Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Pritzker’s gas tax hike doubles yearly take to nearly $2B

Pritzker’s gas tax hike doubles yearly take to nearly $2B

Illinois drivers are expected to pay nearly $2 billion in state gas taxes by the end of the year, more than twice what they paid before Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office and doubled the tax. Pritzker’s tax hike took $4 billion extra from drivers between 2019 and 2023.

By Patrick Andriesen

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

Building not permitted: Building permits in Illinois are a barrier to housing affordability

Illinois is in the midst of a housing affordability crisis. Over a third of residents are considered “burdened” by housing costs, meaning they pay over 30% of their income on costs related to housing. That is a greater portion of residents burdened by housing than any other state in the Midwest. The state fell 113,000...

By Joe Tabor

The Policy Shop: A warning for Chicago

The Policy Shop: A warning for Chicago

This episode of The Policy Shop is by writer Patrick Andriesen Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s campaign pledge to end the ShotSpotter gunshot detection system has come to fruition. The city’s contract expired on Sept. 22. Analysis of city data shows the aldermanic wards reporting the most gunshots were the ones who fought hardest to keep...

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

Report: Chicago Teachers Union is new Chicago political machine

Years of exorbitant political spending in Illinois – more than $24.3 million since 2010 – has secured an enormous amount of political influence for the Chicago Teachers Union. It is now the main political player not just in Chicago, but across the state.

By Mailee Smith