New bill would stop suspending Illinois driver’s licenses for unpaid red-light camera tickets

02/21/2020

Red-light cameras have been the subject of an ongoing federal investigation that has lead to the arrest of numerous public officials.

TAGS: bipartisan, Celina Villanueva, conflict of interest, corruption, David McSweeney, drivers license, lobbying, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Susana Mendoza

Illinoisans want cleaner state government more than great schools, less crime

By Austin Berg

02/13/2020

A common misconception in Illinois is that voters are numb to this reality. But polling released this week, commissioned by the Illinois Education Association, shows that’s not true.

TAGS: bipartisan, corruption, education, ethics, federal investigation, Legislative Inspector General, revolving door

Bill would stop Pritzker from paying state workers on the side

By Brad Weisenstein

01/12/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has used his private fortune to pay $3 million in state expenses, including boosting salaries of 16 top staffers. Some lawmakers want the ‘unethical’ practice to stop.

TAGS: bipartisan, conflict of interest, corruption, fair maps, house rules, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, independent maps, JB Pritzker, lawmaker pay, lawmakers, Legislative Inspector General, legislative map, lobbying, revolving door, Smart Scale, Springfield, watchdog

Pritzker signs pension sweetener bill without knowing the cost

12/20/2019

Illinois’ pension crisis is the nation’s worst. Maybe that’s because elected officials take a problem they aren’t sure exists, apply a solution they don’t know will work and never determine the cost.

TAGS: bipartisan, consolidation, constitutional amendment, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, safe harbor, Springfield

Illinois lawmakers should hold Pritzker to his ‘fair maps’ promise

By Austin Berg

12/03/2019

Even without a constitutional amendment, there are changes lawmakers could make as soon as session resumes to get politics out of mapmaking.

TAGS: bipartisan, ethics, gerrymandering, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, legislative district, legislative map, redistricting, Springfield

A city charter could bring order to Chicago’s dysfunction. How can it get one?

Report Archive

Ricky Hamilton

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students