When Illinoisans hit the polls in November, they will see a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot asking whether the state should put transportation funding in a “lockbox” so that it cannot be used for non-related spending.
If the amendment passes, the Illinois Constitution would be amended to ensure transportation funding is safeguarded from being spent on other purposes, like balancing the state budget.
Citizens to Protect Transportation Funding, a coalition of business, labor and construction groups, is leading the advocacy effort in support of the so-called “Safe Roads Amendment,” which made it onto the November 8 ballot after strong bipartisan approval from the state legislature.
Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner has vetoed union-backed legislation that would raise the wages for home health care workers who serve seniors and people with disabilities.
Illinois business leaders are urging state lawmakers and the governor to implement a stopgap budget that fully funds transportation infrastructure projects.
Minimum wage earners in Illinois must work 97 hours a week, year round to afford a modest, two-bedroom apartment in the state, according to the annual “Out of Reach” report for 2016.
The Fair Market Rent (FMR) price for a two-bedroom unit in Illinois is $1,039, up from $977 last year. That means Illinois renters must now earn $19.98 per hour, or at least $41,567 annually, to afford a two-bedroom apartment without paying more than 30 percent of their income on housing.
Overall, Illinois has the nation’s 16th most expensive two-bedroom housing wage. Nationally, the average wage necessary to afford a modest, two-bedroom rental is $20.30.
The state of Illinois is looking to borrow $480 million in January to cover road construction and other transportation-related costs, according to Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office.
Illinois’ unemployment rate ticked up to 5.7 percent in November, while the state added a net 400 jobs last month, the Illinois Department of Employment Security (IDES) said Thursday.
Despite areas of improvement, however, the report found that homeownership rates are still trending downward, low-income households face persistent challenges finding affordable housing and millions of Americans continue to grapple with high housing costs.
U.S. employers extended their solid hiring into July by adding 209,000 jobs. It was the sixth straight month of job growth above 200,000, evidence that businesses are gradually shedding the caution that had marked the 5-year-old recovery.
By a 367 to 55 vote, the U.S. House on Tuesday evening approved a bill to temporarily fund and ensure solvency of the Highway Trust Fund through May of 2015.