Illinois House roll call on Madigan budget, SB 2048
Illinois House roll call on Madigan budget, SB 2048
Find out how your lawmaker voted on Madigan's spending plan.
Madigan’s rules: How one man controls Illinois
Madigan’s rules: How one man controls Illinois
Illinoisans may elect who goes to the House of Representatives, but they don’t choose their representation – at least not in any meaningful sense. The power belongs to Madigan. And he represents himself.
HB 580 fails: Illinois House Democrats lacked votes to override Rauner’s veto of union arbitration bill
HB 580 fails: Illinois House Democrats lacked votes to override Rauner’s veto of union arbitration bill
Illinois House Democrats failed to muster the 71 votes needed to override Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of HB 580, which would have allowed government-worker unions to remove the governor from labor contract negotiations and replace him with a panel of unelected arbitrators.
Madigan proposes Illinois budget plan that overspends by $7 billion
Madigan proposes Illinois budget plan that overspends by $7 billion
Despite a constitutional requirement to do so, Illinois politicians have not passed a balanced budget since 2001.
Madigan and AFSCME shakedown taxpayers
Madigan and AFSCME shakedown taxpayers
Government-union demands hurt taxpayers
Government-union demands hurt taxpayers
Illinois government-worker unions demand pay that outstrips that of Illinois private-sector workers and propose numerous tax hikes to fund their contract demands.
Auditor general: Illinois Lottery made illegal $20 million prepayment just ahead of budget stalemate
Auditor general: Illinois Lottery made illegal $20 million prepayment just ahead of budget stalemate
The Illinois auditor general found the Illinois Lottery in violation of a state finance law for paying $20 million to ensure that, even in the absence of a state budget, Illinois could continue to participate in the Mega Millions and Powerball games.
Illinois politicians reintroduce penny-per-ounce ‘sugary drink’ tax
Illinois politicians reintroduce penny-per-ounce ‘sugary drink’ tax
State lawmakers propose regressive tax on sugary drinks to help fill budget holes created by decades of irresponsible policies.
Pension debt for Chicago city-worker pensions doubles to more than $21 billion
Pension debt for Chicago city-worker pensions doubles to more than $21 billion
Thanks to new government reporting standards, Chicago’s municipal-workers and laborers pension funds’ debt doubled in 2015 to more than $21 billion. That’s $20,500 of pension debt per Chicago household.
Golden idol
Golden idol
Illinois soda tax would hit low-income households hardest
Illinois soda tax would hit low-income households hardest
A soda tax would fall upon those who can afford it least, and would serve only as another tax hike “solution” for a state that has a spending problem.
Rahm’s power move on Airbnb ordinance shows who’s the boss in City Hall
Rahm’s power move on Airbnb ordinance shows who’s the boss in City Hall
Despite calls for more time, the mayor flexed his muscle to increase taxes on short-term Airbnb rentals to over 21 percent.
92% percent of Illinoisans support criminal-justice reform, poll finds
92% percent of Illinoisans support criminal-justice reform, poll finds
A recent survey of Illinois voters by the U.S. Justice Action Network shows vast popular support for criminal-justice reform.
Illinois has highest unemployment rate in nation
Illinois has highest unemployment rate in nation
A new report from the Illinois Department of Employment Security shows Illinois gained 5,400 jobs in April, but the state’s unemployment rate ticked up to 6.6 percent, tied for highest in the U.S.