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

Illinois has the second-worst GDP growth in the Midwest

By Michael Lucci

06/11/2014

Illinois recorded the second-worst growth in gross domestic product of any state in the Midwest, according to this week’s release from the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The Illinois economy grew by just 0.9 percent in 2013. Only Missouri grew slower, at a sluggish 0.8 percent. The state’s growth ranks near the bottom nationally as well....

TAGS: economy, GDP, Pat Quinn

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Illinois is the second-most corrupt state in the nation, according to the University of Illinois-Chicago. And corruption costs the state economy at least $550 million per year. But the size and scope of government corruption is nothing new for Illinoisans. What is new? Powerful Illinois lawmakers, Chicago aldermen, local mayors and business interests are involved...

View Report

2019 Illinois corruption tracker

Report Archive

Al Lashbrook

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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