Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inherited a $2.8 billion budget deficit the moment he stepped into office. Next year, that deficit is projected to be $3.4 billion1. It’s the same story every budget season. But Illinois’ budget crises could be a thing of the past if the state would adopt pension reform, right-size its union contracts and...

By Adam Schuster

Repeating past mistakes: Pritzker proposes borrowing, stretching out payment ramp as pension solution

Trying to fix a massive pension deficit with more tax increases, deferring payments and gambling with taxpayer money is a recipe for failure.

By Adam Schuster, Brad Weisenstein

Per-mile driving tax proposal introduced in Illinois House

New House bill would create a pilot program to test the feasibility of a per-mile driving tax.

By Joe Barnas

DAILY LINKS / 2.16.2019

Champaign News-Gazette: Addressing the pension mess Crain's Chicago Business: The depressing message in Pritzker's payroll-padding plan State Journal-Register: Peoria, Normal already have Tobacco 21 ordinance Chicago Tribune: Optimism returns to Normal as electric truck startup Rivian gains traction Chicago Sun-Times: 19 people framed by corrupt ex-CPD Sgt. Ronald Watts’ team file lawsuits Daily Southtown: Village of Lynwood sued over $1.2 million in late insurance payments Northwest Herald: New bill would strip McHenry County Board members' health benefits to pay for chairman's staff Bloomington Pantagraph: Alderman wants to extend ban on new video gambling machines in Bloomington

Printing company foresees robot in Indiana benefitting from Illinois $15 minimum wage

The owner of a growing book printing company faces a greater threat from out-of-state competitors thanks to lawmakers in his home state. Calls for a $15 minimum wage and progressive tax could hurt his workers and business in southern Illinois.

By Brad Weisenstein

Statewide $15 minimum wage passes Illinois House, ready for Pritzker

The Illinois House voted for a statewide $15 minimum wage – adding $1.1 billion to the state payroll, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.

By Vincent Caruso

Restoring Justice Act would give less time to Illinoisans when their offense becomes less of a crime

As Illinois works to decriminalize minor offenses, the Restoring Justice Act would adjust sentences for past offenders.

By Vincent Caruso

House Bill would repeal Illinois estate tax, protect family farms

Illinois is one of just a handful of states that double-taxes people when they die by imposing its own estate tax atop the federal tax. A bill that would repeal Illinois’ estate tax could save family farms.

By Brad Weisenstein

Illinois government has a lot of problems, revenue isn’t one of them

Illinois families deserve better than to be told the only real solution is in their pocketbooks.

By Austin Berg

Kiss-off: Too many Illinoisans breaking up with the state

Every relationship comes with its sacrifices. But for an alarming number of Illinoisans, parting ways with Illinois is how they choose to get on with their lives.

By Vincent Caruso

Chicago alderman wants ‘robot tax’ on Amazon HQ2

Amazon pulled its HQ2 out of New York City, so Chicago is considering imposing a “robot tax” on companies looking to automate their way around high labor costs.

By Vincent Caruso

Illinois House bill would close judicial elections loophole

A legal tactic intended to make it easier for Illinois judges to stay on the bench is under fire. An Illinois House bill aims to close the loophole, which four southwestern Illinois judges used in bids to dilute voters’ power.

By Joe Barnas

Report: Chicago area most corrupt in nation

Chicagoland and northern Illinois have seen more corrupt public officials put behind bars than any other part of the nation, a new analysis found.

By Vincent Caruso

Duped: How millions of dollars in AFSCME member dues flow to politics

State workers don’t really know much about how AFSCME spent $7.7 million on politics. That’s because records don’t detail and the union’s Illinois chapter obscures how most of the money was used.

By Vincent Caruso

Illinois’ comeback story starts here