Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Post-mortem: What’s in Illinois’ stopgap budget?

Post-mortem: What’s in Illinois’ stopgap budget?

The stopgap budget passed by the General Assembly provides six months worth of funding for government services such as road construction, as well as a full K-12 education budget for the 2016-2017 school year, property-tax-raising authority for Chicago, and more state funding of pensions for Chicago Public Schools teachers.

By Heather Weiner

Gov. Bruce Rauner signs stopgap budget

Gov. Bruce Rauner signs stopgap budget

The stopgap budget compromise reached between the General Assembly and Gov. Bruce Rauner will fund government operations for the next six months and ensure that schools open on time in the fall.

By Hilary Gowins

Illinois gets $5.24 million windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

Illinois gets $5.24 million windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015; as a result, the state took in $5.24 million more in fees for late license-plate renewal between January and June 21, 2016, than it did during the same period in 2015.

By Amy Korte

Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem

Illinois has a spending problem, not a revenue problem

Tax-hike proponents claim there’s no way to fix Illinois’ chronic budget problems without more money. They want Illinoisans to believe the state’s tax revenues simply aren’t enough to cover the cost of government. But tax revenues aren’t the real problem. Illinois’ perennial budget crises stem from the state’s persistent overspending and misplaced spending priorities. The...

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner, John Klingner

Brexit and Chicago’s potential bankruptcy

Brexit and Chicago’s potential bankruptcy

Pension funds aren’t immune to the volatility of the stock market. Even before Brexit, Moody’s warned that low investment returns are already putting Chicago’s pension funds at risk. A major stock market correction or another recession just might put Chicago and CPS over the edge if their already-underfunded pension systems collapse.

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

Pensions over people

Pensions over people

The pension problem was created and has been fueled by weak politicians – men and women who decided their next elections were more important than the next generation.

By Austin Berg