The cost of medical benefits is projected to jump again next year with premiums and out-of-pocket expenses rising 10 percent, and that likely will mean more pain for workers, who have seen their share of the tab triple since 2001

Gov. Pat Quinn's efforts to chip away at the budget mess suffered another blow Monday when a southern Illinois judge blocked his plan to save an estimated $100 million by laying off 2,500 state employees

Forced to dramatically cut payrolls, some states are finding low-cost ways to boost employee morale, even as they struggle to maintain basic human resource functions such as training, recruiting, hiring and regular performance reviews.  

In response to the current recession, 30 states this year have enacted tax increases. Another 7 states are considering revenue-raising options.

Creates $9.2 Billion Funding Gap, Forces Massive Cuts in Fundamental State Services...Follow this link to see the Impact it may have on the services you depend on...

Sponsored by House Speaker Michael Madigan, D-Chicago, the bill is believed to affect about 750 state employees and members of boards and commissions. It mainly targets higher-ranking employees whose jobs are considered political patronage appointments. The bill goes after people named to “double exempt” jobs between Jan. 11, 1999, and Jan. 29, 2009 — the years when first George Ryan and then Rod Blagojevich served as governor.

Within the next two weeks, the General Assembly will approve a new state budget - a crucial decision that will determine Illinois' fate for many years. On March 18, I presented lawmakers with a proposed budget for fiscal year 2010 that will rescue our state from financial ruin while protecting its most needy citizens.  My budget plan contains tough, but responsible, choices that must be made

Governor Quinn announced he will be forced to cut spending by 37% if the General Assembly does not pass any new revenue sources for Fiscal Year 2010.

Please click on the link above to find out more about Governor Quinn's proposed budget....

Media coverage of the $787 billion stimulus package signed Tuesday by President Obama has had an air of unreality -- as if people were reporting on a baseball game or a tennis match. Is Obama up or down today? Did the Republicans gain or lose momentum? Meanwhile, as Washington obsesses over the political box score, the economy has been going down the toilet

Effective January 1, 2009 state employees will experience a few changes in the Benefit Choice Insurance Plan.

Beginning November 1, a worker who tests positive in a drug/alcohol testing procedure, goes through rehabilitation and returns to duty will be subjected to a directly-observed test for the required duration of return-to-duty testing (at least seven tests in the first year; and an unlimited and unspecified number of tests in years two to five).

IFPE Local 4408 has begun negotiations with the State of Illinois and CMS for the RC-29, RC-33, RC-45 and RC-56 contracts.  As the current contracts expired on June 30, 2008, an agreement has been reached with CMS and the State of Illinois to extend these contracts.....

The Alliance for Retired Americans (ARA) wants to get the word out to senior citizens that those with at least $3,000 annual income (including Social Security, VA benefits and railroad retirement) are eligible for a rebate check.