The Illinois Department of Employment Security was ill-prepared to handle record numbers of unemployed workers when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, was slow to distribute federal help, exposed Illinoisans' private information, then lefts thousands on hold awaiting answers. Here's the latest.
House Bill 417 falls far short of the structural reforms Illinois pension systems require. A constitutional amendment is needed after courts blocked a real reform effort in 2018.
Pension obligation bonds, like payday loans, are a sign of mismanaged finances. Illinois not only leads the nation for using that risky debt, it owes the bulk of it.
Property taxes keep going up, but services aren’t improving. Paying more and getting less is a trend that residents want to see reversed.
Guest: Dr. Orphe Divounguy
Gov. J.B Pritzker has warned district administrators since early August that ISBE would strip state recognition from Illinois schools defying his statewide mask mandate. House Bill 4135 aims to give the state board of education that power.
“There’s a lot of investors nationally that I know that will not invest in Illinois. There [are] large investors pulling out of this state because they don’t want to pay for other people’s bad mistakes.”
“You need stable housing to get yourself together, hold a job and contribute to society. Without proper housing people end up using more resources.”
Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised to pass fair maps. On Aug. 31, politicians enacted maps that go back on that promise.
Because the cost of generous government retirement packages has grown faster than existing government revenues can sustain, property taxes continue to climb.
Illinois made an important first step in its break with the corrupt practices that defined the legislative process under former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. New ethics rules about lobbying, financial disclosures and the legislative watchdog were passed in the final hours of the session, but the reforms may die after the House rejected a technical change to the legislation by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
The Windy City tied with four other major cities as imposing the nation’s second highest sales tax on residents among 124 considered. The report warns the city’s new status could be costing Chicago businesses their competitive edge.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s Aug. 4 mask mandate drew criticism from the communities he just weeks earlier promised would keep local control over student COVID-19 safety. School districts that fail to kowtow face severe state sanctions.