Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Rauner reaches contract deal with conservation police officers union

Rauner reaches contract deal with conservation police officers union

Gov. Bruce Rauner’s agreement on a contract with the Fraternal Order of Police Labor Council for conservation police officers, as well as 19 other Illinois government-worker unions, demonstrates that it is AFSCME – and not the governor – that is standing in the way of a fair contract for Illinois’ largest group of state workers.

By Mailee Smith

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

The little-known legislative rules that govern the legislative process in the Illinois House of Representatives give the House speaker extraordinary power to orchestrate the legislative or political outcomes he or she wants. Those rules allow the speaker to influence the makeup of legislative committees; how lawmakers vote; and when, if ever, the bills get voted...

By Joe Tabor, Ted Dabrowski

2016: Chicago’s year of the tax hike

2016: Chicago’s year of the tax hike

To address the city’s worsening financial crises, Chicago politicians turned up the dial on their usual answer to budgetary woes: raising taxes.