Chicago alderman proposes tax on childbirth

By Vincent Caruso

01/10/2020

Amid Illinois’ population decline, Ald. Ray Lopez proposed taxing conception and licensing childbirth.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, childbirth license, China, Chinese Communist Party, Communist China, conception fee, Ray Lopez, toddler escrow

Illinois cannabis taxes among nation’s highest, could keep black market thriving

By Austin Berg

01/09/2020

Springfield lawmakers have yet to learn the lesson that money walks. And it’s not just to other states. Sometimes, it walks past the legal dispensary with a 40% tax rate and into a dealer’s house.

TAGS: black market, Chicago, Cook County, decriminalization, high taxes, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, legalization, marijuana, medical marijuana, recreational marijuana, Springfield, tax burden, taxes, THC

Lightfoot pushes Chicago city council to loosen food truck restrictions

By Joe Barnas

01/07/2020

Mayor Lori Lightfoot is sponsoring a city ordinance allowing food trucks and other mobile entrepreneurs to operate with more freedom on Chicago’s streets.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, entrepreneurs, food trucks, license, licensure, Lori Lightfoot, over-regulation, regulation, restrictions

Chicago commuter will see $286 parking tax hike Jan. 1 under Pritzker plan

By Ben Szalinski

12/23/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan calls for an increased parking tax, just one of the new ways drivers will pay more in 2020.

TAGS: Chicago, commute, high taxes, JB Pritzker, parking tax, progressive tax, tax hikes, tax increase, taxes

Chicago City Council votes to ban lobbying by elected leaders

By Ben Szalinski

12/20/2019

Chicago’s second round of anti-corruption rules restricts aldermen and city employees from working as lobbyists and stops other elected leaders from lobbying city government for private clients.

TAGS: bribery, Chicago, Chicago City Council, ComEd, corruption, FBI, Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Larry Suffredin, lawmakers, lobbying, lobbyists, Lori Lightfoot, Luis Arroyo, matt o'shea, Michael Zalewski, Michele Smith, Mike Madigan, ordinance, Springfield, Terry Link

Leaving child Home Alone could land parents in jail this holiday season

By Ben Szalinski

12/19/2019

Illinois’ restrictive and vague laws could mean arrest for parents who leave their kids at home while they run a quick holiday errand.

TAGS: Chicago, child, children, Christmas, Corey Widen, criminal justice reform, Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, jail, lawmakers, Natasha Felix, neglect, overcriminalization, police, supervision, warrant, wilmette, winnetka

Feds investigating former Cook County assessor, Madigan rainmaker Joe Berrios

By Austin Berg

12/17/2019

The probe potentially opens up a new front in authorities’ investigation of House Speaker Mike Madigan: the property tax appeals game from which he has made millions.

TAGS: appeal, assessor, capital project, Chicago, clout, conflict of interest, Cook County, Cook County assessor, Cook County Democratic Party, corruption, Ed Burke, extortion, federal investigation, house rules, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, Joseph Berrios, law firm, Legislative Inspector General, legislative map, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, objective scoring, property taxes, redistricting, revolving door, Rod Blagojevich, Springfield

Report: Tax rain, plastic bottles and plastic bags to hire more state workers

By Ben Szalinski

12/17/2019

A new report recommends taxes on plastic water bottles, plastic bags and storm water as a way to hire more state environmental regulators.

TAGS: Chicago, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, pension reform, pension spending, plastic bag tax, plastic bottle tax, public health, rain tax, Springfield, University of Chicago

‘Home Alone’ with a $35K property tax bill

By Brad Weisenstein

12/17/2019

No longer are two guys in stocking caps attacking the Winnetka house made famous in the holiday movie, but property taxes and declining home values are still robbing the owners.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, home alone, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, pension debt, pension reform, property taxes, Springfield, taxing districts, winnetka

New car trade-in tax will hit Illinois drivers New Year’s Day

By Austin Berg

12/12/2019

Illinois will impose a new sales tax on vehicle trade-ins beginning New Year’s Day. That’s why car dealerships have been running radio ads for weeks telling Illinoisans to come on down before the ball drops.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, gas tax, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, progressive tax, registration fee, soda tax, Springfield, Toni Preckwinkle, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

Power in payments: Illinois can help unbanked residents, save money by adopting best practices in payment methods

Each year, tens of billions of dollars flow through Illinois state government.1 These flows all depend on methods of payment. In deciding on those payment methods, policymakers must consider a number of important factors, including security controls, cost effectiveness, accessibility, speed and allowance for choice. This report shows that by adopting best practices across all...

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Power in payments: Illinois can help unbanked residents, save money by adopting best practices in payment methods

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Ifeoma Nkemdi

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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