Madigan, Cullerton and the absurdity of Springfield’s budget blame game
Madigan, Cullerton and the absurdity of Springfield’s budget blame game
Responsibility for Illinois’ sorry state of affairs falls at the feet of House Speaker Mike Madigan, Senate President John Cullerton and their combined 80 years in state government.
By David Giuliani
Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants full of waste
Illinois Department of Natural Resources grants full of waste
Taxpayers are on the hook for $8 million a year in wasteful grants for amenities ranging from dog parks to disc-golf courses.
By David Giuliani
Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid should General Assembly fail to pass balanced budget
Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid should General Assembly fail to pass balanced budget
If state lawmakers fail to pass a balanced budget by a three-fifths majority vote, essential programs will be harmed. But thanks to House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton, politicians will still get their paychecks.
By Jeffrey Schwab
‘Bond Girl’ on Chicago and the quality of credit analysis in the municipal bond market
‘Bond Girl’ on Chicago and the quality of credit analysis in the municipal bond market
The insight in Culpepper’s report is detailed and damning.
Warning shots fired, Chicago pays $200M penalty for bad reputation in bond issue
Warning shots fired, Chicago pays $200M penalty for bad reputation in bond issue
The most recent round of city borrowing is a sign of things to come.
By Ted Dabrowski
Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending
Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending
The broken state budget proposed by House Speaker Mike Madigan includes spending on wine production, mosquito abatement and a student newspaper.
By David Giuliani
Voice support for property-tax freeze
Voice support for property-tax freeze
SB 1046 would allow taxpayers to take back control over skyrocketing property taxes.
By Hilary Gowins
Illinois group spends $700K in tax dollars to lobby for higher taxes
Illinois group spends $700K in tax dollars to lobby for higher taxes
Local-government lobbying groups are using residents’ money to lobby for higher income taxes.
By David Giuliani
The buck stops here: Toss Madigan’s illegal budget
The buck stops here: Toss Madigan’s illegal budget
If Madigan wants borrowing, tax hikes or some combination of the two, he should present his wish list to Illinois taxpayers.
By Austin Berg
Illinois’ property taxes are out of control, let taxpayers take driver’s seat
Illinois’ property taxes are out of control, let taxpayers take driver’s seat
Piecemeal fixes to the state’s property-tax problem have failed. It’s time to give the purse strings back to average Illinoisans.
By David Giuliani
Auditor general: Illinois Department of Corrections workers abusing overtime
Auditor general: Illinois Department of Corrections workers abusing overtime
IDOC employees were paid for over a million hours of overtime in 2014.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
The Chicago penalty
The Chicago penalty
Chicago paid a premium on its recent bond offerings. Why? Default risk.
Yield on Chicago Public Schools bond offering hits 5.63%, bankruptcy the sensible option
Yield on Chicago Public Schools bond offering hits 5.63%, bankruptcy the sensible option
Where is the school district going to get $1.1 billion? The state? Think again.
Sauk Valley taxpayers could come out ahead on revenue-sharing reform
Sauk Valley taxpayers could come out ahead on revenue-sharing reform
Income-tax revenue represents just one-sixth of the $6.1 billion the state gives to local governments every year. Proposed reforms would leave untouched the vast majority of that money.
By David Giuliani