Waste watch: Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
Waste watch: Illinois gives $1.5M to ICE opponents
Illinois lawmakers funded a Hispanic chamber of commerce connected to Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Its chief opposes ICE deportations.
Illinois No. 2 in U.S. for high gas taxes
Illinois No. 2 in U.S. for high gas taxes
Illinoisans pay the third-highest gas taxes in the nation at nearly $0.85 per gallon. California leads and Michigan edged into the No. 2 spot.
Illinois politicians still want boosted tax power
Illinois politicians still want boosted tax power
The Illinois Constitution stops politicians from imposing progressive taxation, which would give them power to progressively tax everyone more.
Trucking industry vet calls Illinois toll hike needless punishment
Trucking industry vet calls Illinois toll hike needless punishment
Illinois toll rates are about to increase as a political favor to construction unions. That’s despite a $3 billion surplus in the road fund.
Cook County property tax delays hit Evanston, other schools
Cook County property tax delays hit Evanston, other schools
Cook County’s delayed property tax bills are straining school districts with nearly $122 million in unexpected, unneeded costs.
Waste watch: Illinois spends $700K on decolonization activism
Waste watch: Illinois spends $700K on decolonization activism
Illinois’ rushed, closed-door budgeting process funded $700,000 in taxpayer dollars to a research group promoting “decolonization.”
Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage
Vallas: Record-high property tax increase is Preckwinkle’s reelection baggage
Record Cook County property tax hikes under Toni Preckwinkle expose a fundamentally broken system, benefitting insiders and costing everyone else.
Waste watch: Illinois funnels $4.6M to children’s sports camp
Waste watch: Illinois funnels $4.6M to children’s sports camp
Illinois lawmakers gave $4.6 million to A Ray of Hope on Earth, a sports camp for children. The grants were 10 times the group’s 2023 budget.
Waste watch: Illinois spends $2.6M on tennis, pickleball
Waste watch: Illinois spends $2.6M on tennis, pickleball
Illinois’ broken budgeting process allowed state lawmakers to spend $2.6 million on tennis and pickleball courts.
3 things to know about Pat Quinn’s ‘millionaire tax’
3 things to know about Pat Quinn’s ‘millionaire tax’
Former Gov. Pat Quinn claims a millionaire tax would offer Illinoisans property tax relief, but it won’t work without pension reform.
Waste watch: Illinois grants $4M to private theaters
Waste watch: Illinois grants $4M to private theaters
Illinois lawmakers gave money to venues for plays, concerts and weddings – without explaining why private concerns deserved public money.
Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay
Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay
Taxpayers usually get told what raise they will receive. They also get told what raises they will give: to state lawmakers, and by those same lawmakers.
7 things to know about Chicago Bears stadium debate
7 things to know about Chicago Bears stadium debate
Who owns Soldier Field? Why do taxpayers still owe millions? What would a move mean for Chicago’s budget? Answers about a potential Bears move.
Waste watch: Illinois lawmakers hand $740K to ‘Floating Museum’
Waste watch: Illinois lawmakers hand $740K to ‘Floating Museum’
Illinois’ broken budget process allocated taxpayer dollars to an art group best known for its floating exhibit on the Chicago River.