June, 2017 Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

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'Panicked' Democrats fear House downfall after approving school funding bill, radio host says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 23, 2017

Democratic state lawmakers showed their true colors in May when they demanded an investigation into an article about apparently doomed school funding reform legislation, a radio show co-host said recently.

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.

NIU president resigns following state investigation with $600K golden parachute

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 23, 2017

Northern Illinois University President Douglas Baker will leave his post June 30 with more than half a million in severance pay and benefits.

Hultgren congratulates 13 students as they head off to serve America

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 23, 2017

U.S. Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) recently hosted a record 13 students from his district who will leave for U.S. military academies on July 1, according to a press release.

Rauner urges political unity to save the future of Illinois

By Hoang Tran | Jun 20, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner urged Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Tuesday to unite and pass a balanced budget that will fund Illinois and get it back on its feet.

'Self-inflicted wounds' described as real cause of tuition hikes at NIU, other schools

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 18, 2017

A Northern Illinois University (NIU) pensioner stands to earn an estimated lifetime payout of just under $1.85 million, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

Taxpayers say 'reform,' but lawmakers hear 'more taxes,' policy pro says

By Karen Kidd | Jun 17, 2017

Illinois lawmakers betray their ignorance of the needs and opinions of taxpayers when they pass huge tax increases as a way out of the ongoing budget impasse, a policy expert said on a radio program recently.

Ex-state senator sues over 'unconstitutional' skipped paychecks, years after supporting skipped pay

By Scott Holland, Cook County Record | Jun 17, 2017

A former member of the Illinois Senate is suing the state’s comptroller to get money he claims was denied him during a decade in office — even though he voted for the measure he now claims is illegal.

Elections board will be 'toast' without new computers by 2018 elections, official says

By Glenn Minnis | Jun 16, 2017

Illinois’ ongoing budget problem has left the State Board of Elections in a financial hole so deep that agency officials claim they can’t afford the new computers they need to handle the number of candidates filing petitions to run in next year’s elections.

NIU accused of lying about contractor invoices

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 16, 2017

Either Northern Illinois University (NIU) is denying Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests or the Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG) lied about the existence of invoices from an affiliate employee, the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) contend.

Embattled NIU president beset by calls for possible ouster

By Michael McGrady | Jun 13, 2017

Government watchdogs, legislators and the media are questioning the continued tenure of Northern Illinois University's president in the wake of an investigation that determined he had mismanaged the university.

Baker 'mismanaged' NIU, inspector general determines

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 11, 2017

Northern Illinois University (NIU) President Douglas Baker mismanaged the university through improper hiring practices, according to the results of a three-year investigation by the Office of the Executive Inspector General (OEIG).

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Oversight group sees another potential problem for NIU's president

By Matt Smith | Jun 11, 2017

Northern Illinois University (NIU) President Douglas Baker might be connected to a board of trustees investigation of the school’s internal controls on contracts, the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW) allege.

Rauner, GOP bemoan budget breakdown, blame bickering Democrats

By Hoang Tran | Jun 9, 2017

“Today we’ve seen a complete dereliction of duty by the majority in the General Assembly,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said after the 100th session of the General Assembly closed. “Once again, a tragic failure to serve the people of Illinois. A tragic failure to pass a balanced budget along with critical structural changes to protect taxpayers and grow more jobs.”

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.

Budget breakdown lands Illinois one step from junk bond rating

By Ruth de Jauregui | Jun 8, 2017

Illinois did something this week that no state has ever done: received a downgraded credit rating to near-junk bond status.

Former NIU officer accused of ordering emails deleted

By Michael McGrady | Jun 7, 2017

Nancy Suttenfield, a former interim chief financial officer at Northern Illinois University (NIU), ordered her staff to “delete your emails to me to protect yourself,” according to the Edgar County Watchdogs (ECW).

Hultgren backs Trump on cutting climate accord ties

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 7, 2017

President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Paris Climate Accord while maintaining his commitment to environmental stewardship and innovative solutions to reduce emissions was the right move, Rep. Randy Hultgren (R-IL) said in a statement recently.