How local government spends your taxes soon may be a click away
How local government spends your taxes soon may be a click away
Local governments must maintain certain financial records, but not all make it easy for taxpayers to obtain it. A bill headed to the Illinois House floor would put local government financial records online.
By Vincent Caruso
Pritzker’s $3.4B income tax hike can fund less than 4 months of state pension costs
Pritzker’s $3.4B income tax hike can fund less than 4 months of state pension costs
Without reform, Illinois’ pension problem will continue to force tax hikes while crowding out the core services residents need.
By Austin Berg
Illinois House unanimously passes education efficiency bill
Illinois House unanimously passes education efficiency bill
By reducing administrative bloat in Illinois school districts, the bill would enable property tax relief while ensuring education dollars reach students and classrooms first, rather than bureaucrats.
Illinois teacher pension fund slams Pritzker’s borrow, delay plan
Illinois teacher pension fund slams Pritzker’s borrow, delay plan
The Teachers’ Retirement System pension fund board opposed Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s plan to repeat past mistakes. Here’s why they are right to oppose it.
Pritzker’s plastic bag tax is all about green paper
Pritzker’s plastic bag tax is all about green paper
Those pushing the bag tax in Illinois may not care much about the body of research on this topic. They’re looking out for a different kind of green. In a scramble for new revenue and an unwillingness to take on any reform on the spending side, the Statehouse has turned to creative ways to nickel-and-dime residents.
By Austin Berg
Illinois bill would expand Chicago’s ‘Netflix tax’ statewide
Illinois bill would expand Chicago’s ‘Netflix tax’ statewide
Lawmakers in the Illinois House are weighing a bill that would tax streaming and satellite service users “for the privilege to witness, view, or otherwise enjoy the entertainment.”
By Vincent Caruso
Senate amendment would require supermajority vote to hike taxes on Illinoisans
Senate amendment would require supermajority vote to hike taxes on Illinoisans
Illinoisans are among the nation’s most overtaxed residents. A proposed Illinois constitutional amendment would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers before adding to that burden.
By Vincent Caruso
Pritzker releases contradicting numbers on $3.4B tax hike
Pritzker releases contradicting numbers on $3.4B tax hike
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker's inconsistent progressive income tax numbers don't add up, which means he will have to pass middle-class tax hikes to raise what he wants to spend.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Suman Chattopadhyay
Another Chicago alderman pleads guilty to corruption charges
Another Chicago alderman pleads guilty to corruption charges
South Side Ald. Willie Cochran pleaded guilty March 21 to felony wire fraud for spending his ward’s charity funds on personal expenses. That’s 30 Chicago aldermen convicted of corruption since 1972.
Judge orders arrest of 2 former Madigan operatives
Judge orders arrest of 2 former Madigan operatives
Two former political workers for longtime Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan failed to attend depositions in a lawsuit alleging Madigan backed “sham candidates” in his 2016 primary election.
By Austin Berg