Midwest

Illinois lawmakers plan to begin sending off bills that make up a $36.3 billion fiscal 2016 budget to Gov. Bruce Rauner next week, three weeks after they adopted a spending plan labeled by the GOP leader as “phony.”

Wayne County, Mich. officials say they expect investor interest in an upcoming financing though it will come just days after the county executive requested that the state step in and declare a financial emergency.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder touted the state’s new $54 billion 2016 budget as a spending plan that will continue the state’s “path to prosperity.”

Wayne County, Mich. Executive Warren Evans is asking for state intervention to help tackle the county’s fiscal woes, submitting on Wednesday a formal request that a financial emergency be declared.

A federal judge Tuesday said federal approval of a controversial $1.5 billion toll road between Indiana and Illinois was “arbitrary and capricious” and in violation of federal environmental law.

The Chicago City Council approved without debate Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed $1.1 billion general obligation bond restructuring that helps resolve a liquidity crisis and eases budget pressures.

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner is turning to a television advertising campaign in an attempt to build public support for his position in a budget impasse with the General Assembly’s Democratic majority.

A Michigan appeals court ruling clipped the authority of the state’s emergency managers in the first case examining the extent of their power under the state’s law for distressed local governments.

The Chicago City Council votes Wednesday on a $1.1 billion general obligation restructuring that helps the city resolve a liquidity crisis driven by its downgrade to junk while also providing a big dose of budget relief.

Chicago's $1.1 billion general obligation debt restructuring cleared the City Council Finance Committee Monday after a two hour hearing during which new chief financial officer Carole Brown defended plans to roll short-term operating expenses on to the city’s long-term debt load.