Arizona voters show Illinois the path forward on pensions
Arizona voters show Illinois the path forward on pensions
For the second time, Arizona voters approved a constitutional amendment allowing changes to unearned future pension benefits.
Peoria cuts police and fire, moves toward new property fee to pay for pensions
Peoria cuts police and fire, moves toward new property fee to pay for pensions
The city of Peoria’s decision to eliminate 22 firefighter and 16 police positions came after 27 layoffs earlier this year. Both decisions and a proposed $50-$300 fee are because pension spending is crowding out services.
Progressive tax turkeys
Progressive tax turkeys
As nation celebrates small businesses, Illinois politicians take them for granted
As nation celebrates small businesses, Illinois politicians take them for granted
A history of tax hikes to prop up unsustainable spending makes Illinois a frosty climate for small businesses.
Madigan’s Thanksgiving
Madigan’s Thanksgiving
Chicago slaps PlayStation users with expansion of 9 percent amusement tax
Chicago slaps PlayStation users with expansion of 9 percent amusement tax
PlayStation users will now see an extra 9 percent tax applied to some purchases on the platform.
Pritzker’s Better Angels
Pritzker’s Better Angels
McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor
McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor
The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find relief through tax savings.
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving
Senate overrides Rauner veto on bill proposing new car-sharing taxes, regulations
Senate overrides Rauner veto on bill proposing new car-sharing taxes, regulations
Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a lobbyist-backed bill aiming to sideswipe car-sharing startups with new taxes and regulations. The bill returns to the House.
Senate narrowly overrides Rauner ‘Tobacco 21’ veto
Senate narrowly overrides Rauner ‘Tobacco 21’ veto
A bill that would raise the legal age to 21 for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products will return to the Illinois House of Representatives after Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto.
DuPage County voters brake hard on per-mile driving tax
DuPage County voters brake hard on per-mile driving tax
Voters in DuPage County strongly oppose a per-mile driving tax – a measure Gov.-elect J.B. Pritzker has floated in the past.
Illinois strikes out on Amazon HQ2
Illinois strikes out on Amazon HQ2
Amazon picked two of the 20 remaining cities to split its $5 billion, 50,000-job HQ2, with a third city receiving 5,000 jobs. Illinois struck out on all three.
Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student
Illinois school district drops controversial eavesdropping case against former student
Prosecution lawyers for an Illinois school district have decided not to move forward with their case against Paul Boron, who was charged with felony eavesdropping at age 13 for recording audio of a meeting with his middle school principal.