Extortion conspiracy, tax evasion charges filed against former Cook County commissioner
Extortion conspiracy, tax evasion charges filed against former Cook County commissioner
Jeffrey Tobolski is the latest Illinois politician charged in a wide-ranging federal corruption probe into bribes, insider deals, cronyism and red-light cameras.
Reality check on 5 false claims used to boost Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’
Reality check on 5 false claims used to boost Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’
Voters can expect to be bombarded by claims about the ‘fair tax’ until Nov. 3 – but what are the facts? Proponents have made misleading claims in hopes of convincing Illinoisans to do away with the flat tax.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
Progressive income tax study guide
Progressive income tax study guide
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls it the “fair tax.” Opponents say it’s a “blank check” for irresponsible spending. Here’s what you need to know.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
What Illinoisans need to know about the progressive income tax
What Illinoisans need to know about the progressive income tax
Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls his $3.7 billion income tax hike a “fair tax.” But opponents have criticized the constitutional amendment as a blank check for House Speaker Mike Madigan and other state lawmakers, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes
Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes
With the "fair tax" campaign, lawmakers aim to sell voters a shovel to entrench the status quo by advertising it as a weapon with which to fight against it.
By Vincent Caruso
Illinois failed to investigate nursing home complaints for 3 1/2 months of pandemic
Illinois failed to investigate nursing home complaints for 3 1/2 months of pandemic
Despite the concentration of COVID-19 deaths in Illinois nursing homes, more than 272 neglect and abuse complaints were ignored by the Illinois Department of Public Health.
Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year
Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year
Illinois’ high levels of corruption damage the state’s economy, costing it $10.6 billion since 2000. States with higher levels of corruption average lower levels of economic growth.
By Bryce Hill
Why Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ fails 3 of 4 basic tests
Why Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ fails 3 of 4 basic tests
The progressive tax’s structure fails to account for inflation and includes a marriage penalty for 4 million Illinoisans. It is designed to creep farther into taxpayers’ wallets.
By Joe Tabor
Illinois unemployment benefits stolen as state fails to implement basic security
Illinois unemployment benefits stolen as state fails to implement basic security
The Illinois Department of Employment Security troubles included scores of unemployed unable to get benefits, nearly 32,500 Social Security numbers exposed and now benefits theft. A simple fix used by many online retailers could have prevented the thefts.
Christian Fogal
Christian Fogal
"My argument is they’re not fulfilling their contract because they’re more focused on politics and political activism than they are on benefits."
Monthly jobs report fails to show depth of Illinois job losses
Monthly jobs report fails to show depth of Illinois job losses
IDES estimated unemployment rate remains artificially low because it fails to count nearly 238,000 Illinoisans who have given up trying to find a job.
By Bryce Hill
Political patronage? Not in Illinois, Pritzker argues in court
Political patronage? Not in Illinois, Pritzker argues in court
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker sees no patronage problem in his administration – not that there’s no patronage, just that he apparently doesn’t see it as a problem.
By Brad Weisenstein