Veto session ends with almost no overrides, but lame duck looms in January
Veto session ends with almost no overrides, but lame duck looms in January
The failure of almost all potential veto overrides in 2016 is a victory for Illinois taxpayers.
Property taxes mount on ‘Home Alone’ house
Property taxes mount on ‘Home Alone’ house
Real reform to help overtaxed Illinoisans – such as a property-tax cap and aggressive government consolidation – would be the gift that keeps giving the whole year round.
Illinois lawmakers are suing the state for their paychecks
Illinois lawmakers are suing the state for their paychecks
A group of state representatives has filed a lawsuit against Illinois Comptroller Leslie Munger.
Reps. Franks and McSweeney look to tackle lame-duck tax hikes
Reps. Franks and McSweeney look to tackle lame-duck tax hikes
Lame-duck session allows lawmakers already ousted by voters to act with reckless abandon before leaving the Statehouse.
Rauner vetoes state bailout of CPS pensions
Rauner vetoes state bailout of CPS pensions
Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the $215 million bailout of Chicago Public Schools’ ailing teachers’ pension fund.
Illinois legislators pitch proposals to stop lame-duck tax hikes
Illinois legislators pitch proposals to stop lame-duck tax hikes
Illinois needs structural reforms to fix its fiscal problems, not a tax hike by lawmakers on their way out the door.
Cards Against Humanity’s ‘Holiday Hole’ is the perfect metaphor for Illinois
Cards Against Humanity’s ‘Holiday Hole’ is the perfect metaphor for Illinois
Unlike the people who voluntarily have given tens of thousands of dollars toward Cards Against Humanity's Black Friday hole-digging gag, Illinois taxpayers are forced to pour money into the state's ever-growing budget and pension gaps.
Chicago to tax businesses who use satellite TV
Chicago to tax businesses who use satellite TV
Chicago City Council expanded its 9 percent amusement tax to include businesses subscribing to satellite television – another way to nickel and dime the most taxed residents in the state.
Chicago making moves to implement ‘super TIFs’
Chicago making moves to implement ‘super TIFs’
Chicago would create new transit-based super TIFs before the close of the year in order to secure federal funding, while adding more opportunities for city-run slush funds to hoard tax dollars.
Illinois’ billions: Pension debt and unpaid bills total more than $140B
Illinois’ billions: Pension debt and unpaid bills total more than $140B
Fiscal mismanagement by Illinois politicians has resulted in mounting deficits that are hurting the state’s economy, leading to ever-higher taxes, and driving people and their income out of the state.
National election results give Rauner opportunity for Medicaid overhaul
National election results give Rauner opportunity for Medicaid overhaul
The time is ripe to offer private insurance options to needy Illinoisans through premium-assistance programs and Medicaid savings accounts.
Aldermen rubber stamp Rahm’s 2017 budget
Aldermen rubber stamp Rahm’s 2017 budget
Despite the heavy burden Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s 2017 budget imposes on Chicago taxpayers, not a single alderman voted against it.
Madigan declines to attend leadership meeting with Rauner
Madigan declines to attend leadership meeting with Rauner
The Nov. 8 election saw Madigan lose his supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly. Now, two Democrats are calling on the speaker to present his solution set for a state in fiscal crisis before pledging to vote for his re-election as House speaker.
Illinois’ $204B debt crowding out payment for social services
Illinois’ $204B debt crowding out payment for social services
Illinois will spend $1 billion more on annual debt payments than it will on human services in fiscal year 2017.