Illinois house value growth nation’s 2nd worst in 2019
Illinois house value growth nation’s 2nd worst in 2019
States with the slowest housing appreciation tend to have worse labor markets, higher taxes and more pension debt.
New Mexico passes bipartisan pension reform
New Mexico passes bipartisan pension reform
As Illinois elected leaders continue to delay action on pension reform, a broad and bipartisan coalition has succeeded in pushing for reforms to public employee benefits in New Mexico.
Pritzker’s memory eraser
Pritzker’s memory eraser
‘Fair tax’ medical quackery
‘Fair tax’ medical quackery
Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal
Bribery charge, resignations hit prominent players in red-light camera scandal
A Cook County commissioner quits as a former city administrator faces a bribery charge. Both played roles in the rise of red-light cameras and vendor SafeSpeed.
Bill proposes to tie Illinois state spending to what taxpayers can afford
Bill proposes to tie Illinois state spending to what taxpayers can afford
Lawmakers routinely spend faster than taxpayers’ incomes grow. A new bill would put Illinois with the majority of states that limit taxes or spending.
Senate committee passes Hayli’s Law so regulators don’t sour young entrepreneurs
Senate committee passes Hayli’s Law so regulators don’t sour young entrepreneurs
The proposal is named after Hayli Martenez, a Kankakee girl who was forced to shutter her lemonade stand last summer by county health officials.
Former Hinsdale superintendent collecting $315k pension
Former Hinsdale superintendent collecting $315k pension
The former leader of a wealthy school district is receiving a massive pension boosted by a pair of 20% raises given during her final two years. Illinois needs pension reform.
Property taxes turning American dreams into Illinois nightmares
Property taxes turning American dreams into Illinois nightmares
Visions of the community’s future no longer bring comfort. Instead, they inspire crippling fear.
Pritzker budget relies on $800M in legally questionable accounting gimmicks
Pritzker budget relies on $800M in legally questionable accounting gimmicks
Illinois law requires the governor to propose a budget balanced with existing revenues. To do so, Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposes cutting aid owed local governments, raiding the road fund, letting health insurance costs pile up and withholding taxpayers’ refunds.
Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ cheering section
Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’ cheering section
Illinois property taxes rank No. 2 in the nation for third year running
Illinois property taxes rank No. 2 in the nation for third year running
Property taxes in Illinois are nearly double the national average. Until state lawmakers trim down thousands of local governments and pursue pension reform, those bills wills remain high.
Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t
Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t
There’s no doubt: the county taxed soda more, so people bought less of it. It’s a simple lesson. So why doesn’t Springfield get it?
Illinois’ pension costs, debt are growing far faster than state predicted
Illinois’ pension costs, debt are growing far faster than state predicted
The pension crisis is worse than the state admits, and the state’s official projections cannot be trusted.