These lawmakers will decide whether to criminalize small business owners who defy Pritzker order

05/19/2020

Small business owners trying to save their livelihoods could face up to a year in prison under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s new emergency rules, unless a key committee fights back.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, small business

Illinois’ struggling unemployment program to run out of money in May

By Adam Schuster

05/19/2020

As new claims overwhelm an unprepared and inefficient system, the state has been pre-approved for a $5 billion loan from the federal government to ensure benefits continue to be paid.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, unemployment

Illinois’ small business owners face imprisonment, $2,500 fine for reopening under Pritzker’s order

05/18/2020

The governor’s new penalty comes without approval from the Illinois General Assembly.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, small business

Illinois lawmakers introduce resolution to take progressive income tax off ballot

05/18/2020

Removing the progressive tax question from the Nov. 3 ballot would give over 100,000 small businesses some certainty as they struggle to recover from the COVID-19 shutdown.

TAGS: Bill Brady, coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, Jim Durkin, progressive income tax, small business

Progressive income tax hike could be up to 47% for Illinois small businesses

By Bryce Hill

05/18/2020

Small businesses face a potential income tax hike nearly 5 times larger than corporations under Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” amendment.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, small business

State legal memo: Illinois governor needs lawmakers’ approval before extending emergency powers

By Joe Tabor

05/18/2020

Amid a recent series of lawsuits, the 2001 informal opinion by the Illinois Attorney General’s office concludes the emergency powers granted a governor during a disaster cannot be extended beyond 30 days without legislative approval.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, executive order

Illinois lawmakers introduce bills to delay property tax payments

05/16/2020

Illinoisans who have struggled without paychecks because of the COVID-19 shutdown could get a delay on their property taxes. The hope is they are working again before they must pay the bill.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, property taxes

Opposition to Pritzker’s lockdown spreading rapidly

By Brad Weisenstein

05/15/2020

Opposition to Pritzker’s order is growing, as small business owners sue to challenge the governor’s ability to order them into ruin.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, reopen, small business, stay-at-home

More than 1 million Illinoisans out of work since COVID-19

By Bryce Hill

05/14/2020

The state’s unemployment rate continues to soar as joblessness hits more than 1 in 5 workers.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Pritzker threatens to use state police against businesses reopening early

05/13/2020

Polling has found the vast majority of Illinoisans support reopening small retail businesses.

TAGS: coronavirus, covid, economy, executive order, illinois state police, JB Pritzker, reopen

coronavirus

These lawmakers will decide whether to criminalize small business owners who defy Pritzker order

Illinois’ struggling unemployment program to run out of money in May

Illinois’ small business owners face imprisonment, $2,500 fine for reopening under Pritzker’s order

Illinois lawmakers introduce resolution to take progressive income tax off ballot

Progressive income tax hike could be up to 47% for Illinois small businesses

State legal memo: Illinois governor needs lawmakers’ approval before extending emergency powers

Illinois lawmakers introduce bills to delay property tax payments

Opposition to Pritzker’s lockdown spreading rapidly

More than 1 million Illinoisans out of work since COVID-19

Pritzker threatens to use state police against businesses reopening early

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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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