Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Rudy Barrera

Rudy Barrera

“I work in the assembly department, basically I assemble the trucks. I’ve been with the company four years. “Originally I’m from Mexico. I grew up over there until I was 13. I came to Chicago, lived in the city until 2001. It was OK. I lived with my parents in an apartment. I went to...

Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid

Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid

State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods, filed legislation March 23 that would give the Illinois Comptroller’s office discretion to delay payments to lawmakers if insufficient funding exists to do so. This came just hours after a Cook County judge said lawmakers must be paid.

Bill Roberts

Bill Roberts

“I thought I would never go back into a factory job. “Because where [Hoist Liftruck] started out in Bedford Park, I was there when I was 18 years old with a different outfit. And it was weird that I went back … right back into busting knuckles again. “It’s a lot cheaper in Indiana. Everything’s...

Each Illinois household on the hook for $56K in government-worker retirement debt

Each Illinois household on the hook for $56K in government-worker retirement debt

In 2010, the unfunded debt related to pensions and retiree health care costs for local and state government workers across Illinois was $203 billion, the equivalent of more than $43,000 per household. In just six years, the total debt Illinois households are on the hook for has jumped to $56,000, or 31 percent. That’s a $13,000 increase for each household. Total unfunded debt for state and local governments in Illinois now totals $267 billion.

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

Proposed legislation to commemorate former President Barack Obama’s birthday as a state holiday in Illinois would have cost taxpayers nearly $20 million in state personnel expenses and lost productivity.