Bad Santa: Sobering ‘sin taxes’ in Illinois among nation’s highest
Bad Santa: Sobering ‘sin taxes’ in Illinois among nation’s highest
Excise taxes have failed to rehabilitate Illinois’ failing fiscal health. But lawmakers have yet to kick the habit.
New car trade-in tax will hit Illinois drivers New Year’s Day
New car trade-in tax will hit Illinois drivers New Year’s Day
Illinois will impose a new sales tax on vehicle trade-ins beginning New Year’s Day. That’s why car dealerships have been running radio ads for weeks telling Illinoisans to come on down before the ball drops.
Will County board to vote on 4-cent countywide gas tax following doubled Illinois tax
Will County board to vote on 4-cent countywide gas tax following doubled Illinois tax
Included in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan is increased taxing power for some county governments to create or raise countywide gas taxes. Will County could be the first to exercise that authority.
Absent pension crisis, Illinois could afford ‘free’ college
Absent pension crisis, Illinois could afford ‘free’ college
Illinois could give every undergraduate in public college nearly $70k a year if it spent the same 4% of its budget on pensions as it did throughout the 90s, rather than the 25% it spends today.
Tax on Uber, Lyft rides in downtown Chicago set to triple Jan. 1
Tax on Uber, Lyft rides in downtown Chicago set to triple Jan. 1
Chicagoans will pay higher taxes on rideshare trips in 2020 as part of Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s first budget.
Sexual harassment case against Madigan campaign ends with $275K settlement
Sexual harassment case against Madigan campaign ends with $275K settlement
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan settled a sexual harassment case involving his former political lieutenant, but the related corruption implications are far from over.
Pritzker’s Peloton Christmas gift
Pritzker’s Peloton Christmas gift
FBI asking about Madigan money, political clout in corruption investigation
FBI asking about Madigan money, political clout in corruption investigation
There is little doubt the FBI is targeting the longtime House speaker and Democratic political boss in their sweeping investigation of Illinois corruption.
New taxes and fees on Illinois driving, vehicles total $1.9B
New taxes and fees on Illinois driving, vehicles total $1.9B
Jan. 1 marks a second wave of taxes aimed at drivers to support an infrastructure package championed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and shrouded in corruption allegations.
Up to 140,000 able-bodied Illinoisans may need jobs to get food stamps in 2020
Up to 140,000 able-bodied Illinoisans may need jobs to get food stamps in 2020
Just Cook County food stamp recipients were facing work requirements Jan. 1 if they were under age 50, able-bodied and had no dependents. Now the rules will apply throughout Illinois starting April 1.
A decade after recession, Illinois’ construction industry is ice cold
A decade after recession, Illinois’ construction industry is ice cold
Why is Illinois construction so weak? As it turns out, big government programs can’t paper over weak fundamentals.
Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering
Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering
With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. Illinois, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.
Illinois lawmakers should hold Pritzker to his ‘fair maps’ promise
Illinois lawmakers should hold Pritzker to his ‘fair maps’ promise
Even without a constitutional amendment, there are changes lawmakers could make as soon as session resumes to get politics out of mapmaking.
When drivers shift into ‘park’ after Jan. 1, Illinois will move to collect taxes
When drivers shift into ‘park’ after Jan. 1, Illinois will move to collect taxes
Illinoisans paying to park will see a new tax beginning in January. Even parking on someone’s lawn for a special event will be taxed.