By Cynthia Grau/WJEZ News

Tourism remains one of the biggest industries in the state of Illinois, and it keeps getting bigger.

State Tourism Director, Springfield’s Cory Jobe, says nearly 110,000,000 people visiting the state last year, a new record, generating $2.7 billion in sales tax monies.

Jobe says the state will start publishing a twice-yearly magazine highlighting Illinois attractions instead of publishing an annual guide, and there will be a short film campaign profiling people that make Illinois goods.

And in other state news,one red light stood against 101 green ones on the tote board in the Illinois House chamber Tuesday, when representatives voted to cancel their own cost-of-living adjustments.

State Rep. Will Davis (D-Homewood) says not only was the vote a “minuscule” symbol which does not address a multi-billion dollar budget problem, he believes he earns his money.

While the Illinois General Assembly is technically a part-time body, Davis says it’s his only source of employment, carrying long hours and, sometimes, seven-day work weeks.