October 30, 2025/
WATCH: Debate around which tax to increase; pension enhancements, energy bills advance
(The Center Square) – In today’s edition of Illinois in Focus Daily, The Center Square Editor Greg Bishop reviews the ongoing debate at the Illinois Statehouse about which taxes to increase during the final days of fall veto session. Among the proposals are an “amusement tax,” a retail delivery tax and decoupling Illinois tax code from the federal tax code.
Bishop also reviews several measures advancing through the legislature, including a pension reform measure that passed an Illinois House committee and an energy measure focused on renewables that passed the Illinois House. Both chambers are in session for the final day of veto session Thursday.
Subscribe to Illinois in Focus Daily with The Center Square on YouTube. You can also subscribe to the Illinois in Focus podcast to get the entire show uninterrupted.
⚠️ Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued June 16 at 6:24PM CDT until June 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
⚠️ Wind Advisory issued June 16 at 12:28PM CDT until June 17 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Lincoln IL
Tue Jun 16
85° 68°
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Latest News Stories
Michigan House Republicans demand Benson release SPLC records
By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Michigan House Republicans passed a resolution calling on Michigan Secretary of State and Democrat gubernatorial candidate Jocelyn Benson to release records tied to her past...
Lone Tennessee U.S. House Democrat, Cohen, says he’s done
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Rep. Steve Cohen, Tennessee’s lone Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives, said Friday morning he will not seek reelection in the newly drawn 9th...
Illinois Quick Hits: Madigan: ‘Accept the federal scholarship tax credit’
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan – from federal prison over corruption charges – penned an op-ed...
Lawmakers spar with Fairfax County leaders over sanctuary policies
By Morgan SweeneyThe Center Square Lawmakers held another hearing on sanctuary policies Thursday, one of a series coinciding with President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts and a nationwide crackdown by...
Advocates call on tax reform to reduce national debt
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square Advocates called on lawmakers to redesign the United States’ tax system on Thursday in order to address the rising national debt. The national debt surpassed...
Supreme Court allows mail-order abortion drugs
By Andrew RiceThe Center Square The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that women can continue to access abortion drugs through the mail without making an in-person doctor's visit, while...
McCuskey, coalition of AGs urge SEC to review OpenAI
By Chris Dickerson | Legal NewslineThe Center Square West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey has joined a coalition of 10 states in a letter to the U.S. Securities and Exchange...
Springfield strains for balanced budget; Illinois revenue forecast shifts down
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois is projected to see less tax income than state agencies previously expected due to a variety...
DOJ targets healthcare fraud in California, Arizona, Nevada
By Zachery SchmidtThe Center Square The U.S. Department of Justice has created a new task force to fight healthcare fraud in three Western states. The West Coast healthcare Fraud Strike...
Illinois Quick Hits: University of Chicago to offer free tuition
By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – University of Chicago, a private university, will begin to offer free tuition to families with an income...
Human capabilities focused in student, teacher artificial intelligence guide
By Alan WootenThe Center Square Teacher’s guide learning modules and self-assessment tools for students are part of the third annual Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence, a production of Elon University,...
U.S. House to vote on bills targeting fraudulent, foreign election donations
By Thérèse BoudreauxThe Center Square The U.S. House committee that oversees election laws advanced multiple bills Thursday to stop fraudulent campaign donations and foreign influence in elections. Three of the...
Responses due in Virginia redistricting appeal
By Shirleen GuerraThe Center Square Responses are due by 5 p.m. Thursday in Virginia’s emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over the commonwealth’s congressional redistricting dispute, as outside groups...
