Illinois has the worst personal income growth in the U.S.
Illinois has the worst personal income growth in the U.S.
Lawmakers’ proposed new and higher taxes would only make things harder for struggling Illinoisans.
Teresa Fiorante
Teresa Fiorante
“I shouldn’t have to go live with my kids. I’ve done everything right to be independent, but now I can’t be independent. My property taxes have doubled, and it’s going to force me out of my home. It’s like they have a gun to your head: Pay this bill or leave the state.” Teresa Fiorante...
Bill to impose ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers fails to move in Illinois House
Bill to impose ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers fails to move in Illinois House
Senate Bill 1719 would impose a 20 percent surcharge on fees earned by investment managers, but the spring legislative session ended with the Illinois House failing to call the measure for a vote.
Illinois state worker case could bring Right to Work to public sector workers in all 50 states
Illinois state worker case could bring Right to Work to public sector workers in all 50 states
The public employees in Janus v. AFSCME have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the state of Illinois from forcing workers to pay union fees as a condition of government employment.
Negligent hiring liability reforms stall in Illinois
Negligent hiring liability reforms stall in Illinois
With the right liability reforms, Illinois can protect businesses and make them more likely to give ex-offenders a chance at employment. Unfortunately, a bill that would have made this reform a reality stalled in the Illinois House of Representatives this session.
Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks
Fact-checking Rahm: Mayor deflects attention as Chicago shrinks
Despite Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s spin, residents are fleeing Chicago, showing they feel they are better off elsewhere.
Illinois budget sharknado
Illinois budget sharknado
Bill regulating school buses heads to Rauner’s desk
Bill regulating school buses heads to Rauner’s desk
House Bill 3293, which would force any person or group that is not a school district, religious organization or transportation company, but that possesses a school bus, to change the appearance of the school bus, passed the Illinois General Assembly on the last day of spring session.
Lawsuit seeks back pay for Illinois lawmakers
Lawsuit seeks back pay for Illinois lawmakers
Former state Sen. Michael Noland is suing for back pay after the General Assembly nixed cost-of-living adjustments and forced furlough days.
Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike
Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike
Chicagoans already pay the highest in the nation 911 surcharge and a newly passed bill would raise that rate even higher.
Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country
Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country
Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.
Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform
Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform
Senate Bill 1 provides a $215 million annual pension bailout and other carve-outs worth hundreds of millions of dollars to CPS.
Amended cursive writing mandate passes Illinois Senate
Amended cursive writing mandate passes Illinois Senate
A Senate amendment would require public elementary schools to teach cursive writing, while the original House bill would extend the handwriting instruction mandate to all Illinois public elementary and high schools.
Bill preventing pension double dipping awaits Rauner’s signature
Bill preventing pension double dipping awaits Rauner’s signature
House Bill 418 would prevent retired police officers from double dipping in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which has placed a burden on taxpayers at the local level.