With the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest and 117,000 jobs still missing, Illinois’ labor market is among the least recovered in the region.
Alper Turan fled Iran 24 years ago to seek a better life for himself and his family. He wants to help his new home by being one of 38 candidates recruited by Illinois Policy to run for the Illinois General Assembly. He wants voters to have a choice.
Despite proponents’ claims, Amendment 1 would give union rights only to state and local government workers – who make up just 7% of Illinois adults. It would give $2,100 property tax hikes to everyone.
"More taxes just means more businesses shut down. What’s really horrible is it really affects small businesses, not the big ones.”
Government worker unions are funding advertisements for a constitutional amendment that would guarantee $2,100 average property tax hikes statewide.
Surging gasoline prices mean Illinois is getting a boost in sales taxes from fuel, but that’s because drivers are paying the extra $200 a year. Most states don’t charge sales tax on gasoline, but Illinois adds it atop other taxes – taxing the taxes.
Illinois’ job opening rate declined 1.5 percentage points in May. That’s not a good way to enter a potential recession.
Inflation sends grocery prices rising at the fastest rate since April 1979, costing the average Illinoisan $522 more at checkout.
Illinois homeowners are most likely in the nation to be in foreclosure. The looming $2,100 property tax hike from Amendment 1 would make housing even more unaffordable.
Politicians and pundits can’t seem to agree about whether the U.S. is in a recession, but the semantics matter little for struggling Americans. Illinois can expect economic pain regardless of what it’s called.
The Chicago Bears are considering a move to Arlington Heights, but Mayor Lori Lightfoot is pitching a last-ditch effort to revamp Soldier Field. Depending on the option, the tax hit per household ranges from $833 to $2,036.
Mayor Lori Lightfoot just cried ‘safety’ in fending off an effort to curb the speed cameras that issued more tickets than Chicago has residents. But her travel detail has its own need for speed: 3 speed cam tickets and 2 warnings.
Gov. J.B. Pritzker sold the iconic state office building in downtown Chicago to Google for $105 million. He settled for far less than the $300 million sale price state politicians predicted.