlog
When a vendor provides the state with goods and services, they submit the bill to the Illinois Comptroller for payment. The Comptroller processes the paperwork and pays the bill when funds are available in the state’s checking account. Currently the total amount of unpaid bills is $1,175,941,498. This figure changes daily. Last year at this time the state had $2.0 billion in bills awaiting payment. This only includes bills submitted to the Comptroller for payment, not unfunded debts like the state’s pension liability, which is well over $100 billion.
Illinois headlines
Census shows Illinois under-20 population declining
LaSalle, Grundy, Livingston and Will counties among those eligible for SBA disaster assistance
Ford County reports first case of West Nile
Appeals court upholds Illinois’ ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines