Tom Bennett

State Sen. Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the state's plan to add a new tax on sportsbooks and increase taxes on gaming is the wrong approach to balancing Illinois' books.

There are now four announced Republican candidates for State Senate in the 53rd district. Jesse Faber is the latest. He farms and teaches high school agriculture in Pontiac.

State Sen. Tom Bennett voted against the recently-approved $50.6 billion budget, but pointed to some areas he sees as positive.

A central Illinois lawmaker who was just appointed to an Illinois Senate seat says lawmakers don't deserve the pay raise they just gave themselves.

A state representative from Gibson City who already represents about half the 53rd Senate District will step into the Illinois Senate seat being vacated by Jason Barickman of Bloomington.