New Illinois laws going into effect in 2017
New Illinois laws going into effect in 2017
2017 will usher in more transparency and opportunity in areas from criminal justice to government employee expenses to pensions.
2016 Corruption Watch: Chicago, East St. Louis take top corruption spots
2016 Corruption Watch: Chicago, East St. Louis take top corruption spots
This year was full of corruption and mismanagement from public officials, but four instances in particular stand out.
Uber, food trucks and Airbnb: Chicago’s 3 biggest over-regulation stories from 2016
Uber, food trucks and Airbnb: Chicago’s 3 biggest over-regulation stories from 2016
It’s no secret Chicago aldermen aren’t friendly to outsider businesses and innovative industries. Here’s a look at some of the most egregious examples from 2016.
Illinois ends 2016 with nearly $11 billion in unpaid bills
Illinois ends 2016 with nearly $11 billion in unpaid bills
Though spending on government-worker salaries and pensions has grown at a rapid rate, many service providers and grant recipients are still awaiting payment.
Dave Mansfield
Dave Mansfield
“I’m gonna cry, guys. Never thought this day would come. You know, 27 or 28 years I’ve been here and it’s time to move on. My eyes opened up to what was happening. And I realized, do I really want to invest that kind of money in a home in Chicago and the state of...
What 2017 brings the Illinois General Assembly: Lame duck and the end of Madigan’s supermajority
What 2017 brings the Illinois General Assembly: Lame duck and the end of Madigan’s supermajority
January 2017 will see a new General Assembly, but the lame duck session casts a long shadow over the new legislature.
AFSCME ends 2016 the way it started it: costing taxpayers millions
AFSCME ends 2016 the way it started it: costing taxpayers millions
2016 is ending much the same way it began for Illinois taxpayers – with AFSCME costing the state millions of dollars as it stalls progress on a contract for state workers. We can expect more of the same in 2017, with union leadership doing all it can to thwart Gov. Bruce Rauner and the state’s labor board – including the possibility of a state worker strike.
2 million Illinoisans struggle to put food on their tables
2 million Illinoisans struggle to put food on their tables
Recent data from the Illinois Department of Human Services show nearly 2 million Illinois residents need government assistance to put food on the table this holiday season, as the state continues to hemorrhage manufacturing jobs and other blue-collar opportunities. Each year’s end is a time for reflection.
Springfield 2016: Taxpayer, criminal justice victories amid ongoing budget gridlock
Springfield 2016: Taxpayer, criminal justice victories amid ongoing budget gridlock
Although the battle for the budget drags on, there were several important legislative wins for Illinoisans in 2016 including criminal justice reform, averting tax hikes, and stopping Madigan’s agenda in the lame duck session.
$39 billion: Where does Illinois’ tax revenue come from?
$39 billion: Where does Illinois’ tax revenue come from?
Income and sales taxes account for nearly two-thirds of state revenue.
Defending the indefensible: IMRF director on pensions
Defending the indefensible: IMRF director on pensions
The head of the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, or IMRF, has dismissed calls for pension reform, disregarding the fact that pensions aren’t manageable, benefits aren’t affordable, and previous “reforms” propped up pensions on the backs of new workers.
State’s record-breaking budgets make Illinoisans poorer
State’s record-breaking budgets make Illinoisans poorer
For each percentage point drop in the private sector’s share of the state economy, Illinois household incomes fall by over $3,000 on average. Unfortunately for Illinoisans, the private sector’s share of the Illinois economy has dwindled as government’s share – enabled through tax-funded spending – has risen to 25 percent.
Marty Bee
Marty Bee
“When my father passed away I was 7 and it was just me and my mom. My mom had a third-grade education. But we never knew we were poor. The family was good, the community was good. If it hadn’t have been for Mr. Lang’s store … I would have never had a Christmas tree....
Illinois takes steps toward consolidating its 7,000 units of government
Illinois takes steps toward consolidating its 7,000 units of government
Illinois’ duplicative and overlapping units of government contribute to the state’s high property tax burden, but luckily some small steps have been taken to consolidate them.