Alcohol bill aimed to help special interests, further status quo
Alcohol bill aimed to help special interests, further status quo
An amendment to Illinois’ longstanding Liquor Control Act creates curious guidelines that seem likely to favor a few specific Chicago businesses, while keeping the status quo intact for the rest.
The latest budget proposal for Illinois: A no-tax-hike plan
The latest budget proposal for Illinois: A no-tax-hike plan
The Taxpayer Bargain finally shifts the budget conversation in favor of taxpayers over politicians, with a plan that balances the state budget without tax hikes.
By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner
Illinois workers’ compensation rules cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion a year
Illinois workers’ compensation rules cost taxpayers nearly $1 billion a year
State and local costs for workers’ compensation are out of line with what other states pay.
By Brendan Bakala
Springfield population drops by nearly 1,000 residents from 2015-2016
Springfield population drops by nearly 1,000 residents from 2015-2016
Illinoisans from all areas are leaving the state in droves, and Springfield lawmakers need look no farther than the state capital to see the proof.
Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break
Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break
Under a 2015 agreement between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and The Advisory Board Co., the state gave a tax credit worth millions of dollars in exchange for 55 jobs.
By Brendan Bakala
Illinois House adopts resolution to oppose Senate’s internet streaming tax
Illinois House adopts resolution to oppose Senate’s internet streaming tax
With bipartisan support, members of the Illinois House adopted a resolution opposing the internet streaming tax proposal – which might not even be legal — in the Senate’s “grand bargain.”
General Assembly passes SB 19, which would hinder care for IDOC inmates and saddle taxpayers with unnecessary costs
General Assembly passes SB 19, which would hinder care for IDOC inmates and saddle taxpayers with unnecessary costs
Senate Bill 19 could prevent the state from providing the best, most cost-effective medical services for inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and it forces the state to pay for employees that may not be necessary.
By Mailee Smith
Out-migration caused Lake County population to shrink by nearly 400 from 2015-2016
Out-migration caused Lake County population to shrink by nearly 400 from 2015-2016
Newly released census data show more than 5,100 Lake County residents moved to other U.S. locales last year, causing the county’s population to shrink.
By Amy Korte
DuPage County population shrank by nearly 2,500 from 2015-2016
DuPage County population shrank by nearly 2,500 from 2015-2016
Newly released census data show more than 9,100 DuPage County residents moved to other U.S. locales last year, causing the county’s population to shrink.
By Amy Korte
Illinois employers announce more than 2,500 mass layoffs
Illinois employers announce more than 2,500 mass layoffs
Numbers from the March WARN report show that employers in Illinois across various industries laid off 2,573 workers; 267 of the layoffs were in manufacturing.
By Brendan Bakala
Illinois’ employment drought and the oases next door
Illinois’ employment drought and the oases next door
There are 170,000 fewer people working in Illinois since before the Great Recession.
By Austin Berg
Illinois House proposes ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers
Illinois House proposes ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers
House Bill 3393 would impose a 20 percent surcharge on fees earned by investment managers.
By Amy Korte
Illinois revenue free fall: Fiscal year-to-date -8.1 percent and worsening
Illinois revenue free fall: Fiscal year-to-date -8.1 percent and worsening
Illinois’ revenues are falling each month of this fiscal year, and it will be difficult to change course.