House passes legislative rules handing Madigan iron grip
House passes legislative rules handing Madigan iron grip
No other state in the country grants as much power to its House speaker as Illinois does to Mike Madigan.
AFSCME’s list of demands
AFSCME’s list of demands
The union representing state workers is threatening to strike – demanding extravagant pay and benefits and refusing 40-hour work weeks before overtime kicks in. Illinoisans should be outraged.
How Illinois can turn its Medicaid program into a true safety net
How Illinois can turn its Medicaid program into a true safety net
Illinois should roll back the state’s Obamacare Medicaid expansion and institute work requirements to save Medicaid for truly needy Illinoisans.
It’s time to reform Madigan’s rules
It’s time to reform Madigan’s rules
The Illinois House should change its legislative rules to diminish the control they give the House speaker over the legislative process, which far exceeds the power that other states grant their legislative leaders.
Despite financial crisis, Chicago State University pays lobbyists, Madigan spokesman hundreds of thousands
Despite financial crisis, Chicago State University pays lobbyists, Madigan spokesman hundreds of thousands
Chicago State University spent more than $200,000 lobbying Springfield politicians, while deteriorating finances caused it to lay off hundreds of employees, including professors.
New bill would even the playing field for third-party and independent candidates
New bill would even the playing field for third-party and independent candidates
Senate Bill 63 would make signature requirements to get on the ballot uniform for all candidates.
Illinois extends failed corporate tax credit program
Illinois extends failed corporate tax credit program
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed an extension of the EDGE tax credit program, though the program has an unsuccessful record of using taxpayer money.
Illinois lost 5 residents per day to Kentucky in 2015
Illinois lost 5 residents per day to Kentucky in 2015
Expect Kentucky to gain even more Illinoisans in coming years.
Illinois needs a vision, not just a budget
Illinois needs a vision, not just a budget
The Illinois Senate budget proposal merely puts off the state’s day of reckoning through more of the same: tax hikes, borrowing and spending, without the necessary reforms to put the state on a path to fiscal and economic health.
Illinois Supreme Court ends Chicago tax on suburban car rentals
Illinois Supreme Court ends Chicago tax on suburban car rentals
The Illinois Supreme Court shut down a tax Chicago was imposing on car rentals outside city limits, noting the potentially chaotic nature of the policy.
Radogno’s poison pill
Radogno’s poison pill
6 highlights from Illinois criminal justice commission’s final report
6 highlights from Illinois criminal justice commission’s final report
The criminal justice commission’s recommendations work toward providing more opportunity for ex-offenders and reducing the state’s prison population.
Illinois loses 16,700 jobs in face of new tax hike proposals
Illinois loses 16,700 jobs in face of new tax hike proposals
New Illinois jobs data reveal a state with thousands of job losses, unemployment rising to 5.7 percent, a collapsing manufacturing sector, and several downstate communities sliding back into recession — all of which make the Illinois Senate’s new tax hike proposal especially harmful.
The Illinois state senators who pledged not to raise taxes
The Illinois state senators who pledged not to raise taxes
As pressure mounts on state senators and representatives to vote in favor of multibillion-dollar tax hikes, lawmakers should remember the promises they’ve made to taxpayers.