May Corruption Watch
May Corruption Watch
May’s corruption headlines show the steep cost nontransparent government can have on taxpayers.
Belleville votes to dissolve township, save taxpayers $260,000 per year starting May 2017
Belleville votes to dissolve township, save taxpayers $260,000 per year starting May 2017
Belleville City Council’s decision to dissolve its township is a great move for taxpayers. Thousands of municipalities could make the same move, too, and eliminate waste.
Against Illinois’ tax breaks for Amazon? Fix the state’s broken workers’ compensation system
Against Illinois’ tax breaks for Amazon? Fix the state’s broken workers’ compensation system
There’s a reason new facilities aren’t being built in Illinois: In too many cases a business investment in Illinois doesn’t make financial sense unless Illinois taxpayers are paying for a chunk of the project. This system isn’t good for businesses, or for workers and unions that are losing jobs. Until Illinois makes the broad tax and regulatory reforms needed to compete for blue-collar jobs, businesses are going to keep expanding elsewhere or asking for tax breaks to come here.
Working on a dream: 3 Chicago women and the power of manufacturing
Working on a dream: 3 Chicago women and the power of manufacturing
Three women from Chicago’s West Side are beating the odds.
How zoning rules are helping Houston overtake Chicago as America’s 3rd-largest city
How zoning rules are helping Houston overtake Chicago as America’s 3rd-largest city
As Chicago’s population shrinks, Houston is set to overtake the Windy City as the third-largest city in America. Illinois’ slumping economy is a major reason for that, but the cities’ different zoning rules show how regulations can promote growth – or stifle it.
Illinois taxpayers paying for billionaires’ stadiums
Illinois taxpayers paying for billionaires’ stadiums
Taxpayers will shell out $36 million for Soldier Field in 2016, in addition to footing the bill for U.S. Cellular Field. And the city of Chicago is still pushing a plan for DePaul University that would cost an initial $55 million for a new basketball stadium.
A mother’s will to win
A mother’s will to win
It’s easy to get cynical about Illinois politics. Frustration is the norm in Springfield. Optimism is an emotional liability. But Lisa Creason doesn’t play by those rules. When it comes to politics in the Land of Lincoln, the single mom from Decatur just pulled off the biggest underdog story of 2016. She drove to Springfield...
Years of ‘deadbeat Illinois’: State has history of shortchanging social service providers
Years of ‘deadbeat Illinois’: State has history of shortchanging social service providers
For years, Illinois lawmakers have prioritized government-worker pay and benefits over social services. Between 2000 and 2015, contributions to Illinois state-worker pension funds shot up 586 percent, while state payments for human services increased by only 10 percent.
Illinois Senate kills Madigan budget
Illinois Senate kills Madigan budget
On May 31, the Illinois Senate rejected House Speaker Mike Madigan’s budget proposal, which was unbalanced by $7 billion.
Cheryl Ohrt
Cheryl Ohrt
“I’m retired and my husband farms and works at the Vulcan stone quarry. “We’ve been here since 1987. When we bought this house our taxes were $900 on two acres. I just got our property tax bill today and it was almost $5,000. “You try and fix your yard up, your house up, and anything...
General Assembly passes occupational-licensing reform
General Assembly passes occupational-licensing reform
HB 5973 would remove significant occupational-licensing barriers, thereby making it easier for former offenders to support themselves and their families – and making it less likely ex-offenders will commit crimes in the future.
Madigan’s budget meets reality
Madigan’s budget meets reality
Rahm’s police and fire pension “fix” becomes law
Rahm’s police and fire pension “fix” becomes law
On May 30, the General Assembly voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s plan to delay payments to Chicago’s police and fire pension funds – at a cost to Chicago taxpayers of an additional $18.6 billion over the next 40 years.
State rep. seeks revote on veto override of binding arbitration bill
State rep. seeks revote on veto override of binding arbitration bill
The Illinois House will attempt a fifth vote on an AFSCME arbitration bill designed to remove Gov. Bruce Rauner from the collective bargaining process.