Illinois General Assembly Update | The Illinois General Assembly lame duck session came to an end at 2:00 a.m. this morning. This was the most active lame duck session in memory. By the absolute minimum number of votes in both chambers, the General Assembly approved (and the Governor has pledged to sign) a State income tax increase. Senate Bill (SB) 2505 provides for the following: Increases the personal income tax from 3% to 5% for 2011 through 2014, lowers the tax to 4% for 2015 through 2024 and then 3.5% thereafter. The corporate income tax increases from 4.8% to 7% for 2011 through 2014, lowers the tax to 5.6% for 2015 through 2024, and then 4.9% thereafter. The legislation also suspended the ability of Illinois corporations to apply net operating losses to taxable income for a period of 4 years (2011 to 2014). The legislation sets a baseline State spending level for 2012 and then caps spending at a rate no more than 2% above that level. If State spending exceeds the cap, then the tax increases would be eliminated, and the rates would revert to the current levels. The Auditor General would verify spending. There are two ways the cap could be exceeded: (1) if the General Assembly specifically appropriates above that level by a 3/5 super-majority vote; and (2) if the Governor declares a fiscal emergency, which is accepted by the Treasurer and Comptroller. The bill originally contained residential property tax relief, but that was eliminated by amendment. The income tax increase is expected to generate close to $8 billion dollars annually. The income tax increase was a part of a larger "deal" between the Governor and democratic leaders designed to comprehensively solve the State's fiscal crisis. Included in this deal was an increase in the State cigarette tax by $1 per pack (SB 44). This bill failed in the House and is dead. SB 336 was a bill that would have allowed short term borrowing to immediately pay down the State's backlog of overdue bills. SB 336 failed in the House and is dead. The Governor also got a commitment to pass SB 3336 that would have allowed him to select the Chairman of the Regional Transportation Agency, but this bill failed in the House and is dead. SB 3383 would have terminated every State grant program unless the program was legislatively re-approved in 2012 and every 5 years thereafter. This legislation passed the House, was never called for a vote in the Senate, and is now dead. The General Assembly did pass a bill allowing short term borrowing so that the State could immediately make required pension payments (SB 3514). Finally, the General Assembly passed a bill changing Medicaid reimbursement rates and the so-called "bed-tax" for nursing homes (SB 3088). This legislation will result in high Medicaid utilization nursing homes receiving more State dollars, and lower utilization homes receiving fewer State dollars. Many other major proposals were considered during the lame duck session. The General Assembly passed a repeal of the State's death penalty. It is not yet clear if the Governor will sign this legislation. The General Assembly did not approve subsidies for a massive coal plant project by Tenaska to be located in Taylorville, and once again the General Assembly failed to pass a gaming expansion bill that would have allowed casinos in Chicago, several other cities and at racetracks. The 96th Illinois General Assembly has ended. The 97th Illinois General Assembly convenes today at noon. |
February 2011 ILA Reporter on Web Site | Please click to download the entire February 2011 ILA Reporter or click on the links below to download a separate pdf for each specific article:
Show Me the Money: Privatization and the Public Library
by Meg Klinkow Hartmann
New Library Buildings
Glenview Public Library, Anne West Lindsey District Library, Fox Lake District Library, and Palestine Public Library District
by Vickie L. Novak and Jennifer Black, Jane Robertson, Harry J. Bork, and Susan Lockhart
Ten Timely Tips For A Successful Renovation or Construction Project by Martha Bell and Susan Strunk
Are We Still Building?: A Look at the Literature and Around the Country
by Chris Watkins
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Last Chance to Submit your iREAD Ideas!
| The theme for iREAD's 2012 program is Reading is So Delicious. Work has already begun on the 2012 iREAD Resource Guide, and we need all of your great ideas to share with other librarians around the world who use the IREAD theme. Each idea submitted helps strengthen the resource guide for everyone. Use the form here to submit your theme related ideas. The deadline for submissions is January 18, 2011.
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2011 ILA Annual Conference
October 18-20, Rosemont
Be Bold, Brilliant, and Brave
Submit a conference proposal |
Due to multiple requests from ILA members attending the ALA Midwinter Meeting in San Diego, we have extended the deadline for conference proposal submissions to Friday, January 14.
ILA is seeking bold, brilliant, and brave speakers, presenters, teachers, ideas and stories of success. If you are among the Bold Brilliant Brave join us at the 2011 ILA Conference and let's promote a better future for Illinois libraries.
Click here for more information and the proposal form.
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In the News
Library-related stories appearing in local news media are reflected in this section of the ILA E-News. The intent is to alert and inform the Illinois library community about issues and events that are considered significant by the general media.
| Is Publishing Doomed? To continue reading about this story, click here.
After Years of Controversy, Cook Library Has Quieted Down To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Beyond the Bookshelves Take a Reading Road Trip, Dye a Librarian's Hair To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Sixty Minutes: State Budgets: Day of Reckoning: "And Nowhere Has the Reckoning Been as Bad as It Is in Illinois ..." To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Oak Park Library Passes Budget, Will Hire More Staff To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Future of Reading: Book Publishers See Their Role as Gatekeepers Shrink To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Lenhardt Library To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Froehlich Challenges Petitions of Three Schaumburg Library Candidates To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Library Director Apologizes for Tax Levy Mistake To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Freeport Library Levy Passes To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Belvidere Architects Win Job at Ida Library To continue reading about this story, please click here.
The Chicago Public Library Is a High Priority in Chicago Government To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Elmhurst Veteran Library Board Member Replaced To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Library Patrons in Elgin Watching Bald Eagles Fishing on the Fox River To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Men Not Allowed at Ladies Underwear Exhibit To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Women's Undies Lecture Opened to Men To continue reading about this story, please click here.
Friends Group Proposes Temporary Solutions to South Branch Closure To continue reading about this story, please click here.
E-book Checkouts Soar at Naperville Public Library To continue reading about this story, please click here. If your library has a newspaper story with link, send it to us at [email protected] for possible inclusion in the next ILA E-News. Thanks.
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Sincerely,
Robert P. Doyle Illinois Library Association |
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