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

By Mindy Ruckman
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, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, lawmakers, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, Open Illinois Checkbook, progressive income tax, public employee unions, record sealing, Springfield, tax hikes, taxes, transparency, vehicle registration, worker freedom

Will County board approves new $12M gas tax atop doubled state tax

By Vincent Caruso
12/20/2019
Will County became the first county to use new taxing authority under Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan, adding a new countywide gas tax of 4 cents per gallon atop state and local gas taxes.

TAGS: capital plan, collar counties, drivers, driving, DuPage County, excise tax, gas tax, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, Joliet, Kane County, Lake County, McHenry County, sales tax, Springfield, suburbs, tax hikes, tax increase, Will County

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

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, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, progressive tax, registration fee, soda tax, Springfield, Toni Preckwinkle, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

Will County board to vote on 4-cent countywide gas tax following doubled Illinois tax

By Vincent Caruso
12/10/2019
Included in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital plan is increased taxing power for some county governments to create or raise countywide gas taxes. Will County could be the first to exercise that authority.

TAGS: capital plan, Democratic Party, excise tax, gas tax, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, infrastructure, JB Pritzker, republican, sales tax, Springfield, tax increase, transportation

New taxes and fees on Illinois driving, vehicles total $1.9B

By Ben Szalinski
12/05/2019
Jan. 1 marks a second wave of taxes aimed at drivers to support an infrastructure package championed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker and shrouded in corruption allegations.

TAGS: capital plan, drivers, driving, gas tax, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, infrastructure, JB Pritzker, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, motor fuel tax, parking garages, parking tax, progressive income tax, public works, Rebuild Illinois, Springfield, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

A decade after recession, Illinois’ construction industry is ice cold

By Austin Berg
12/05/2019
Why is Illinois construction so weak? As it turns out, big government programs can’t paper over weak fundamentals.

TAGS: Bureau of Economic Analysis, construction, Erin Guthrie, gas tax, Great Recession, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, Luis Arroyo, Martin Sandoval, minimum wage, outmigration, Pat Quinn, pension crisis, progressive income tax, property taxes, Springfield, U.S. Census Bureau

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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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Ifeoma Nkemdi

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

By J. Scott Moody, Wendy Warcholik
07/07/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016