The newly re-elected House speaker is pushing a new tax on businesses, an increase to the minimum wage and more spending, while doing nothing to address salient problems such as workers’ compensation and pension debt.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan

Illinois Senate budget plan includes $5 billion in tax hikes, $7 billion in borrowing

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

01/10/2017

The new budget plan coming out of the Illinois Senate does little to nothing to reform the state’s reckless spending and financial mismanagement, but does plenty to hurt state taxpayers.

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, John Cullerton

Why a budget won’t fix Illinois

By Austin Berg

01/05/2017

Pension costs alone now consume a quarter of the Illinois state budget.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, budget, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Illinois ends 2016 with nearly $11 billion in unpaid bills

By Brendan Bakala

12/26/2016

Though spending on government-worker salaries and pensions has grown at a rapid rate, many service providers and grant recipients are still awaiting payment.

TAGS: budget, unpaid bills

$39 billion: Where does Illinois’ tax revenue come from?

By Craig Lesner

12/25/2016

Income and sales taxes account for nearly two-thirds of state revenue.

TAGS: budget, income tax, sales tax, taxes

State’s record-breaking budgets make Illinoisans poorer

By Ted Dabrowski

12/25/2016

For each percentage point drop in the private sector’s share of the state economy, Illinois household incomes fall by over $3,000 on average. Unfortunately for Illinoisans, the private sector’s share of the Illinois economy has dwindled as government’s share – enabled through tax-funded spending – has risen to 25 percent.

TAGS: budget, household income, income tax, taxes

Cards Against Humanity’s ‘Holiday Hole’ is the perfect metaphor for Illinois

By Eric Kohn

11/30/2016

Unlike the people who voluntarily have given tens of thousands of dollars toward Cards Against Humanity's Black Friday hole-digging gag, Illinois taxpayers are forced to pour money into the state's ever-growing budget and pension gaps.

TAGS: budget

budget

Illinois taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to bail out politicians’ failures

Illinois Senate proposes statewide tax on soda

Illinois edges toward recession, politicians propose multibillion-dollar tax hike

Madigan’s economic agenda is not aggressive and it’s not reform

Illinois Senate budget plan includes $5 billion in tax hikes, $7 billion in borrowing

Why a budget won’t fix Illinois

Illinois ends 2016 with nearly $11 billion in unpaid bills

$39 billion: Where does Illinois’ tax revenue come from?

State’s record-breaking budgets make Illinoisans poorer

Cards Against Humanity’s ‘Holiday Hole’ is the perfect metaphor for Illinois

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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