Trump commutes Blagojevich’s prison sentence
Trump commutes Blagojevich’s prison sentence
The nation’s corruption capitol will see one of its most infamous political figures return home.
Illinois Forward: A 5-year plan for balanced budgets, declining debt and tax relief
Illinois Forward: A 5-year plan for balanced budgets, declining debt and tax relief
The years 2010 through 2019 will go down in Illinois history as a decade of public policy failure and economic decline. High fixed costs for pensions and government worker health care have prevented the state from balancing its budget in any year since 2001. Since the Great Recession in 2008, the state’s fiscal imbalance has...
Illinoisans most likely to move out would see higher taxes under Pritzker plan
Illinoisans most likely to move out would see higher taxes under Pritzker plan
Other states show how a progressive income tax would likely make the Illinois exodus worse, pushing jobs and tax revenue out of Illinois.
Top Cook County official latest indicted in connection to red-light camera industry
Top Cook County official latest indicted in connection to red-light camera industry
A high-ranking Cook County political operative moonlighting as a sales agent for a red-light camera company is the latest politician accused of bribery in a sprawling federal corruption probe.
Ball and chain: ‘Fair tax’ marriage penalty
Ball and chain: ‘Fair tax’ marriage penalty
Illinoisans want cleaner state government more than great schools, less crime
Illinoisans want cleaner state government more than great schools, less crime
A common misconception in Illinois is that voters are numb to this reality. But polling released this week, commissioned by the Illinois Education Association, shows that’s not true.
Pritzker ‘fair tax’ would hit over 4 million Illinoisans with marriage penalty, potentially give wealthy couples a marriage bonus
Pritzker ‘fair tax’ would hit over 4 million Illinoisans with marriage penalty, potentially give wealthy couples a marriage bonus
A progressive income tax would force nearly all joint filers in Illinois to pay higher income taxes than they would as single filers. Meanwhile, some wealthy couples would save thousands in state income taxes.
House bill would ban Illinois drivers from pumping their own gas
House bill would ban Illinois drivers from pumping their own gas
The Gas Station Attendant Act would make Illinois one of only two states nationwide that bar all drivers from self-service at gas stations.
Illinois lawmakers operate under honor system on conflicts of interest
Illinois lawmakers operate under honor system on conflicts of interest
Prairie State politicians are allowed to determine when they have a conflict of interest, and whether they should recuse themselves from voting or disclose a conflict. HB 4041 would change that.
Springfield’s ‘corruptavirus’ epidemic
Springfield’s ‘corruptavirus’ epidemic
Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs
Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs
Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.
Bipartisan bill would block ‘revolving door’ from lawmaker to lobbyist
Bipartisan bill would block ‘revolving door’ from lawmaker to lobbyist
Illinois is one of the few states that lets lawmakers or state agency chiefs become a lobbyist the day after leaving office. A new ethics bill would stop that.
Illinois watchdog’s report of ‘serious misconduct’ was ‘squashed’ by panel of lawmakers
Illinois watchdog’s report of ‘serious misconduct’ was ‘squashed’ by panel of lawmakers
Illinois’ legislative inspector general investigates complaints against state lawmakers, but a commission of their peers can – and did – bury those findings, the former inspector said. A new bill would change that.
Slowest-growing states have progressive income taxes
Slowest-growing states have progressive income taxes
Fewer people want to live in states with progressive income taxes. So after 6 straight years of population loss, why would Illinois want to join them?