Tagged: Governor Pat Quinn

A southern Illinois judge has again barred Governor Pat Quinn from going forward with his plan to close two prisons. Circuit Judge Charles Cavaness cited safety concerns when he issued the injunction yesterday in Alexander County. It replaces a temporary restraining order he issued last month and requires the prisons to remain open while the administration and a union go through arbitration.

Prisoners at the Tamms Correctional Center in southern Illinois will remain at the facility until Corrections Department union employees have a say in the closure process. Governor Pat Quinn ordered Tamms and other prisons closed in June to save the state money. The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees has asked for transfers to stop while state and union officials discuss safety measures for the closings. AFSCME spokesman Anders Lindall says the two sides will meet an arbitrator Tuesday.

Illinois officials have moved eight of the state's more volatile criminals from the supermax Tamms penitentiary. The move occurred yesterday, part of Governor Pat Quinn's plan to close Tamms and one other major prison.  The same day, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees filed a lawsuit to stop the transfers.  The union for Illinois’ corrections workers wants the state to negotiate how moving dangerous criminals will affect them.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn has called lawmakers back to Springfield for a one-day special session August 17th to reform the state’s pension systems. But, so far, he doesn’t have a plan beyond that. Quinn said lawmakers already have legislation on the table they should consider. That includes a measure pushed by Senate President John Cullerton addressing two of the state’s five pension systems. Legislative leaders have been deadlocked over how to address the state’s $83 billion dollars in unfunded pension liability.

Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed new laws over the weekend aimed at protecting the elderly by increasing caregiver oversight and making it easier for authorities to respond to cases of abuse or neglect. One of the new measures allows prosecutors to ask a court to freeze a suspect's assets if they are charged with financial exploitation of an elderly person. It’s meant to keep a defendant from spending stolen money before restitution is collected. Another new law allows police and fire departments access to reports of abuse, neglect or financial exploitation against the elderly.

Illinois legislation will raise fines for people that misuse disabled parking tags to $600 next year. The new law also imposes a $1,000 fine on any healthcare provider who knowingly falsifies the certification allowing someone to get a disability plate or parking decal.