Voters being asked to change Illinois Constitution to benefit one group

By Dylan Sharkey

11/24/2021

Special interest groups shouldn’t be singled out for protection in the Illinois Constitution, but state lawmakers are asking voters to change that. If passed, Amendment 1 would protect government unions at the expense of everyone else.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution

Government unions dictate when Illinois Constitution needs changes

By Dylan Sharkey

11/24/2021

In 2022, Illinois voters will face the biggest union power grab yet.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions, Illinois Constitution

Amendment 1 will cement teacher strikes in Illinois Constitution

By Mailee Smith

10/21/2021

Voters will decide in November 2022 whether teachers’ unions will have a permanent right to walk out on students.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois Constitution, strike, teachers union

Weak accounting standards enable Illinois budget deficits

By Justin Carlson

02/19/2021

While the private sector is held to a higher standard, rules from the Governmental Accounting Standards Board have enabled Illinois to engage in reckless financial practices that harm taxpayers and the state’s economy.

TAGS: accounting, budget, deficit, Illinois Constitution

What Illinoisans need to know about the progressive income tax

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/27/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls his $3.7 billion income tax hike a “fair tax.” But opponents have criticized the constitutional amendment as a blank check for House Speaker Mike Madigan and other state lawmakers, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, Illinois Constitution, income tax, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Why Illinois lawmakers can and should withdraw the progressive income tax hike

By Bryce Hill

04/09/2020

State lawmakers in 2019 passed a progressive income tax amendment at the behest of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Now that coronavirus has ravaged the state’s small business community, they should withdraw the amendment.

TAGS: corporate income tax, Don Harmon, fair tax, graduated income tax, Illinois Constitution, progressive income tax, small business

Poll shows diverse support for Illinois pension reform

By Ben Szalinski

03/11/2020

Illinois Democrats, union members, government or nonprofit workers, and people of all income groups support a pension amendment that allows for changes in cost-of-living raises and other future benefits.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, pensions

Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t

By Austin Berg

02/28/2020

There’s no doubt: the county taxed soda more, so people bought less of it. It’s a simple lesson. So why doesn’t Springfield get it?

TAGS: Cook County, home price index, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, soda tax, tax burden, Toni Preckwinkle

Illinois’ pension costs, debt are growing far faster than state predicted

By Bill Reveille

02/27/2020

The pension crisis is worse than the state admits, and the state’s official projections cannot be trusted.

TAGS: Edgar Ramp, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, pensions, progressive income tax

Bill would curb Illinois state budget gimmicks allowing deficits since 2001

By Ben Szalinski

02/27/2020

Illinois has not truly balanced its budget since 2001 despite a constitutional requirement to do so. A new bill would help change that.

TAGS: accounting, balanced budget requirement, constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, Jaime Andrade Jr., NASBO: National Association of State Budget Officers