New Cook County soda tax upheld in court
New Cook County soda tax upheld in court
The tax makes soda sold in Chicago among the most expensive in the country.
Illinois evidence based funding
Illinois evidence based funding
Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K
Illinois has 63,000 government workers making over $100K
High-priced government workers cost taxpayers in Illinois $10 billion a year, with municipal managers in areas surrounding Chicago reaping the most benefits.
Chicago bailout puts downstate and suburban students at risk of missing school
Chicago bailout puts downstate and suburban students at risk of missing school
In trying to force a Chicago bailout, proponents of Senate Bill 1 are throwing hundreds of thousands of downstate and suburban students into limbo.
Rauner signs bill prohibiting cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers
Rauner signs bill prohibiting cost-of-living adjustments for lawmakers
HB 643 will prevent the $50,000 daily cost of special sessions from rising even higher in fiscal year 2018.
Madman Madigan
Madman Madigan
Illinois’ political machine is still humming
Illinois’ political machine is still humming
Madigan, Martwick and Mautino are cogs in a well-oiled political machine that continues to enrich Illinois' political class at the expense of taxpayers.
Resolution would create special state task force on property tax appeals
Resolution would create special state task force on property tax appeals
House Joint Resolution 69 would create a special task force to investigate and report on state and local property tax assessment, appeals processes and other property tax policies.
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.