Trio of licensing reform bills advance to House floor
Trio of licensing reform bills advance to House floor
Three proposals that would ease occupational licensing restrictions have reached the House floor, passing unanimously out of committee.
How to kill a tax hike
How to kill a tax hike
Taxpayers have won the defensive battle against a progressive tax hike. Now it’s time for some offense.
More than 100 township governments file in opposition to township consolidation bill
More than 100 township governments file in opposition to township consolidation bill
A House bill that would allow communities to consolidate local township governments has earned support from both parties – and the opposition of township officials.
Harvey pension crisis leads to mass layoffs
Harvey pension crisis leads to mass layoffs
Police, firemen and other government workers will be laid off to cover pension costs.
McHenry County consolidation bill passes committee, advances to House floor
McHenry County consolidation bill passes committee, advances to House floor
A House bill that would allow for the dissolution of township governments in McHenry County has passed committee and is set to receive a vote.
Taxpayer victory: Progressive tax effectively dead this legislative session
Taxpayer victory: Progressive tax effectively dead this legislative session
Fifty lawmakers are taking a pledge to fight a progressive income tax in Illinois, denying progressive tax proponents the support needed to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot.
Typical Illinois family would see a tax hike under nearby states’ progressive tax rates
Typical Illinois family would see a tax hike under nearby states’ progressive tax rates
As examples of the type of progressive tax plan he would like to see in Illinois, J.B. Pritzker pointed to other Midwestern states. But imposing those income tax rates would raise taxes on the median Illinois family.
Illinois bonds once again rated just above junk
Illinois bonds once again rated just above junk
One rating agency cited Illinois’ “persistent crisis-like budget environment” as explanation for the state’s near-junk credit. A spending cap constitutional amendment and pension reform could go a long way toward putting the state on a healthier fiscal path.
Progressive tax trap
Progressive tax trap
Pothole season in Chicago: How to file a claim for vehicle damages
Pothole season in Chicago: How to file a claim for vehicle damages
Residents can recoup some costs after hitting one of the Windy City’s infamous potholes.
Senate bill would bar Illinois from axing occupational licenses due to student loan debt
Senate bill would bar Illinois from axing occupational licenses due to student loan debt
Under Illinois law, defaulting on student loan debt could jeopardize one’s occupational license. But a Senate bill would protect indebted workers from displacement.
Proposed Belleville budget hikes taxes on residents
Proposed Belleville budget hikes taxes on residents
The proposed $100.8 million budget will spend millions on police and fire pensions as well as a 3 percent pay raise for city workers.
Des Plaines approves nearly $200K salary for city manager
Des Plaines approves nearly $200K salary for city manager
Despite living in one of the most overtaxed counties in the country, the Des Plaines City Council approved an $11,255 salary increase for its city manager, raising the cost of government even more for taxpayers.
Revised data show Decatur added 400 jobs in 2017
Revised data show Decatur added 400 jobs in 2017
Revisions from the Bureau of Labor Statistics flipped Decatur’s jobs growth from negative to positive over the year, though the growth was meager.