Hoang Tran Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

Rauner urges political unity to save the future of Illinois

By Hoang Tran | Jun 20, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner urged Democratic and Republican lawmakers on Tuesday to unite and pass a balanced budget that will fund Illinois and get it back on its feet.

Rauner, GOP bemoan budget breakdown, blame bickering Democrats

By Hoang Tran | Jun 9, 2017

“Today we’ve seen a complete dereliction of duty by the majority in the General Assembly,” Gov. Bruce Rauner said after the 100th session of the General Assembly closed. “Once again, a tragic failure to serve the people of Illinois. A tragic failure to pass a balanced budget along with critical structural changes to protect taxpayers and grow more jobs.”

Rauner: Tax burden driving Illinois businesses, people to flee state

By Hoang Tran | Jun 7, 2017

Illinois is bleeding jobs to neighboring states like Wisconsin and in urgent need of reform to close the wound, Gov. Bruce Rauner asserted at a press conference in the Hegewisch neighborhood in Chicago recently.

House comes together on government consolidation measure

By Hoang Tran | Jun 5, 2017

A Senate “grand bargain” bill that would facilitate the consolidation of municipal governments in an effort to cut costs passed the House on May 31 after doing the same in the Senate two weeks earlier.

School formula negotiations fail as funding bill passes House

By Hoang Tran | May 31, 2017

Negotiations fell by the wayside and Chicago schools once again came to the forefront as Senate Bill 1 passed the House on Wednesday, according to Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor).

Workers' comp measure too weak to retain, grow jobs in Illinois, Barickman contends

By Hoang Tran | May 28, 2017

Workers' comp measure too weak to retain, grow jobs in Illinois, Barickman contends

Sauer doesn't want his county to be forced to decide on chairman

By Hoang Tran | May 26, 2017

Rep. Nick Sauer (R-Lake Barrington) would like to see a countywide vote to decide whether Lake County should have a chairman, but he doesn't think representatives like himself should force it on people.

Senate passes tax hike measure as Althoff looks on in disbelief

By Hoang Tran | May 24, 2017

Like many Senate Republicans, Pamela Althoff (R-McHenry) expressed trepidation over the tax hike bill that ended up passing the Senate floor on Tuesday.

GOP rep chides chamber: Pick a revenue number and get budget going

By Hoang Tran | May 19, 2017

Rep. Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) chastised the House for its lack of progress on a state budget estimate, calling it a failure of the chamber.

House moves to nix statewide constitutional mailings in cost-saving effort

By Hoang Tran | May 18, 2017

Homes across Illinois would be free from some extra mail and the state would free up a little money under a bill sponsored by Rep. David McSweeney (R-Barrington Hills) that passed the House unanimously on Tuesday.

Biss rejects voluntary campaign fund donation; Senate nixes his mandatory one

By Hoang Tran | May 6, 2017

Sen. Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) suggested a voluntary campaign donation system in lieu of Sen. Daniel Biss’ (D-Evanston) publicly funded matching proposal on Thursday.

Illinois loses humanity if abortion law happens, Jesiel claims

By Hoang Tran | Apr 27, 2017

A bill that passed the House on Tuesday will remove the humanity from an unborn child, even though several other state laws rely on that definition, Rep. Sheri Jesiel (R-Winthrop Harbor) argued on the House floor before the vote.

State senators tout 'Taxpayer Bargain' budget plan

By Hoang Tran | Apr 19, 2017

State Sens. Kyle McCarter (R-Lebanon) and Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) have unveiled a Taxpayer Bargain budget plan they say calls for spending reductions, protections for elementary and secondary education, pension reform, restructuring and legislative accountability.