Bill would grant police powers to Illinois state lawmakers
Bill would grant police powers to Illinois state lawmakers
“Stop, in the name of the Illinois General Assembly!”
Bill would stop Illinois lawmakers from getting public pensions
Bill would stop Illinois lawmakers from getting public pensions
State lawmakers have significantly abused and underfunded their own pension system. Ending it would be a plus, but only a constitutional amendment will stop pension debt from swallowing Illinois.
David Halpern: 4 Entertainment Group
David Halpern: 4 Entertainment Group
“I am co-founder of 4 Entertainment Group with my business partners Ben Klopp, Bob Deck and Dan Cronican. We operate 20 bars, including five in Chicago – with another under construction – 14 in Ohio and one in Kentucky. I live in Glenview with my wife and our four children, 7 [twins] to 14.” “For...
Bourbonnais union strikes; claims to fight for students ‘out on the picket line’
Bourbonnais union strikes; claims to fight for students ‘out on the picket line’
A disagreement over final contract details caused the teachers union to strike in Bourbonnais, putting 2,452 elementary students out of class.
Lake County looks at 4-cent gas tax hike using law that doubled state gas tax
Lake County looks at 4-cent gas tax hike using law that doubled state gas tax
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker approved doubling the state gas tax in 2019 and gave some counties and Chicago the power to hike local gas taxes. Lake County is the latest to consider doing so.
Moody’s report: Illinois pension debt reaches record-high $317 billion
Moody’s report: Illinois pension debt reaches record-high $317 billion
Illinois worst-in-the-nation public pension debt grew 19% year over year. It will continue hurting the state economy and job growth, driving more people out of Illinois, unless there are reforms.
Illinois corruption reforms gain momentum with Madigan gone
Illinois corruption reforms gain momentum with Madigan gone
With Mike Madigan out as Illinois House speaker, state lawmakers have a unique opportunity to turn around the second-most corrupt state in the country. Ethics proposals are gaining support.
Another bump up for Illinois’ new unemployment claims
Another bump up for Illinois’ new unemployment claims
Illinois saw new unemployment claims rise for a third week, even as nearly 3 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been given to Illinoisans.
Illinois again ranks No. 2 in U.S. for highest property taxes
Illinois again ranks No. 2 in U.S. for highest property taxes
Illinois again ranked second for highest property tax rates in the nation in 2021, behind only New Jersey.
Chicago speed cameras write 1 ticket every 12 seconds
Chicago speed cameras write 1 ticket every 12 seconds
Revenue projections estimate red-light cameras will generate 2.7 million $35 tickets in a full year, bringing in $95.5 million for the city.
Lightfoot’s speeding camera emergency
Lightfoot’s speeding camera emergency
Spending cap can stop Illinois from outspending Harrisburg incomes
Spending cap can stop Illinois from outspending Harrisburg incomes
Illinois spent over nine times faster than Harrisburg incomes grew during the past decade. A bipartisan ‘spending cap’ bill would allow predictable, sustainable growth in state spending without tax hikes.
Speaker Welch says Illinois’ financial disclosure forms are ‘worthless’
Speaker Welch says Illinois’ financial disclosure forms are ‘worthless’
The new speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives referred to state lawmakers’ statements of economic interest forms as confusing and a ‘worthless piece of document.’ They can be fixed.
Hidden pension ‘tax’ costs each Illinoisan more than $1,400 per year
Hidden pension ‘tax’ costs each Illinoisan more than $1,400 per year
Illinoisans pay a hidden pension tax. Eliminating that cost would free up resources to help Illinois recover from the COVID-19 recession while also raising the state’s long-term economic potential.