Reforms such as record sealing expansion make it likelier that ex-offenders will be able to find work – and stop cycling in and out of prison. That means they and their families will have a chance to succeed. And the more ex-offenders enter this virtuous cycle – instead of returning to prison – the better off the state and taxpayers will be, too.
With House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longevity comes a patronage army paid with public dollars.
Former U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Dennis Hastert had been receiving nearly $30,000 annually from the underfunded General Assembly Retirement System.
Chicago Public Schools is faced with the possibility of closing school early while Chicago sits on massive property wealth.
Illinois House Bill 4039 would reveal publicly the names of state lawmakers who haven’t filed their state tax returns.
Residents of Chicago’s collar counties pay the highest property taxes in the state – and some of the highest in the country.
Government worker retirement costs and interest on state retirement debt are squeezing out funding for social service providers and taxpayer relief.
Illinois saw a 0.23 percent increase in jobs in the first quarter of 2017, the third-worst growth rate in the region.
Despite Illinois’ severe financial problems, less than 3 percent of bills passed by the 99th General Assembly and enacted into law have fiscal notes.
At a time when businesses are fleeing the state, a group of Chicago aldermen are attempting to revive the employer’s expense tax to bail out Chicago Public Schools.
Despite Illinois’ severe financial problems, less than 3 percent of bills passed by the 99th General Assembly and enacted into law have fiscal notes.