What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers
What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers
What’s making college unaffordable for Illinois students isn’t budget gridlock, it’s soaring administrative costs in higher education.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Indiana personal income has grown twice as fast as Illinois’ over recession era
Indiana personal income has grown twice as fast as Illinois’ over recession era
Hoosier homeowners keep more of their wages as a result of a statewide property tax cap and income tax cuts.
By Michael Lucci
Employers in DuPage and Cook counties reported 429 layoffs in January
Employers in DuPage and Cook counties reported 429 layoffs in January
Numbers from the January 2017 Illinois WARN report show most of the mass layoffs were in the service industry.
By Brendan Bakala
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
Civic Federation proposal hits Illinois taxpayers with $51 billion in tax hikes
The Civic Federation’s budget plan repeats old mistakes with multibillion-dollar tax hikes and no serious, structural reform.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Why a fair, balanced budget takes political courage
Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle grow more and more powerful as the size of state and local government increases.
By Austin Berg
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
4 reasons Illinois can’t weather another tax increase
Lawmakers need to look at the state’s major spending drivers instead of increasing taxes, which will continue to drive more people out of the state.
By Michael Lucci
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
AFSCME’s contract demands: A close look at the $3B hit to taxpayers
Despite the fact that the average AFSCME worker makes over $100,000 a year in total compensation, the union has made health care, salary and benefit demands that are out of line with what Illinois taxpayers can afford and would aggravate the state’s financial crisis.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Madigan’s millions: How the speaker sells his sway
Madigan’s millions: How the speaker sells his sway
The speaker’s law firm makes millions in the clout-heavy game of Cook County property tax appeals.
By Austin Berg
Who are AFSCME workers?
Who are AFSCME workers?
The union representing state workers is currently holding a strike authorization vote. Understanding whom AFSCME represents better equips taxpayers in evaluating AFSCME’s demands and whether a strike is reasonable.
By Mailee Smith
Illinois senators want new tax on services, higher sales tax on food, medicine
Illinois senators want new tax on services, higher sales tax on food, medicine
The proposal would be part of the Senate’s “grand bargain,” which also includes a multibillion-dollar income tax hike.
By Austin Berg
Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes
Illinois politicians’ remedy for state flirting with recession? Multibillion-dollar tax hikes
A new report from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability shows Illinois has experienced falling tax collections, which may indicate trouble in the state economy; spending reforms – not tax hikes – are what Illinois needs to right its fiscal ship and boost economic growth.
By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner