Prohibition, prostitution and Chicago’s mini-fiefdoms
Prohibition, prostitution and Chicago’s mini-fiefdoms
A principle once invoked to shake down speakeasies is now used to pick winners and losers in a city desperate for opportunity.
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.
It’s time to end Illinois’ fireworks ban
It’s time to end Illinois’ fireworks ban
The Land of Lincoln is one of only seven states to impose harsh restrictions on the sale and possession of fireworks.
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.
Gov. Rauner’s budget balancing act
Gov. Rauner’s budget balancing act
Illinoisans revolt against nation’s highest property taxes
Illinoisans revolt against nation’s highest property taxes
Illinoisans face the highest median property-tax rate in the nation.
Madigan’s CPS bailout
Madigan’s CPS bailout
5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout
5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout
Until CPS passes necessary spending and pension reforms, giving any additional money to the system will only reward officials’ mismanagement and reckless behavior.
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.
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...
New Hampshire legislature passes civil asset forfeiture reform
New Hampshire legislature passes civil asset forfeiture reform
The New Hampshire legislature has passed an overhaul of asset forfeiture laws to protect rights of innocent property owners; Illinois should do the same.
Illinois taxpayers pay $15,000 per AFSCME worker in annual health care costs
Illinois taxpayers pay $15,000 per AFSCME worker in annual health care costs
AFSCME balks at Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposal that state workers chip in more for their Cadillac health insurance.
Madigan’s game of chess
Madigan’s game of chess
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.