Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois cigarette tax money goes up in smoke
Illinois’ high cigarette tax is a flighty source of revenue with unintended consequences.
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Illinois colleges receive credit rating upgrade, but structural problems remain
Many reforms are still needed in Illinois higher education system despite credit rating affirmations and upgrades to seven Illinois universities.
Illinois General Assembly passes bill to restrict collection, use of geolocation data
Illinois General Assembly passes bill to restrict collection, use of geolocation data
Whether a new bill would actually strengthen privacy protections, or merely encourage lawsuits, burden businesses and suppress innovation are open questions.
Manufacturing giant passes up Illinois for Wisconsin
Manufacturing giant passes up Illinois for Wisconsin
News outlets have reported that Foxconn will announce plans to build a production plant in Wisconsin that could employ up to 13,000 workers.
With district spending up, CPS schools still face cuts amid shrinking enrollment
With district spending up, CPS schools still face cuts amid shrinking enrollment
CPS’ 2017-18 budget shows cuts for many schools as student populations shrink, despite an increase in per-pupil spending for the district as a whole.
New education funding plan repeats Chicago Public Schools bailout history
New education funding plan repeats Chicago Public Schools bailout history
Senate Bill 1 is yet another unfair bailout of long-term mismanagement within Chicago Public Schools.
The battle over Airbnb in Lake Bluff, Illinois
The battle over Airbnb in Lake Bluff, Illinois
Lake Bluff homeowners home sharing with Airbnb were forced to cease and desist by the village zoning board.
Rauner calls special session on education finance bill
Rauner calls special session on education finance bill
The special session will deal with Senate Bill 1, an education finance bill that contains an annual $215 million pension bailout for Chicago Public Schools.
Chicago suburbs eye new dining, alcohol taxes
Chicago suburbs eye new dining, alcohol taxes
Suburbs such as Downers Grove make dining out costlier through tax hikes.
Berrios bails out wealthy Chicago property owners
Berrios bails out wealthy Chicago property owners
Trump administration undermines Illinois civil asset forfeiture reforms
Trump administration undermines Illinois civil asset forfeiture reforms
The reinstatement of a federal asset forfeiture program marks a step backward for civil asset forfeiture reform.
Illinois’ 32% income tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Illinois’ 32% income tax hike shows need for taxpayer bill of rights
Illinois taxpayers deserve to have a voice in budgeting decisions as politicians continually look to hike their taxes.
Martwick, property tax lawyer, fails to disclose political cash
Martwick, property tax lawyer, fails to disclose political cash
State Rep. Robert Martwick blamed “poorly written” ethics laws for his failure to disclose income from political consulting work.
Illinois unemployment rises slightly despite shrinking workforce
Illinois unemployment rises slightly despite shrinking workforce
Illinois’ June jobs data show 4,300 more Illinoisans are unemployed and the state’s labor force is down 20,400 people.