Pensions over people
Pensions over people
The pension problem was created and has been fueled by weak politicians – men and women who decided their next elections were more important than the next generation.
Madigan holds up budget to push bailout of Chicago Public Schools
Madigan holds up budget to push bailout of Chicago Public Schools
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s insistence that Chicago Public Schools receive more than its fair share of state education funding is putting any stopgap budget deal at risk.
AFSCME uses prisoners as pawns in budget debate
AFSCME uses prisoners as pawns in budget debate
A representative from the state-worker union called for collective action from governments of prison towns to force Gov. Bruce Rauner’s hand in the budget debate, which could expose thousands of incarcerated Illinoisans to squalid, dangerous conditions.
Illinois comptroller: The state will stop payments to lottery winners if budget stalemate drags on
Illinois comptroller: The state will stop payments to lottery winners if budget stalemate drags on
If Springfield politicians do not pass a budget by June 30, the state will be forced to stop payments to winning lottery ticket holders, Illinois’ comptroller has warned.
Speaker Madigan puts politics over people
Speaker Madigan puts politics over people
Madigan’s record $40 billion spending proposal and its $7 billion deficit revealed he was never serious about reaching a budget deal with Rauner. Instead it was nothing more than an attempt to create a deeper fiscal crisis, force additional tax hikes and create a bailout for the city of Chicago. As long as Madigan and other lawmakers keep prioritizing politics over people, Illinois will continue its downward spiral.
Property taxes up 13 percent on average Chicago home
Property taxes up 13 percent on average Chicago home
The average single-family home in Chicago will see a $400 increase in property taxes. And property-tax revenues for the city of Chicago will top $1 billion for the first time in city history.
Chicago TIF districts benefit politically connected at taxpayers’ expense
Chicago TIF districts benefit politically connected at taxpayers’ expense
City officials are moving to develop the largest remaining plot of vacant land to ensure huge windfalls for a city-run slush fund.
Illinois Comptroller: Most state payments will stop July 1 without budget
Illinois Comptroller: Most state payments will stop July 1 without budget
Munger said that if raising taxes were the only answer to the budget crisis, lawmakers would have to increase the income tax from its current 3.75 percent to 8 percent.
Illinois school districts pass closed-door budgets, expect taxpayers to fork over more money
Illinois school districts pass closed-door budgets, expect taxpayers to fork over more money
Legislation to make union-contract negotiations more transparent has been repeatedly proposed, but lawmakers continue to opt for secrecy at taxpayers’ expense.
Politicians reject consolidation reforms for East St. Louis
Politicians reject consolidation reforms for East St. Louis
Lawmakers missed an opportunity to provide relief for taxpayers struggling in East St. Louis.
Moody’s and S&P downgrade Illinois’ credit rating, the 16th and 17th downgrades since 2009
Moody’s and S&P downgrade Illinois’ credit rating, the 16th and 17th downgrades since 2009
Major ratings agencies have assigned a negative outlook to Illinois. To move forward, the state can’t pass just any budget – especially one that’s $7 billion out-of-whack – to get beyond its crisis. With today’s fiscal stress, a bad budget is worse than no budget. A budget without reforms will only allow Illinois’ debt to continue to spiral, putting investors – and more importantly, Illinois residents – at risk.
Why Illinois shortchanges people dependent on government services
Why Illinois shortchanges people dependent on government services
Politicians have repeatedly prioritized funding state-worker pay and benefits over social services and other vital programs.
From budget gridlock to traffic gridlock: Resumption of vehicle-emissions-testing requirements causes traffic jams
From budget gridlock to traffic gridlock: Resumption of vehicle-emissions-testing requirements causes traffic jams
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency is again mailing notices of vehicle-emissions-testing requirements to vehicle owners, and effective June 1, the Illinois secretary of state has resumed requiring certain drivers to pass emissions tests prior to renewing their license plates. Drivers scrambling to comply by the secretary of state’s June 1 effective date caused headline-making traffic jams throughout Chicago and its suburbs.
Belleville votes to dissolve township, save taxpayers $260,000 per year starting May 2017
Belleville votes to dissolve township, save taxpayers $260,000 per year starting May 2017
Belleville City Council’s decision to dissolve its township is a great move for taxpayers. Thousands of municipalities could make the same move, too, and eliminate waste.