Patch on Politics

We're No. 1 — Illinois Has Nation's Worst Credit Rating

Despite 2011's 67 percent state income tax hike — which took a week's pay away from you — the state's financial problems have worsened.

Illinois now has the lowest credit rating of all 50 states. Standard & Poor’s rating services downgraded Illinois’ credit rating last week to A-, with a negative outlook.  State Treasurer Dan Rutherford, who blamed the negative rating on inaction on the public pension system by Gov. Pat Quinn and the General Assembly, said Illinois is headed for "fiscal disaster." He said the lower rating will force the state to fork over more money on interest payments. This will affect state universities, road construction and other public institutions because more will go to interest than principal as these projects are paid for. “If you went out to borrow $500 because you have such bad credit, it will cost $95 more in interest than better-rated states…

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Political Rewind: Feds Requiring Illinois to Report Arrested Illegal Immigrants

It's always good to be caught up on state politics. Here's an easy guide to what happened this week.

Editor's Note: This article was created by aggregating news articles from Illinois Statehouse News that were written by various Illinois Statehouse News reporters. New political map means new faces in GA Every legislator in Illinois has to run in a new district in 2012, causing some to ask this question: Is it worth it? Once a decade, the political landscape shifts, as the legislative districts are redrawn to represent population changes in the census figures. Voters have more than 14 months until they will decide the fate of 177 state lawmakers, but some legislators are taking their political futures into their own hands.  Some legislators have announced bids for reelection in a new district; others, like state Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria…

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Is the State Holding onto Your Money?

The village will partner with the Illinois treasurer’s office to hunt for unclaimed assets through the state’s Cash Dash program.

Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford’s office will bring the state’s Cash Dash program to Romeoville on Tuesday, June 28, the village announced in a press release. The program is intended to reunite Illinois residents with unclaimed assets, from forgotten bank accounts to payroll wages and even entire estates. Representatives from Rutherford’s office will use the state’s databases to conduct searches for unclaimed property from 2 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at Village Hall, 1050 W. Romeo Road. Residents are encouraged to bring their Social Security card and a photo ID to the June 28 event. For more information or to conduct your own online search, visit www.treasurer.il.gov and follow the Cash Dash link.

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