Tagged: Governor Pat Quinn

A key Senate committee is meeting to discuss concerns that expanding gambling would open the door to political corruption and organized crime.

Senate President John Cullerton invited representatives of the Illinois Gaming Board and the Chicago Crime Commission to appear before the Senate Executive Committee Wednesday . Cullerton’s spokesperson Rikeesha Phelon says the Chicago Democrat wants to try to find a way to address the issue. But she says Cullerton has doubts about whether the concerns are legitimate or "hyperbole" intended to derail the measure.

Several child advocacy groups say they support Gov. Pat Quinn's plan to end so-called corporate tax loopholes. They say the money saved would help pay Illinois' massive backlog of unpaid bills.

The Illinois Senate Revenue Committee took testimony Wednesday on a proposal to end three tax breaks, including not taxing foreign dividends of multinational corporations. Quinn outlined the idea in his March budget address. His office estimates the move will bring in about $450 million annually that would go toward paying down bills.

Gov. Pat Quinn is launching a statewide competition to identify and train Illinois residents for jobs in cyber security. The Illinois Cyber Challenge is free and open to anyone, but Quinn says it will specifically target veterans, many of whom already have training in the field.

The challenge will involve three online tests, each with a pre-test tutorial. The top scorers in the online exams will be invited to a championship competition. A special Veterans Cyber Camp is also being held this summer.

An Illinois House committee has endorsed allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. The House Executive Committee voted last night to move a measure lifting the state's ban on same-sex marriage to the floor.

Democratic Rep. Greg Harris says his bill is a matter of treating gay and heterosexual couples equally under the law.  Advocates say the measure would also help eliminate discrimination against children of homosexual couples. But opponents say the bill steps on religious freedom. They argue lawmakers don't have the right to redefine marriage.

Gov. Pat Quinn is praising a bill that would regulate high-volume oil and gas drilling in Illinois, saying it'll help the economy. Two state lawmakers have introduced a bill that would establish ground rules for hydraulic fracturing, or "fracking."

The method uses high-pressure mixtures of water, sand or gravel and chemicals to crack open rock formations and release oil and gas. The industry is eyeing southern Illinois' New Albany shale. Quinn says he's committed to protecting the environment and creating jobs.