Chicago area up 241K jobs, rest of Illinois down 41K jobs from before recession

By Austin Berg

01/21/2020

Illinois’ uneven recovery reflects national trends, but also raises important questions about the state’s economic future ahead of a key tax hike vote.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, capital gains, capital investment, Chicago, corporate income tax, economic competitiveness, economy, graduated income tax, Great Recession, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, industry, investment, investment returns, JB Pritzker, jobs growth, labor, labor cost, minimum wage, outmigration, pass-through, population, population loss, progressive income tax, progressive tax, property, real estate, recession, recovery, Springfield, tax competitiveness, tax hikes, tax increase

9 new Illinois taxes totaling $1.7B take effect Jan. 1

By Adam Schuster

12/15/2019

Nearly half of the 20 tax and fee hikes passed to support a record $40 billion state budget and $45 billion infrastructure plan hit on New Year’s Day.

TAGS: cannabis, cigarette tax, economy, electric car, electric vehicle, gas tax, graduated income tax, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, license, marijuana, motor fuel tax, net position, net worth, New Year's Day, online sales tax, parking garages, parking tax, pension reform, progressive income tax, registration fee, Spending, spending cap, Springfield, state constitution, tax hikes, tax increase, taxes, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

Progressive tax uncertainty could trip Illinois’ already-stumbling economy

By Orphe Divounguy, Chena Underhill

07/25/2019

The elections scheduled for November 2020 are already injecting uncertainty into the economy, and the progressive income tax ballot question will make matters worse.

TAGS: economy, fair tax, graduated income tax, income growth, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

False choice for Illinois: Pritzker’s budget ignores commonsense alternative

By Adam Schuster

03/12/2019

Facing down a $3 billion deficit, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker offered an unbalanced budget including more tax hikes, borrowing and spending. He claimed severe cuts were the only alternative, but another option exists.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, deficit, economy, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois’ economy continues to fall behind other states, according to fiscal forecast

By Vincent Caruso

02/16/2018

The worst years of the Great Recession are in the rear view. But if the latest gloomy fiscal forecast is any indication, Illinois' persistent policy mistakes will drag down its economic performance well into the future.

TAGS: COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, economy, jobs, outmigration, unemployment

State report: Illinois economy lags nation, neighbors

By Austin Berg

11/02/2017

The October briefing from the Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability outlines Illinois’ weak growth, and projects more of the same.

TAGS: COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, economy, jobs

A sorry state: Illinois’ economy in 2017

By Orphe Divounguy

11/16/2016

Since the end of the recession, only 5 out of Illinois’ 13 metro areas – Carbondale-Marion, Chicago, Kankakee, Lake County-Kenosha County and Springfield – have recovered all the private-sector jobs lost from the Great Recession.

TAGS: economy, jobs, unemployment

Illinoisans have nation’s lowest confidence in state economy

By Austin Berg

02/18/2016

The need for foundational change couldn’t be more evident in the Land of Lincoln.

TAGS: economy, jobs, manufacturing

Why Illinois needs a turnaround in 12 graphics

By Michael Lucci

04/27/2015

The failures of Springfield are many, the state and local crises are real, and the time for action is now.

TAGS: economy, jobs

Illinois’ economic crisis requires local solutions

By Michael Lucci

01/05/2015

Localities don’t need to wait for Springfield to make the state work again.

TAGS: economy, food stamps, jobs, pain points

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