Amid uncertainty in Washington, Illinois lawmakers pass slimmed-down Medicaid package

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD — Nearly every year, Illinois lawmakers pass a package of measures dealing with the state’s Medicaid program, the joint federal and state health care program that covers low-income individuals. Known as the Medicaid omnibus bill, it sometimes includes bold components, like a 2021 initiative that made millions of dollars available to…

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Senate’s transit funding, delivery tax proposal stalls in House

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – With public transit agencies in Chicagoland facing a fiscal cliff and the potential for thousands of layoffs, the state did not pass a bill that would have provided the agencies with potentially over $1 billion in new funding. A version of the bill passed in the Senate, sponsored by Sen.…

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New taxes on sports bets, nicotine products as Democrats pass $55.2B budget

Capitol News Illinois SPRINGFIELD – Giving almost no time for public review, Illinois Democrats pushed through a $55.2 billion budget for next fiscal year late Saturday, bolstering coffers with new taxes on sports bets, nicotine products and businesses. The $55.2 billion spending plan is supported by $55.3 billion of revenue, including just over $1 billion…

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