May 04, 2012
Tags: COGFA, Gov., illinois, Legislative, Pat, program, Quinn, retirees, scholarship
By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers took another step toward eliminating the long-scrutinized legislative scholarship program, and state retirees protested a proposed reduction in the amount the state pays for their continued health insurance coverage.
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May 03, 2012
Tags: central, employees, health, healthcare, illinois, insurance, Management, of, public, State, System, university
By Stephanie Fryer | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — State retirees came here Thursday to protest against a measure that could curtail $876 million in taxpayer subsidies for retirees’ health care.
Barbara Franklin, a retiree who worked for the University of Illinois for 37 years, said, “I paid year in and year out for my insurance, for my dependents’ insurance, with the promise that when I retired if I had more than 20 years, my insurance would be paid for.”
Retired state workers and university employees qualify for premium-free state health insurance, if they worked for more than 20 years. A retiree can have 40 percent of their health insurance subsidized after working eight years.
April 27, 2012
Tags: Accountability, bank, Bill, crisis, deficit, federal, Frank, government, illinois, Keegan, Kettler, municipal, Office, pension, public, Reserve, State
April 25, 2012
Tags: audit, compensation, illinois, workers
By Jayette Bolinski | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois’ Workers’ Compensation Program has “numerous shortcomings” and is “ill designed to protect the state’s best interests,” according to a state audit released Wednesday.
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April 25, 2012
Tags: 3244, Bill, Board, education, illinois, math, of, Senate, sheila, Simon, State
By Stephanie Fryer | Illinois Statehouse News
SPRINGFIELD — Illinois lawmakers approved a proposal Wednesday that could increase the number of courses counting toward a high school math requirement.
High school students could use vocational courses, such as drafting or wood shop, as math credits under Senate Bill 3244, which requires a detailed math curriculum.
“Math is not just a college need. Math is required for manufacturing careers … agriculture careers,” said
Lt. Gov. Sheila Simon, who spoke for the bill during a House committee hearing.Simon said her support for the bill stems from her statewide tour of community colleges.
“It came up at every single community college — that far too many students are not ready for college-level math,” she said.
Current curriculum has been criticized for being too broad. It states that to graduate, students need three years of math, of which two courses must be algebra and geometry. The curriculum allows teachers and school administrators to decide what to teach and how to teach it.
School districts can use all or portions of the new curriculum.
“If a school has a particular geographic location with careers, they might adapt it in a different way that fits their school district,” Simon said.
The Senate passed the bill in March.
