Sugary drink tax would be a bitter pill to swallow
Sugary drink tax would be a bitter pill to swallow
Illinois holds more than $66 million worth of stocks and bonds in PepsiCo, Coca Cola and Dr. Pepper Snapple alone.
Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history
Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history
Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.
Rauner: No … Chance …
Rauner: No … Chance …
Rivian Automotive gets $49.5 million in state tax credits for 1,000 jobs over 10 years
Rivian Automotive gets $49.5 million in state tax credits for 1,000 jobs over 10 years
The car manufacturer is promising to bring more than 1,000 jobs to Normal, Ill., after being offered $49.5 million in state tax credits and more in local tax credits and abatements.
Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services
Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services
The Senate’s “grand bargain” contains a one-year spending “cap” that won’t improve fiscal responsibility. A real cap must come with structural spending reforms to return spending to a level that taxpayers can afford.
Federal court in Illinois rules biometric privacy lawsuit against Google can proceed
Federal court in Illinois rules biometric privacy lawsuit against Google can proceed
The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois has held that face templates created from photographs uploaded to Google Photos are covered under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act.
Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits
Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits
While sick leave is necessary for working teachers, letting unpaid sick leave accumulate for the purpose of boosting pensions is an expensive perk that taxpayers cannot afford.
Illinois companies announce nearly 1,000 mass layoffs in February, including almost 250 manufacturing jobs
Illinois companies announce nearly 1,000 mass layoffs in February, including almost 250 manufacturing jobs
February saw the worst WARN report in seven months, with nearly 250 of the jobs lost coming from the manufacturing sector.
Homer Simpson: Grand Bargain
Homer Simpson: Grand Bargain
Chicago Public Schools options
Chicago Public Schools options
Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools
Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools
Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.
Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year
Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year
A golden rule of finance is this: Debt that can’t be paid won’t be paid.
Mystery Inc. Grand Bargain
Mystery Inc. Grand Bargain
Majority of Illinois voters support a ‘no-tax-hike budget’
Majority of Illinois voters support a ‘no-tax-hike budget’
More than half of Illinois voters want lawmakers to balance the budget by only cutting state spending.