Speaker Madigan puts politics over people
Speaker Madigan puts politics over people
Madigan’s record $40 billion spending proposal and its $7 billion deficit revealed he was never serious about reaching a budget deal with Rauner. Instead it was nothing more than an attempt to create a deeper fiscal crisis, force additional tax hikes and create a bailout for the city of Chicago. As long as Madigan and other lawmakers keep prioritizing politics over people, Illinois will continue its downward spiral.
By Ted Dabrowski
Victory: Evanston lifts food-truck ban
Victory: Evanston lifts food-truck ban
Food-truck freedom finally is coming to Evanston.
Illinois’ $2 million Skittles bribe a bad deal for taxpayers
Illinois’ $2 million Skittles bribe a bad deal for taxpayers
News that Wrigley has started producing Skittles in Illinois has many excited – until they learn just how much Illinois gave in tax incentives to lure 75 new jobs.
Property taxes up 13 percent on average Chicago home
Property taxes up 13 percent on average Chicago home
The average single-family home in Chicago will see a $400 increase in property taxes. And property-tax revenues for the city of Chicago will top $1 billion for the first time in city history.
By Austin Berg
Chicago TIF districts benefit politically connected at taxpayers’ expense
Chicago TIF districts benefit politically connected at taxpayers’ expense
City officials are moving to develop the largest remaining plot of vacant land to ensure huge windfalls for a city-run slush fund.
By Chris Lentino
Illinois Comptroller: Most state payments will stop July 1 without budget
Illinois Comptroller: Most state payments will stop July 1 without budget
Munger said that if raising taxes were the only answer to the budget crisis, lawmakers would have to increase the income tax from its current 3.75 percent to 8 percent.
By Greg Bishop
Illinois school districts pass closed-door budgets, expect taxpayers to fork over more money
Illinois school districts pass closed-door budgets, expect taxpayers to fork over more money
Legislation to make union-contract negotiations more transparent has been repeatedly proposed, but lawmakers continue to opt for secrecy at taxpayers’ expense.
By Mailee Smith
Bob Anderson
Bob Anderson
“I started my barbershop in 1962. I’ve been cutting some customers’ hair for over 50 years. “When I started there were a lot of German immigrants who were buying small summer homes here. And this is where they retired. Now those same people come into the shop and all they talk about is their property-tax...
Politicians reject consolidation reforms for East St. Louis
Politicians reject consolidation reforms for East St. Louis
Lawmakers missed an opportunity to provide relief for taxpayers struggling in East St. Louis.
Illinois lawmakers pass Cook County expungement and sealing reforms
Illinois lawmakers pass Cook County expungement and sealing reforms
If signed, HB 6328 will remove expungement fees in Cook County for those who were arrested but never convicted.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Moody’s and S&P downgrade Illinois’ credit rating, the 16th and 17th downgrades since 2009
Moody’s and S&P downgrade Illinois’ credit rating, the 16th and 17th downgrades since 2009
Major ratings agencies have assigned a negative outlook to Illinois. To move forward, the state can’t pass just any budget – especially one that’s $7 billion out-of-whack – to get beyond its crisis. With today’s fiscal stress, a bad budget is worse than no budget. A budget without reforms will only allow Illinois’ debt to continue to spiral, putting investors – and more importantly, Illinois residents – at risk.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Why Illinois shortchanges people dependent on government services
Why Illinois shortchanges people dependent on government services
Politicians have repeatedly prioritized funding state-worker pay and benefits over social services and other vital programs.
By Ted Dabrowski
Former Gov. Edgar’s ‘compromise’ pension plan led to Illinois’ fiscal crisis
Former Gov. Edgar’s ‘compromise’ pension plan led to Illinois’ fiscal crisis
Under former Gov. Jim Edgar’s pension ramp, unfunded pension liabilities have increased nearly $100 billion despite taxpayers contributing $16.4 billion more to the five state-run pension systems than required under the Edgar plan.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Police in Illinois can seize your property without convicting you of a crime
Police in Illinois can seize your property without convicting you of a crime
Illinois police have taken in a total of $72 million in seized property over the past two years.
By Austin Berg