Lawmakers consider borrowing $107B to pour into Illinois pensions
Lawmakers consider borrowing $107B to pour into Illinois pensions
Record-breaking borrowing to fund Illinois' even more massive pension debt is no real solution to the state's pension problem.
By Joe Tabor
Possible mismanagement costs Saline County taxpayers more than $1M
Possible mismanagement costs Saline County taxpayers more than $1M
A forensic audit reveals Saline County lost $1 million in funds through possible mismanagement.
By Brendan Bakala
2018 STATE OF THE STATE BINGO!
2018 STATE OF THE STATE BINGO!
Play BINGO! with us during Gov. Rauner's State of the State address at noon on Jan. 31! Win free stuff!
By illinoispolicy
CTU merger with charter school union is bad for both students and teachers
CTU merger with charter school union is bad for both students and teachers
The Chicago Teachers Union's hold over the lives of Chicagoans will grow through its merger with ChiACTS, the union representing Chicago-area charter school teachers.
By Mailee Smith
Senate bill puts school-choice scholarships at risk for low-income kids
Senate bill puts school-choice scholarships at risk for low-income kids
The bill would cut off Illinois’ new tax credit scholarship program if the Illinois State Board of Education determined public school funding levels were inadequate.
By Brendan Bakala
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
State spending grew 25 percent faster than Illinoisans' personal income from 2005-2015.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
Nearly 4 in 10 of those eligible for refunds made a claim for an average refund check of $36.62.
By Brendan Bakala
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
Business owners in one Illinois community are using the law to fight back against high property tax bills. Their lawsuit claimed property taxes spiked on commercial properties from 2015 to 2016, but only in their town.
By Amanda McDonald
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is sponsoring a trampoline court regulation bill that is identical to the one she sponsored in 2017.
By Brendan Bakala
Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers
Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers
House Bill 4273 would eliminate a loophole in state law that allows lawmakers to receive a month's pay for a day of work.
By Brendan Bakala
Thank you for smoking: Illinois’ cigarette taxes fourth-highest in the Midwest
Thank you for smoking: Illinois’ cigarette taxes fourth-highest in the Midwest
The Land of Lincoln's addiction to regressive "sin taxes" burns more and more of Illinoisans' incomes.
By Vincent Caruso
Why Illinois needs a spending cap
Why Illinois needs a spending cap
Spending has consistently outpaced state tax revenues in Illinois for more than a decade. To avoid future tax hikes, Illinois must impose real fiscal discipline on state lawmakers.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
A potential 2 percent dine-in tax imposed on Springfield restaurants has yet to be introduced, but the idea - which other towns have tried - is not a welcome one.