Jerry R. McDonald
Jerry R. McDonald
“People are voting with their feet, leaving Illinois every day and high property taxes are a big part of it."
Illinois House speaker unwilling to take voters’ ‘no’ on ‘fair tax’ for an answer
Illinois House speaker unwilling to take voters’ ‘no’ on ‘fair tax’ for an answer
Just more than three months after voters soundly rejected a progressive state income tax, new Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch is trying to revive the idea as a fix for state pensions. There is a better solution than the failed ‘fair tax’ scheme.
Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes
Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes
Unemployment claims bumped up for a second week in Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided to push for 9 new taxes, mostly hitting businesses and job creation. Illinois ranked 49th for recovery last week.
Illinois faced nursing shortage before COVID-19 stressed health care
Illinois faced nursing shortage before COVID-19 stressed health care
An impending health care worker shortage argues for a bill that would allow Illinois to join a multi-state nursing license compact. Nurses could see improved job options.
Pritzker’s budget pushes 9 new taxes worth nearly $1 billion
Pritzker’s budget pushes 9 new taxes worth nearly $1 billion
The budget proposal includes no reforms to pensions or other cost drivers, misleadingly labels various business tax increases as ‘closing corporate tax loopholes,’ and relies on gimmicks that conceal true deficits. And there’s a new gas tax.
Madigan’s Illinois House replacement quits at Madigan’s request
Madigan’s Illinois House replacement quits at Madigan’s request
Two days after he picked his replacement as state representative, Mike Madigan asked that replacement to resign over ‘questionable conduct.’ Edward Guerra Kodatt then quit after serving two days, entitling him to $5,789 in salary.
Karena Cozad
Karena Cozad
“First of all, they shouldn’t tell you it’s mandatory. It’s misleading if you’re a non-union member.”
How COVID-19 is throwing Illinoisans’ next choices for Congress in doubt
How COVID-19 is throwing Illinoisans’ next choices for Congress in doubt
Because of delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Census Bureau will not have the data for states’ political redistricting until the end of September. Illinois faces problems likely to land any political maps in court.
Illinois lawmakers approve controversial ‘culturally responsive’ teaching rule
Illinois lawmakers approve controversial ‘culturally responsive’ teaching rule
Illinois state lawmakers recently approved a rule requiring Illinois teacher training programs to adopt ‘culturally responsive teaching and leading’ standards. Critics say a political litmus test is the wrong focus when students are underachieving on the basics.
Madigan quits as party chair day after picking his House successor
Madigan quits as party chair day after picking his House successor
Mike Madigan quit as Democratic Party of Illinois chairman a day after picking his successor for the Illinois House, four days after resigning as representative and one month after he was ousted as the nation's longest-serving Statehouse speaker.
Madigan will retire with $2.9 million public pension after contributing just $350,000
Madigan will retire with $2.9 million public pension after contributing just $350,000
Because of a pension sweetener for politicians that Madigan helped create, the former speaker’s pension will spike more than $66,000 the year after his first full year of retirement, then grow 3% each year thereafter.
Illinois’ poorest hit hardest by COVID-19 job loss, many still unemployed
Illinois’ poorest hit hardest by COVID-19 job loss, many still unemployed
Illinois households earning less than $40,000 were four-times as likely to lose their jobs from February-April 2020 and nearly 11 times as likely to still be out of work compared to those earning $75,000 or more.
Weak accounting standards enable Illinois budget deficits
Weak accounting standards enable Illinois budget deficits
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.
Illinois’ leisure and hospitality industry among hardest hit in Midwest
Illinois’ leisure and hospitality industry among hardest hit in Midwest
The industry had been one of the bright spots in the Illinois economy but COVID-19 and state-mandated mitigation efforts have decimated it.