Budget Cut Protesters Storm Statehouse

An otherwise routine day filled with committee hearings was augmented by noisy protests at the Statehouse. A group known as Action Now filled the Statehouse with chants and boisterous displays of attention-getting as they protested against proposed budget cuts. At one point they breeched protocol in the House Gallery and were summarily removed from the chamber. The picture below is of the group snaking its way from the Statehouse to the Governor's Mansion, where the revelry continued. They created quite the ruckus as they passed my office. At one point the protestors took it upon themselves to block off the intersection. 

Protestors from the group Action Now turn the corner at 5th and Capital on their way to the Governor's Mansion.

Governor Rauner Foreshadows "State of the State" Speech to Suburban Municipal Officials

I attended the Northwest Municipal Conference (NWMC) Legislative Brunch on January 24. It's an annual event where the suburban council of governments rolls out its legislative priorities to federal and state legislators. This year, Governor Rauner was a featured speaker and delivered a PowerPoint presentation about the challenges confronting the state budget and economy. Apparently his decision to appear at the event came together on Friday. I was able to capture the audio of his 30-minute presentation.


I understand that the Governor has been delivering this presentation at various venues in the run-up to his February 4 "State of the State" address. He discussed cost drivers like state employee health insurance, Medicaid, pensions, and state payroll expenditures relative to employment levels. Issues like outmigration, state mandates, shared revenue, workers' compensation costs, state and local taxation, perceived conflicts of interest between unions and legislators, job growth, and flat wages were also included within the presentation. Give it a listen to get the likely contours of the forthcoming "State of the State" speech.