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Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn's budget chief says drastic changes need to be made on how the state funds Medicaid and pensions. David Vaught testified Wednesday at a Senate Approporiations Committee hearing.

 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Under pressure to act quickly, the Illinois Senate is scheduled Tuesday to consider tax relief for some big-name companies threatening to leave the state.

CME Group and suburban-based Sears are one step closer to getting the state tax breaks meant to persuade them to stay headquartered in Illinois.On Monday the Illinois House approved a new tax relief package after it resoundingly rejected a similar measure last month.

Legislative leaders in Illinois are trying to put together a tax relief package to keep some big companies in Illinois.They have until Thursday to pass a bill that could give more tax incentives to companies like Sears and Chicago-based CME Group, which have threatened to leave the state since the c

Their place of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board Options Exchange as major financial players in Illinois might explain why some lawmakers wanted to give them a big tax break. A proposed bill would trim the futures exchanges' income tax rate on the bulk of their trades.

The first big gambling house in Chicago since the late 19th century may be the first big initiative of the Emanuel administration. But the big question remains: Will a Chicago casino have a kick-ass pool?The IL House approved a huge expansion of gaming and casinos in Illinois.

Updated at 5:54 p.m.The Illinois House has formed its own redistricting committee, a few days after its state Senate counterpart got started with public hearings.