Gas, FanDuel, Zyn, AT&T, VRBO: 5 new taxes hitting Illinoisans July 1
Gas, FanDuel, Zyn, AT&T, VRBO: 5 new taxes hitting Illinoisans July 1
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a $55.2 billion budget propped up by five new tax hikes starting July 1. Gas, phone bills, tobacco, sportsbooks and rentals such as VRBO will all come with higher taxes in Illinois.
By Charlotte Rotkis
Fireworks freedom denied: Illinois 1 of only 3 states still saying ‘no’
Fireworks freedom denied: Illinois 1 of only 3 states still saying ‘no’
While 47 states celebrate freedom with fireworks blazing across the sky, Illinois clings to a 1942 ban that limits autonomy and ignores safety data. Illinois residents cross state lines to partake in fireworks fun, while the state loses revenue and credibility.
By Charlotte Rotkis
Pritzker’s latest gas tax hike greets Independence Day travelers
Pritzker’s latest gas tax hike greets Independence Day travelers
Just in time for Independence Day travel, drivers will face Illinois’ latest gasoline tax hike. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has added 29 cents per gallon since 2019 – costing the average driver $143 more per year.
By Rich Witzel
Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral
Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral
J.B. Pritzker wants a third term as Illinois governor, but based on his history of boosting taxes and creating spending records, can Illinois afford him for four more years? Will the state grow even smaller as Illinoisans get fed up and leave?
By Paul Vallas
Chicago’s South Side gets over 3X tickets per red-light cam as North Side
Chicago’s South Side gets over 3X tickets per red-light cam as North Side
Red-light cameras on Chicago’s South Side issued more than triple the number of tickets per intersection as on the North Side between June 2024 and May 2025. Fines citywide dropped over $12 million from the previous 12 months.
By Patrick Andriesen
July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy
July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy
Climate change education, gender inclusiveness, birth certificates, prostitution privacy, court translators and insulin costs all received attention from the Illinois General Assembly. Laws involving them take effect July 1. Plus, the state gasoline tax goes up.
By Lilly Rossi
Vallas: Illinois returning to soft bigotry of low expectations
Vallas: Illinois returning to soft bigotry of low expectations
Illinois students are not learning, but instead of boosting the quality of education state leaders are trying to lower standards so scores don’t look as bad. Blame it on the Chicago Teachers Union and other teachers unions pushing for less accountability.
By Paul Vallas
Illinois pensioners earn nearly $25K more retired than those working to support them
Illinois pensioners earn nearly $25K more retired than those working to support them
The average retired career state employee in Illinois was paid $93,558 in pension benefits last year. That’s $24,538 more than the average Illinoisan working to pay for those retirees.
By Patrick Andriesen
Chicago Teachers Union sets more traps to kill charter schools
Chicago Teachers Union sets more traps to kill charter schools
Charter school contracts can be renewed for up to 10 years, but the Chicago Teachers Union has been pressuring for as few as two years. Sowing instability hurts charters and improves CTU’s odds of killing competition for their mediocre product.
By Hannah Schmid
Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills
Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills
For most bills filed in Springfield, taxpayers will have to guess at how much more will be demanded of them. Illinois General Assembly members only worried about costs 10 times for 3,859 of their bright ideas about how to improve the state.
By Lilly Rossi
Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power
Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power
Government unions already hold tremendous power over taxpayers in Illinois. Three bills heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk will give them even more power by violating worker privacy, thwarting taxpayer protections and blocking schools in emergencies.
By Mailee Smith
Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day
Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day
Illinois General Assembly members raced the clock to pass legislation. Of the 416 bills sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk this session, 155 were passed in the final week and 96 of those were on the last day.
By Lilly Rossi, Joe Tabor
When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem
When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem
6,745 bills were filed in the Illinois General Assembly this session, but only a small fraction passed both houses. Of those, 86% were introduced by Democrats. That big disparity is rooted in Democrats drawing legislative districts that shrink opposition.
By Joe Tabor, Lilly Rossi