While the private sector is held to a higher standard, rules from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board have enabled Illinois to engage in reckless financial practices that harm taxpayers and the state’s economy.
The industry had been one of the bright spots in the Illinois economy but COVID-19 and state-mandated mitigation efforts have decimated it.
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is resigning as a state representative after 50 years in office. It came a little more than a month after he was ousted as speaker.
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is resigning as a state representative after 50 years in office.
While the nation gets back to work, Illinois unemployment claims rose again. The past week ranked Illinois 50th out of 51, including Washington, D.C.
Delivered virtually Feb. 17, 2021, from the Illinois State Fairgrounds
“Adding Illinois to the Nurse Licensure Compact could really help alleviate the heavy burden placed on nurses."
Illinois needed federal aid far more than other states because of pension crisis inaction, as well as an irresponsible pandemic budget. Bailouts won’t protect taxpayers or services for vulnerable Illinoisans, but reforms can.
"I couldn’t transfer my license, so I had to get a new license just to get a job back in Iowa, which cost hundreds of dollars.”
“If you try to go outside of your district here in the state of Illinois, you will pay tens of thousands of dollars per school year per student.”
The nation’s second-highest property taxes could come down if Illinois cut school bureaucracy and reformed public pensions. Until they do, fixing the housing stock is a tough sell.
A new report from government finance watchdog Truth in Accounting gave the Windy City an “F” for financial health. Chicago’s massive $36 billion net debt stems primarily from pensions.
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke are among the politicians curbed by Chicago’s current U.S. Attorney. A bipartisan group is trying to keep him in place to continue public corruption prosecutions.