Illinois Summary - 8/12/11

State Funding To Bury Poor To Run Out

(Springfield, IL)  --  The Illinois Department of Human Services can no longer afford to cover funeral costs for the poor.  Officials say lawmakers didn't provide enough of a budget for the funeral services to continue.  In fact, they say funding will run out as early as next Monday.  Last year, it cost the state about 13-million dollars to bury 12-thousand people.

House Speaker John Boehner Stomping In Central Illinois

(Peoria, IL)  --  The highest ranking member of the U.S. House of Representatives is heading to Central Illinois.  House Speaker John Boehner is stomping for Congressman Aaron Schock.  He'll attend a private dinner at a home in Edwards, just outside of Peoria, on August 31st.  Schock is shoring up his bank account for a bid for re-election in 2012.

Illinois State Fair Officially Under Way

(Springfield, IL)  --  It's a family affair that offers everything from butter cows to baby piglets, dancing gorillas and clowns.  The Illinois State Fair has officially begun and it all started with the annual Twilight parade last night.  Visitors to the Springfield fair grounds can enjoy live horse racing, live entertainment, great food, and they can even see a live birth of baby pigs.  It's five dollars to get into the fair, which runs until the 21st.

Governor Quinn Creates Safe Haven For Newborns

(Springfield, IL)  --  New parents who want to give their babies up now have more safe places to do so.  Governor Pat Quinn is increasing the number of facilities considered "safe havens" for parents seeking to give up their newborns.  A new law allows the parents to take their babies to college or university police stations as well as any of the Illinois State Police headquarters.  The Safe Haven Law already allows parents to anonymously and legally relinquish their unharmed newborn to personnel at a hospital, emergency medical care facility, police or fire station.

Republicans Pound Quinn For Giannoulias Appointment

(Springfield, IL)  --  Members of the GOP are slamming Governor Quinn for appointing Alexi Giannoulias to the Illinois Community College Board.  Quinn announced that the former state treasurer would oversee the board Wednesday.  Giannoulias won't be paid for the job, but Republican lawmakers say its Quinn's way of keeping Giannoulias in the public's eye until he's ready to run for office again.

College Illinois To Pay 85-Million This Year

(Springfield, IL)  --  The College Illinois Program is set to pay out 85-million dollars this year.  That's according to officials at the Illinois Student Assistance Commission, who says the money is in the fund and will be paid on time.  There's been some controversy over the program recently but the state is making an effort to reform the commission that oversee the funding.  The first College Illinois Recovery Task Force Hearing into investigative practices of state's prepaid 529 college tuition program was held yesterday.

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin Pushes For Online Sales Tax

(Springfield, IL)  --  U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin is pushing a federal law to govern the collection of sales tax by online retailers.  Under current law, online retailers don't have to collect sales tax, unless they also have a physical presence in the state.  This gives online-only retailers a price advantage versus in-person retailers, if the buyers are willing to be scofflaws.  It also deprives the state of money.  Durbin says a conservative estimate is that Illinois loses 153-million dollars a year to Internet sales on which sales tax isn't paid.