Ep. 11: Getting a J-O-B with Bryce Hill
Ep. 11: Getting a J-O-B with Bryce Hill
Guest: Bryce Hill
Chicago’s ‘Netflix tax’ revenues more than triple in five years
Chicago’s ‘Netflix tax’ revenues more than triple in five years
In 2017, Chicagoans paid $40 million in taxes on cloud computing and streaming services. It was $150 million this past fiscal year.
Pritzker’s choice: Get COVID-19 shot, or lose your job
Pritzker’s choice: Get COVID-19 shot, or lose your job
Gov. J.B. Pritzker just signed an amendment to the Illinois Health Care Right of Conscience Act, limiting the law used to challenge his COVID-19 vaccination and other mandates.
Amendment 1: Corruption is king
Amendment 1: Corruption is king
Amendment 1 could make it harder to root out corruption in Illinois
Amendment 1 could make it harder to root out corruption in Illinois
With additional protection in the Illinois Constitution, state employees and even public officials could be shielded from discipline and corruption reforms thwarted.
Illinois only state east of Mississippi with statewide mask mandate
Illinois only state east of Mississippi with statewide mask mandate
Gov. J.B. Pritzker teased Illinoisans in mid-October that he might lift the statewide mask mandate if new COVID-19 cases declined. But he recently pulled back on that hope, leaving Illinois as one of the few states with a statewide mask mandate.
Chicago schools cancel class for COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Chicago schools cancel class for COVID-19 ‘Vaccine Awareness Day’
Chicago Public Schools declared a day off for students ages 5 to 11 to get their COVID-19 shots. But little notice and the fact the vaccines were just approved for younger children mean parents face challenges to actually getting shots for their kids.
Illinois’ online shoppers face full local sales tax rates this holiday season
Illinois’ online shoppers face full local sales tax rates this holiday season
Sales tax revenue is up from pre-pandemic levels, in part because Illinois is now forcing online retailers to charge local sales tax rates as high as 10.25%. No tax breaks this Cyber Monday.
Former Illinois House leader pleads guilty to bribery
Former Illinois House leader pleads guilty to bribery
A former Illinois House leader pleaded guilty to accepting bribes and then offering bribes to a state senator in an effort to push gambling legislation.
1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates
1-in-5 Illinois students chronically truant thanks to COVID-19 mandates
Illinois students were missing – in masses – during the COVID-19 restrictions on in-person learning. As a result, nearly 20% fewer students met math and English proficiency standards.
Illinois prison inmates to get ID cards upon release
Illinois prison inmates to get ID cards upon release
Inmates should have fewer troubles returning to their lives thanks to a new program intended to hand them an ID as they leave Illinois prisons.
Union bosses, not voters, will decide how to run Illinois if Amendment 1 passes
Union bosses, not voters, will decide how to run Illinois if Amendment 1 passes
Amendment 1 would constitutionally prohibit Illinois lawmakers from pulling back on union power. It would give government union bosses more power than voters and than those elected to represent voters’ interests.
Steep property tax hikes to hit Chicago businesses struggling from pandemic
Steep property tax hikes to hit Chicago businesses struggling from pandemic
While phasing in the tax impact of sharp increases in assessed value could help Cook County’s commercial property owners adjust, holding down property taxes requires reducing spending through public pension reform in Illinois.
Ep. 10: Government unions’ big power play with Mailee Smith
Ep. 10: Government unions’ big power play with Mailee Smith
Guest: Mailee Smith