(WASHINGTON) Many are calling for the adoption of legislation that would allow for more time to go after those that illegally collected unemployment insurance funds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, the Pandemic Unemployment Fraud Enforcement Act would provide a five year extension on the statute of limitations for criminally prosecuting those who stole unemployment benefits. An estimated $100 to $135 billion of such benefits from the pandemic were lost in the greatest theft of taxpayer funds in American history, with only $5 billion recovered so far. The bill now heads for the U.S. House floor for a vote.
(WASHINGTON) U.S. Senators have reintroduced a bipartisan bill that would allow the nationwide sales of gasoline with a higher blend of ethanol year-round. The 365 day-a-year sales of E-15 have been long sought by the biofuel industry, along with Illinois Corn Growers Association and many other farm groups and organizations. Proponents of the move say the action would do away with the patchwork regulations that would have the blend containing 15% ethanol, known as E-15, only available in certain areas of the country.
(SPRINGFIELD) Governor J.B. Pritzker plans to offer a proposal in his budget address today in Springfield that would allow some community colleges to offer four-year baccalaureate degrees. The goal, according to the Governor’s office, would be to make four-year degrees more accessible to working adults, especially those who don’t live near a public university. Currently there are 24 states across the nation that have this type of policy in place. The Governor will give his seventh state budget address to the General Assembly today at 12:00.
(INDIANAPOLIS) A bill to redraw the Indiana-Illinois border received initial approval this past Monday in an Indiana State House committee. The proposal would establish a bi-state boundary adjustment commission to research the possibility of redrawing the boundaries between the two states. While seven counties voted to secede from Illinois November 5th, there were several other separate counties that voted to do so in the two prior elections.