Madigan celebrates 35th anniversary as Illinois House speaker
Madigan celebrates 35th anniversary as Illinois House speaker
Illinoisans will soon cast a vote on the biggest ballot question in the history of Madigan’s record-breaking speakership.
Population shrinkage: Illinois’ dirty laundry
Population shrinkage: Illinois’ dirty laundry
State worker who allegedly kept ‘mouth shut’ about ‘rape in Champaign’ to receive $2.7M in pension payments
State worker who allegedly kept ‘mouth shut’ about ‘rape in Champaign’ to receive $2.7M in pension payments
House Speaker Mike Madigan has built a substantial political army through taxpayer-funded promises.
DAILY LINKS / 1.18.2020
Chicago Sun-Times: Ex-state Rep. Luis Arroyo appears set to plead guilty in corruption case: court filing Crain's Chicago Business: Remap reform advocates trying a new tack Chicago Sun-Times: Chicago Teachers Union Inc.: how the clout-heavy labor group spends its money Chicago Tribune: Illinois to reinstate 55,000 driver’s licenses suspended over unpaid parking tickets Chicago Tribune: Illinois Senate to choose new leader Sunday, with veteran lawmakers Kimberly Lightford and Don Harmon emerging as front-runners The Center Square: Pritzker announces expansion of free tuition program for University of Illinois schools Chicago Tribune: Illinois Supreme Court considers whether to prohibit police searches based on the smell of raw marijuana Chicago Tribune: Metra tells customers to make sure they pay their fare — or risk being booted off the train Herald-News: Forest Preserve District of Will County recognized for financial reportingIndiana has seen more single-family homes than Illinois for 10 years in a row
Indiana has seen more single-family homes than Illinois for 10 years in a row
Indiana has around half the population of Illinois. But its building new homes at a rate more than 60% higher.
Bill would stop Pritzker from paying state workers on the side
Bill would stop Pritzker from paying state workers on the side
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has used his private fortune to pay $3 million in state expenses, including boosting salaries of 16 top staffers. Some lawmakers want the ‘unethical’ practice to stop.
Progressive tax: Super Mario Bros.
Progressive tax: Super Mario Bros.
Illinois Tollway overcharged drivers $152K last year by not giving change
Illinois Tollway overcharged drivers $152K last year by not giving change
The Illinois Tollway is spending $33 million on toll machines, some of which can’t make change. The state agency’s legacy is broken promises, political patronage and overcharging Illinoisans.
Chicago alderman proposes tax on childbirth
Chicago alderman proposes tax on childbirth
Amid Illinois’ population decline, Ald. Ray Lopez proposed taxing conception and licensing childbirth.
Illinois personal income growth 2nd lowest in U.S. since Great Recession
Illinois personal income growth 2nd lowest in U.S. since Great Recession
Only Mississippi has fared worse than Illinois in personal income growth since the Great Recession hit at the end of 2007. Analysis shows state income taxes matter.
Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving
Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving
Springfield lawmakers have yet to learn the lesson that money walks. And it’s not just to other states. Sometimes, it walks past the legal dispensary with a 40% tax rate and into a dealer’s house.
Madigan confidant used state worker’s silence on rape to prove political loyalty
Madigan confidant used state worker’s silence on rape to prove political loyalty
Silence on a rape and about ghost workers were evidence of political loyalty that should save a state worker facing discipline, according to an email uncovered in an open records request.
Lightfoot pushes Chicago city council to loosen food truck restrictions
Lightfoot pushes Chicago city council to loosen food truck restrictions
Mayor Lori Lightfoot is sponsoring a city ordinance allowing food trucks and other mobile entrepreneurs to operate with more freedom on Chicago’s streets.