Chicago City Council passes e-cigarette tax hike
Chicago City Council passes e-cigarette tax hike
Mayor Rahm Emanuel pushed an e-cigarette tax hike through City Council within a matter of hours.
Leaving
Leaving
Despite history of corruption, Chicago suburbs still contracting with disgraced red-light camera vendor
Despite history of corruption, Chicago suburbs still contracting with disgraced red-light camera vendor
At least five local governments in Illinois still contract with Redflex, the infamous red-light camera company at the center of one of Chicago’s most expensive corruption scandals.
6 former library employees have taken home over $1M in pension benefits
6 former library employees have taken home over $1M in pension benefits
Large pension payouts in the face of flat incomes for taxpayers raise questions of fairness.
AFSCME funnels union dues to Mike Madigan
AFSCME funnels union dues to Mike Madigan
State records show AFSCME Council 31 funnels membership dues into its political action committee, which just gave a record-breaking $767,800 donation to Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan.
Poll: High taxes No. 1 reason Illinoisans consider leaving state
Poll: High taxes No. 1 reason Illinoisans consider leaving state
Over half of survey respondents have considered leaving Illinois, citing dysfunctional government, disappointing job opportunities and – above all – high taxes.
How a ballot selfie could put you in jail in Illinois
How a ballot selfie could put you in jail in Illinois
There are clear First Amendment issues with outlawing this kind of political speech.
Hoffman Estates has sunk $87.6M into unprofitable Sears Centre
Hoffman Estates has sunk $87.6M into unprofitable Sears Centre
The village of Hoffman Estates took over Sears Centre Arena in 2009, but the multi-purpose stadium has yet to turn an annual profit on its own.
Property taxes stealing home value
Property taxes stealing home value
St. Clair County approves 5 percent property tax levy hike
St. Clair County approves 5 percent property tax levy hike
The county board approved a $3.5 million property tax levy increase for 2019.
Southern Illinois municipal pensioners have collected more than $500M in benefits over last 20 years
Southern Illinois municipal pensioners have collected more than $500M in benefits over last 20 years
Despite regional struggles and a shrinking population, taxpayers in southern Illinois have been saddled with rapidly growing pension costs.
States with a progressive income tax more vulnerable to fiscal shocks
States with a progressive income tax more vulnerable to fiscal shocks
Despite finding favor among some politicians and political candidates in Illinois, states with a progressive income tax are more vulnerable during recessions than flat-tax states.
EDGE in the lion’s mouth
EDGE in the lion’s mouth
Illinois residents will pay additional online sales tax starting Oct. 1
Illinois residents will pay additional online sales tax starting Oct. 1
As a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., most online purchases in Illinois will now be subject to automatic collection of the state’s 6.25 percent use tax.