Tag: illinois
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Illinois, Kentucky end face-covering requirements
Two states ended statewide public mask requirements for vaccinated and unvaccinated people between June 5-11. Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D) moved the state to Phase 5 of reopening June 11, ending the statewide mask mandate. The state still requires masks in schools, on public transit, in hospitals, and at congregate facilities like prisons and homeless…
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Redistricting review: Illinois enacts state leg., supreme court maps
On June 4, Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) signed into law new maps for the Illinois state Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, and the Illinois Supreme Court, making Illinois the first state to enact new district maps in this redistricting cycle. Upon signing the maps into law, Pritzker said, “Illinois’ strength is in our diversity…
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Redistricting review: Illinois lawmakers approve state legislative, supreme court maps
Last week, Illinois lawmakers approved revised maps for the Illinois state Senate, the Illinois House of Representatives, and the Illinois Supreme Court. Both sets of maps were approved along party lines, with all Democrats voting ‘yea’ and all Republicans present voting ‘nay.’ In Illinois, the General Assembly is responsible for redistricting. Maps are subject to…
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Illinois voters will decide ballot measure in 2022 to make collective bargaining a state constitutional right
In 2022, voters in Illinois will decide a constitutional amendment to make collective bargaining a right. The ballot measure would also prohibit a future right-to-work law in Illinois. In the General Assembly, the constitutional amendment needed to receive 36 votes in the Senate and 71 votes in the House. The Illinois Senate voted 49 to 7 on May…
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Redistricting review: Ohio, Census Bureau reach settlement in lawsuit over release of redistricting data
Ohio: On May 25, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (R) announced that the state had reached a settlement agreement with the Census Bureau in its lawsuit over the Census Bureau’s plan to deliver redistricting data to the states by September 30, 2021, instead of April 1, 2021, the deadline set forth in federal law. Under the terms…
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Illinois’ U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos announces she’s not running for re-election in 2022
U.S. Representative Cheri Bustos (D-IL) announced on April 30 that she would not run for re-election in 2022. Bustos was first elected to the U.S. House to represent Illinois’ 17th Congressional District in 2012. She most recently won re-election in 2020, defeating Esther Joy King (R), 52% to 48%. As of April 30, eight members…
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New apportionment data released – six states gain congressional seats, seven states lose seats
On April 26, 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released it post-2020 census apportionment counts. Six states—Texas (two seats), Colorado, Florida, Montana, North Carolina, and Oregon—gained seats. Seven states—California, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia—each lost a seat. Of the six states that gained congressional seats, three are Republican trifectas (Texas, Florida, and…
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Guerrero-Cuellar appointed to Illinois House of Representatives
On Feb. 25, Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D) was appointed to represent District 22 in the Illinois House of Representatives, replacing Edward Guerra Kodatt (D), who resigned on Feb. 24 after three days in office. Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan (D) held the seat for fifty years prior to his resignation earlier this year. Kodatt had…
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Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan resigns
Illinois state Rep. Michael Madigan (D) announced on Feb. 18 that he would resign from the Illinois General Assembly. Madigan has been a member of the state House since 1971, representing District 22. “Fifty years ago, I decided to dedicate my life to public service,” Madigan said in a statement. “Simply put, I knew I…
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Doris Turner, Mike Simmons appointed to Illinois state Senate
On Feb. 6, two new state legislators were appointed to fill vacancies in the Illinois state Senate. Doris Turner (D) was appointed by the Democratic county chairs of the 48th Legislative District Committee to fill the seat formerly occupied by Andy Manar (D). Manar left office in January in order to take a position as…