On June 30, 2007. the Governor signed SB 678 into law.  The bill attempts to address competition and customer service concerns in the cable and video delivery industry.  New cable providers can now enter the state market without negotiating separate franchise agreements with each city and village.  To examine how the bill will affect local governments click here.

The Sudan Divestiture Act, which prohibited pension funds from investing in companies with ties to Sudan, was declared unconstitutional by a Federal District Court on Friday, February 23.  For more information on the breaking news, click here

The Illinois Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan, has been distributing letters to public pension funds throughout Illinois to encourage them to adopt policies that combat predatory lending.  The issue has raised a number of concerns regarding the cooperation of financial institutions, fiduciary responsibility, and enforcement.  To learn more about this issue click here.

DROP is an alternative to standard retirement designed to keep long-term employees on staff.  Although DROPs are not authorized in Illinois, they have spread to many state and local governments.  Learn more about the structure, issues, and costs surrounding DROPs by clicking here.