Bill would lift ban on out-of-state wine delivery

03/17/2020

Illinois’ strict regulations on wine shipments deprive residents of choice and the state of critical tax revenue. The anti-competitive law may be unconstitutional.

TAGS: competition, consumer choice, cronyism, National Association of Wine Retailers, Sara Feignholtz, three-tier system, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois

Food truck, mobile boutique regulations loosened by Chicago City Council

01/22/2020

The new ordinance backed by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot allows food trucks and other mobile entrepreneurs to operate with more freedom on city streets.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, cronyism, entrepreneurs, food trucks, licensing, Lori Lightfoot, regulations

Investigation: Madigan firm the biggest player in commercial property tax appeals

By Austin Berg

12/08/2017

A new investigation by the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica Illinois reveals the mismanagement of the Cook County property tax system, and the politically connected firms who profit from it.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, cronyism, Ed Burke, Joseph Berrios, Madigan & Getzendanner, Mike Madigan, property taxes, ProPublica, Steve Brown

Illinois Senate votes to revive EDGE business tax credit program

By Brendan Bakala

08/14/2017

House Bill 162 would bring back Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy tax credit program.

TAGS: cronyism, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, jobs, tax credits

Taxpayer-funded Lombard hotel filing for bankruptcy

By Joe Kaiser

08/04/2017

A decade-old, 18-story, taxpayer-funded hotel in the village of Lombard is headed for bankruptcy, proving to be a misguided investment of taxpayer dollars.

TAGS: cronyism, Lombard, Lombard Public Facilities Corp, municipal government

Illinois’ political machine is still humming

By Austin Berg

07/27/2017

Madigan, Martwick and Mautino are cogs in a well-oiled political machine that continues to enrich Illinois' political class at the expense of taxpayers.

TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Frank Mautino, Mike Madigan, property taxes, Robert Martwick

Rosemont to build taxpayer-funded baseball stadium

By Joe Kaiser

05/24/2017

The village of Rosemont is moving forward on a $60 million taxpayer-funded baseball stadium.

TAGS: budget, cronyism, Rosemont, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Akuna Capital signed tax break deal with state of Illinois estimated to be worth $4.5M

By Brendan Bakala

05/23/2017

In 2015, Chicago-headquartered Akuna Capital LLC signed a deal with the state of Illinois that state officials estimated to be worth $4.5 million. As part of the agreement, Akuna agreed to hire 10 new employees. The agreement states the new hires specialized in trading and software.

TAGS: cronyism, EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy, tax credits

Illinois gave Glassdoor more than $6M in tax breaks in 2016

By Brendan Bakala

05/05/2017

Glassdoor agreed to three sets of hiring dates in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in which the job-finding website would hire 240 new employees.

TAGS: cronyism, tax credits

Capital One received more than $20 million in tax breaks from Illinois in 2015

By Brendan Bakala

05/02/2017

The state agreed to the tax credits in exchange for Capital One hiring 210 new employees and retaining 900.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Business and Employment Development Tax Credit Act, cronyism, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, jobs, Michael Zalewski, Mike Madigan, Natalie Manley, Pam Althoff, tax credits, Transforming Helping and Reviving Illinois’ Versatile Economy

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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