Illinois state lawmakers among highest paid in nation

By Ben Szalinski

07/16/2019

The Illinois General Assembly passed budget that included a $1,600 pay raise for state lawmakers, who already rank among the nation’s highest paid.

TAGS: budget, lawmaker pay, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes

Lightfoot must pursue pension reform, reasonable labor contracts to fix Chicago’s budget

By Bill Reveille

06/17/2019

Persistent budget deficits, enormous and growing pension obligations, a high debt burden and labor contract negotiations all await Lori Lightfoot as she settles into office.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

Despite tax hikes, Illinois fails to balance budget for 19th year in a row

By Austin Berg

06/13/2019

Band-Aid fixes and spending-heavy compromises were rampant. And now it’s all coming home to roost.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Pritzker signs Illinois budget out of balance by up to $1.3 billion

By Adam Schuster

06/11/2019

Contrary to claims from both Republicans and Democrats, and despite raising nearly $1.1 billion in new taxes and fees for operations, the fiscal year 2020 budget is out of balance by between $574 million and $1.3 billion.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, deficit, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Summer brings pay hike for Illinois state lawmakers, pay cut for you

By Austin Berg

06/06/2019

Springfield politicians talking out of both sides of their mouths on tax “fairness” is one of many reasons they didn’t deserve a raise.

TAGS: budget, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, lawmaker pay, taxes

Pritzker approves $1,600 pay raises for state lawmakers

By Vincent Caruso

06/05/2019

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a budget that includes pay raises for state lawmakers, as Illinoisans brace for a number of new tax hikes.

TAGS: budget, gas tax, JB Pritzker, lawmaker pay, taxes

Pritzker budget lifts cap on pension spiking

By Vincent Caruso

06/05/2019

A provision included in Illinois’ previous budget aimed to protect state taxpayers from end-of-career salary spiking in local school districts. The budget proposal en route to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would repeal that protection.

TAGS: budget, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, pritzker, spiking

Illinois state lawmakers pass $1,600 pay raise for themselves

By Vincent Caruso

06/02/2019

The Illinois General Assembly sent $85 billion in proposed spending to Gov J.B. Pritzker’s desk in a matter of days. That package included tax hikes on ordinary Illinoisans and pay raises for all state lawmakers.

TAGS: budget, lawmaker pay, taxes

Illinois state lawmakers introduce, pass $85 billion in spending in 12 hours

By Austin Berg

06/01/2019

A new governor and Democratic supermajorities have retained the same chaotic budgeting process that has brought the state’s credit rating to near-junk status.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, capital project, gas tax, Greg Harris, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Pritzker’s graduated income tax would create revenue roller coaster for Illinois

By Bryce Hill, Orphe Divounguy

04/08/2019

While the governor has touted his plan as a way to stabilize state tax revenues, it would actually do the opposite.

TAGS: budget, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, revenue, taxes