Caitlin Nordahl Stories | Metro East Sun

Bourne cries foul, demands fairness in school funding bill

By Caitlin Nordahl | Aug 1, 2017

Rep. Avery Bourne (R-Raymond) said recently that all she is asking for is fairness in the state's public education funding bill.

Davidsmeyer calls for equal distribution of public school funds

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 27, 2017

Downstate Illinois students are just as deserving of school funding as those in Chicago, Rep. C.D. Davidsmeyer (R-Jacksonville) said recently in applauding Gov. Bruce Rauner decision to call legislators back to Springfield to come up with a more equitable education bill and pass it on to him.

Meier urges General Assembly to let Rauner 'fix' school funding bill

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 25, 2017

Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Highland) is urging the General Assembly to send Senate Bill 1 to Gov. Bruce Rauner so that schools will have funding in place before the start of the school year, according to a press release.

St. Clair group calls on residents to lead state out of corruption

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 24, 2017

The St. Clair County Freedom Coalition wants to take the power out of the hands of the privileged and put it where it belongs: with the people, according to a recent Facebook post.

Being 'mad at the math' won't end Illinois' ongoing financial woes, attorney says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 14, 2017

Illinois’ economy will take decades to recover from the state’s current pension and workers’ compensation obligations, to say nothing of the debts continually being added because of a significant lack of reform, according to a blistering analysis from Chicago attorney Eugene Keefe.

McCarter call budget a 'stick in the eyes of taxpayers'

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 10, 2017

Sen. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) lamented the recently passed budget, which includes a permanent tax hike and was passed with an override of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto.

Shimkus cheers move to roll back some EPA inland water authority

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 3, 2017

U.S. Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL) applauded a recent move by the Trump Administration to revoke the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, according to a press release.

Illinois held down by economic, moral decay, analyst says

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jul 2, 2017

While every state around it continues to grow in population and prosperity, Illinois keeps shrinking under the strain of higher taxes and more regulations, Michael Lucci, vice president of policy for the Illinois Policy Institute, said in an article on the institute's website.

Overtaxed Illinoisans also seeing nation's smallest growth in personal income

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 23, 2017

Illinois’ average personal income growth since the Great Recession is tied with Nevada for the worst in the country, according to data from the Pew Charitable Trusts recently published on the Illinois Policy Institute website.

Meier hopes Rauner leadership will bring budget compromise

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 21, 2017

Rep. Charlie Meier (R-Highland) hopes Gov. Bruce Rauner’s influence will lead to a budget solution now that Rauner has called state lawmakers back to Springfield for a special session, according to a press release.

Doubled tuition at SIUE not from lack of state funding, policy writers contend

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 18, 2017

Tuition and fees have nearly doubled at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) since 2006, which the Illinois Policy Institute contends is part of a growing higher education crisis spurred by increasing administrative costs and out-of-control pension costs, not a lack of state funding.

Alleged Virginia shooter linked to anti-GOP groups on Facebook

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 16, 2017

James Hodgkinson, the man accused of targeting Republican lawmakers in a shooting in Alexandria, Virginia, on June 14, was in numerous anti-Republican and anti-President Donald Trump groups on Facebook, according to the Edgar County Watchdogs.

All play and no work — yet legislators still draw paychecks, policy pro argues

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 9, 2017

Lawmakers have spent very little time in their seats, but at least they got to have play time, Austin Berg wrote on the Illinois Policy Institute website recently.

General Assembly gives itself another month to reach budget accord

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 8, 2017

The General Assembly will meet in a continuous session through June to try to put a budget in place for the new fiscal year, which begins on July 1.

Madigan rep says Democratic gubernatorial candidates toe the line on tax increase

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 1, 2017

All of the Democrats hoping to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018 are backing Speaker of the House Michael Madigan's budget goal of raising taxes rather than enacting reforms, a Madigan spokesman told the Chicago Tribune recently.

McCann measure would combine costs of Illinois' highest offices

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 28, 2017

Illinois' governor and lieutenant governor would operate within the same budget if a measure filed by Sen. Sam McCann (R-Plainview) passes the General Assembly and is then approved by voters.

Beiser, Stuart, Costello constituents urged to voice opposition to increased taxes

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 28, 2017

Following the Senate’s partisan advancement of budget legislation on Tuesday, the Illinois Republican Party is calling constituents of Reps. Jerry Costello II (D-Smithton), Daniel Beiser (D-Alton) and Katie Stuart (D-Edwardsville), urging them to voice their opposition to increased taxes without reform.