Policy Research

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State lawmakers debate delaying New Year’s Day gas tax hike

By Dylan Sharkey

11/25/2022

A bill in Springfield proposes delaying the Jan. 1 state gas tax hike. If it fails, drivers will see two gas tax hikes in 2023, expected to take the tax to over 45 cents a gallon.

TAGS: gas tax

Illinois holiday shoppers pay highest sales taxes in Midwest

By Dylan Sharkey

11/23/2022

Retailers should expect a record number of holiday shoppers this weekend. Shoppers in Illinois will get hit with some of the nation’s highest sales taxes.

TAGS: Illinois, sales tax

Illinois Thanksgiving travelers pay 2nd-highest gas taxes in nation

By Dylan Sharkey

11/23/2022

AAA predicts nearly 55 million people will travel for Thanksgiving this year, only 2% less than Thanksgiving travel in 2019. Illinoisans hitting the road should try to fill up in other states.

TAGS: gas tax, Thanksgiving

Amendment 1 could let Illinois police unions undo SAFE-T Act mandates

By Mailee Smith

11/23/2022

Illinois’ new union amendment allows government unions to negotiate over virtually anything and override state law through their union contracts. That includes laws aimed at reforming police procedures.

TAGS: police union, SAFE-T Act

Small businesses led Illinois’ COVID-19 jobs recovery

By Bryce Hill

11/23/2022

Small Business Saturday offers a reason to be extra thankful: businesses with fewer than 20 employees were the only ones to grow payrolls since COVID-19 hit.

TAGS: COVID-19, small business

Illinois pension costs impair spending on roads, public services

By Patrick Andriesen

11/23/2022

Illinois taxpayers spent $3.3 billion more on public pensions between 2017 and 2022 than state forecasts said they would. Had that money not evaporated, it could have paid to repave 150,000 miles of roads or for nearly 25,000 full-ride scholarships.

TAGS: government spending, pensions

Everything Illinoisans need to know about the SAFE-T Act

By Joe Tabor, Perry Zhao

11/18/2022

The omnibus criminal justice reform bill became highly politicized in the November elections, mixing fact and fiction. There are problems with the bill, but state lawmakers can fix them before the SAFE-T Act takes effect in January.

TAGS: SAFE-T Act

20% fewer Illinois public school students proficient in reading, math

By Hannah Max

11/18/2022

Illinois students’ academic proficiency remains below pre-pandemic levels. Demographic achievement gaps persist. School choice is part of the solution.

TAGS: Illinois, public schools

Parents push to expand Illinois’ Invest in Kids school choice program

By Dylan Sharkey

11/18/2022

Illinois state lawmakers are hearing from parents who want to see the Invest in Kids program expanded. Giving families a choice about their schools can boost student achievement.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, school choice

Forbes: Illinois 3rd in nation for people leaving

By Dylan Sharkey

11/17/2022

Forbes magazine highlighted Illinois as one of the top states residents are fleeing for more tax-friendly climates.

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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