Jackson County residents see state spending grow far faster than local incomes
Jackson County residents see state spending grow far faster than local incomes
Growth in state spending per capita outpaced per capita personal income growth by nearly 40 percent in Jackson County.
By Austin Berg
Chicago vehicle sticker price increase starts today
Chicago vehicle sticker price increase starts today
The Office of the City Clerk announced that the change in prices for annual vehicle stickers would follow Consumer Price Index changes.
By Vincent Caruso
Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address
Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address
Delivered on Jan. 31, 2018.
By illinoispolicy
Lawmakers consider borrowing $107B to pour into Illinois pensions
Lawmakers consider borrowing $107B to pour into Illinois pensions
Record-breaking borrowing to fund Illinois' even more massive pension debt is no real solution to the state's pension problem.
By Joe Tabor
2018 STATE OF THE STATE BINGO!
2018 STATE OF THE STATE BINGO!
Play BINGO! with us during Gov. Rauner's State of the State address at noon on Jan. 31! Win free stuff!
By illinoispolicy
Senate bill puts school-choice scholarships at risk for low-income kids
Senate bill puts school-choice scholarships at risk for low-income kids
The bill would cut off Illinois’ new tax credit scholarship program if the Illinois State Board of Education determined public school funding levels were inadequate.
By Brendan Bakala
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
Restraining state spending means more certainty, security for Illinois families
State spending grew 25 percent faster than Illinoisans' personal income from 2005-2015.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
390,000 drivers set to receive refunds for red-light and speed camera tickets
Nearly 4 in 10 of those eligible for refunds made a claim for an average refund check of $36.62.
By Brendan Bakala
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
High property taxes spur legal battle from Mattoon business owners
Business owners in one Illinois community are using the law to fight back against high property tax bills. Their lawsuit claimed property taxes spiked on commercial properties from 2015 to 2016, but only in their town.
By Amanda McDonald
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
General Assembly takes up trampoline safety bill, again
State Rep. Robyn Gabel, D-Evanston, is sponsoring a trampoline court regulation bill that is identical to the one she sponsored in 2017.
By Brendan Bakala
Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers
Full month’s pay for a day’s work? New bill ends loophole for state lawmakers
House Bill 4273 would eliminate a loophole in state law that allows lawmakers to receive a month's pay for a day of work.
By Brendan Bakala
Thank you for smoking: Illinois’ cigarette taxes fourth-highest in the Midwest
Thank you for smoking: Illinois’ cigarette taxes fourth-highest in the Midwest
The Land of Lincoln's addiction to regressive "sin taxes" burns more and more of Illinoisans' incomes.
By Vincent Caruso
Why Illinois needs a spending cap
Why Illinois needs a spending cap
Spending has consistently outpaced state tax revenues in Illinois for more than a decade. To avoid future tax hikes, Illinois must impose real fiscal discipline on state lawmakers.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
Springfield dine-in tax would be latest fee for Illinois restaurants
A potential 2 percent dine-in tax imposed on Springfield restaurants has yet to be introduced, but the idea - which other towns have tried - is not a welcome one.