Last-minute Illinois budget riddled with errors

By Patrick Andriesen

06/17/2021

Because Illinois state lawmakers waited until the last minute to pass a budget, no one noticed multiple errors that could have halted about half of the state’s spending until a month before the fiscal year ended. Haste makes waste of taxpayer dollars.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker

Illinois lawmakers give themselves $1,200 raise, double office budgets

By Adam Schuster

06/04/2021

The fiscal year 2022 budget includes pay hikes for members of the Illinois General Assembly, who were already among the nation’s highest-paid state lawmakers. It also boosts office allowances and leader stipends.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, lawmaker pay

Tax hikes fail to balance Illinois budget, but lawmakers raise own pay

By Adam Schuster

06/03/2021

Leaders claimed the budget was balanced and included no tax hikes, but neither is true. Illinois state lawmakers for the 21st time passed a deficit budget – one that includes $655 million in new taxes and a nearly $1,200 raise for themselves.

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker, taxes

Budget, ethics bills again kept secret before last-minute votes, Madigan style

By Justin Carlson

05/27/2021

Illinois politicians used Madigan’s teachings – avoid messy democracy and disenfranchise taxpayers – by again waiting until the last minute to pass major legislation. Good things rarely grow in the dark.

TAGS: budget, Illinois, Springfield

Bill would match Illinois spending to what taxpayers can afford

By Bryce Hill

04/02/2021

A bipartisan ‘spending cap’ bill would allow predictable, sustainable growth in state spending without tax hikes. Illinois is one of the few states without a similar fiscal restraint.

TAGS: budget, spending cap, tax hikes

Flat education spending is a cut when pensions, administration take more

By Ann Miller

03/01/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker plans another year of flat education spending. The reality is the cash reaching classrooms is dwindling as pensions and administration eat more.

TAGS: budget, education spending, JB Pritzker, pensions

Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes

By Brad Weisenstein

02/25/2021

Unemployment claims bumped up for a second week in Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided to push for 9 new taxes, mostly hitting businesses and job creation. Illinois ranked 49th for recovery last week.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Pritzker’s budget pushes 9 new taxes worth nearly $1 billion

By Adam Schuster

02/24/2021

The budget proposal includes no reforms to pensions or other cost drivers, misleadingly labels various business tax increases as ‘closing corporate tax loopholes,’ and relies on gimmicks that conceal true deficits. And there’s a new gas tax.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, tax hikes

Weak accounting standards enable Illinois budget deficits

By Justin Carlson

02/19/2021

While the private sector is held to a higher standard, rules from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board have enabled Illinois to engage in reckless financial practices that harm taxpayers and the state’s economy.

TAGS: accounting, budget, deficit, Illinois Constitution

Full Text: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address

02/17/2021

Delivered virtually Feb. 17, 2021, from the Illinois State Fairgrounds

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, State of the State