Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills
Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills
For most bills filed in Springfield, taxpayers will have to guess at how much more will be demanded of them. Illinois General Assembly members only worried about costs 10 times for 3,859 of their bright ideas about how to improve the state.
By Lilly Rossi
Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power
Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power
Government unions already hold tremendous power over taxpayers in Illinois. Three bills heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk will give them even more power by violating worker privacy, thwarting taxpayer protections and blocking schools in emergencies.
By Mailee Smith
Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day
Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day
Illinois General Assembly members raced the clock to pass legislation. Of the 416 bills sent to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk this session, 155 were passed in the final week and 96 of those were on the last day.
By Lilly Rossi, Joe Tabor
When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem
When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem
6,745 bills were filed in the Illinois General Assembly this session, but only a small fraction passed both houses. Of those, 86% were introduced by Democrats. That big disparity is rooted in Democrats drawing legislative districts that shrink opposition.
By Joe Tabor, Lilly Rossi
Illinois finds potential fix for newer employee pensions, rejects push for $64.5B boost
Illinois finds potential fix for newer employee pensions, rejects push for $64.5B boost
Lawmakers quietly added a fund intended to comply with federal rules about pensions for newer state workers. If it works, Illinois taxpayers will have avoided costly federal mandates and a push by public employee unions to expand obligations by $64.5 billion.
By LyLena Estabine
Contract negotiations in 52 school districts may see Chicago Teachers Union-style radicalism
Contract negotiations in 52 school districts may see Chicago Teachers Union-style radicalism
At least 52 school districts represented by the Illinois Federation of Teachers – the parent union and chief ally of the Chicago Teachers Union – are up for contract negotiations this year. CTU’s militant social agenda is being spread by IFT to other teachers unions.
By Mailee Smith
Pritzker OKs $237M in partisan pork as part of record Illinois budget
Pritzker OKs $237M in partisan pork as part of record Illinois budget
Gov. J.B. Pritzker had the power to strike $237 million in pork-barrel projects that benefit only Democratic lawmakers’ districts. He should have vetoed the pork projects to create a responsible state budget that is fair to all Illinois taxpayers.
By LyLena Estabine
Yohna Hornbuckle: 50% property tax rise threatens Rantoul man’s homeownership
Yohna Hornbuckle: 50% property tax rise threatens Rantoul man’s homeownership
Illinois is No. 1 in the nation for property taxes, an uncomfortable reality for Rantoul homeowner Yohna Hornbuckle. His property taxes are up 50% in six years and threaten his ability to stay.
By Jess Plowman
Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois school contracts mislead teachers about fees they owe
Nearly 1 in 3 Illinois school contracts mislead teachers about fees they owe
Seven years after they were freed from being forced to pay unions, at least 267 of Illinois’ 866 school districts still have “fair share” language in their teachers union contracts. Those contracts are wrong and should be fixed so teachers get the truth about their pay.
By Mailee Smith
Madigan will see plenty of corrupt Illinois cronies during 7.5 years in federal pen
Madigan will see plenty of corrupt Illinois cronies during 7.5 years in federal pen
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan will face 7.5 years in prison for a bribery scheme involving the state’s largest utility company. When it comes to public corruption, he’s Illinois’ convict of the week.
By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis
How Illinois political insiders protected Madigan, rewarded themselves
How Illinois political insiders protected Madigan, rewarded themselves
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison but his allies now run the Illinois House and Illinois Democratic Party. The rules he created to run his machine still work for new operators.
By Dylan Sharkey
Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters
Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentencing to 7.5 years for bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud ends his active role in Illinois politics. But his legacy of gerrymandering will continue to shape Illinois politics long after he’s behind bars.
By Patrick Andriesen
Who in Springfield still owes Mike Madigan for getting elected?
Who in Springfield still owes Mike Madigan for getting elected?
Think former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s influence ended when he resigned or was convicted of bribery? Maybe not. Fifty-seven Illinois General Assembly members who received funds from Madigan’s political committees are still in office.
By Joe Tabor, Jon Josko