2019 laws in review, Illinois lawmakers passed both nice and naughty bills

12/20/2019

The Illinois General Assembly passed over 600 new laws in 2019. Some helped taxpayers, but many more hurt as they spent $85 billion while doing little to fix the pension crisis.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, capital plan, consolidation, Cook County, corruption, expungement, free speech, gas tax, government unions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, Open Illinois Checkbook, progressive income tax, record sealing, Springfield, tax hikes, taxes, transparency, vehicle registration

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

‘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, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, property taxes, Springfield, 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, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, registration fee, soda tax, Springfield, Toni Preckwinkle, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

More Illinoisans on food stamps this Thanksgiving, 50K recipients will soon need jobs

11/26/2019

This Thanksgiving, about 17,500 more Illinoisans will be using food stamps. By New Year’s, about 50,000 Cook County recipients must find jobs or lose benefits.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Cook County, Donald Trump, DuPage County, food stamps, Illinois, JB Pritzker, link card, Midwest, progressive income tax, SNAP, social services

Former Chicago official had side job with red-light camera company

11/15/2019

The former deputy aviation commissioner had an undisclosed position as a sales representative for SafeSpeed LLC. The red-light camera vendor keeps emerging in federal probes.

TAGS: Board of Ethics, Chicago, Chicago Board of Ethics, Chicago City Hall, Chicago Department of Aviation, Cook County, Cook County commissioner, department of aviation, federal investigation, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, investigation, Jim Edgar, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Springfield

2 Cook County commissioners each collect over $100K from Chicago Teachers Union

By Vincent Caruso

10/18/2019

Records show two Cook County Board members representing Chicago-area districts have each collected more than $100,000 from the Chicago Teachers Union atop their $85,000 commissioner salaries.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Cook County, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Larry Suffredin

Watchdog: Cook County clerk illegally hired political connections

09/14/2019

A watchdog has accused Cook County Clerk Karen Yarbrough of running an “illegal patronage” operation, and is calling for federal oversight of her office.

TAGS: Cook County, Cook County Clerk, corruption, Karen Yarbrough, patronage

Cook County commission exploring property tax hike despite depressed home values

By Bryce Hill

09/04/2019

Average home prices in Cook County are 31% lower today than in 2007. Meanwhile, property tax bills have increased by 22%.

TAGS: Cook County, property taxes, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007

By Bryce Hill

08/06/2019

Without true pension reform, property taxes are only bound to continue swamping Cook County homeowners.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, home values, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Cook County

2019 laws in review, Illinois lawmakers passed both nice and naughty bills

Feds investigating former Cook County assessor, Madigan rainmaker Joe Berrios

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

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

More Illinoisans on food stamps this Thanksgiving, 50K recipients will soon need jobs

Former Chicago official had side job with red-light camera company

2 Cook County commissioners each collect over $100K from Chicago Teachers Union

Watchdog: Cook County clerk illegally hired political connections

Cook County commission exploring property tax hike despite depressed home values

Cook County home values down 31%, property taxes up 22% since 2007

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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