Investigation finds Illinois politicians packed extra pork into $45 billion plan

By Patrick Andriesen

01/21/2022

An investigation found $4 billion in funds to be doled out by politicians at their discretion, with Gov. J.B. Pritzker controlling half of it. The extra pork was packed into Illinois’ $45 billion infrastructure plan, including $144 million for Madigan friends – some who never asked for it.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, pork barrel spending, Rebuild Illinois

Pritzker seeks end to hiring oversight as watchdog details more patronage

By Dylan Sharkey

01/17/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker argues his state agencies no longer need a federal minder to ensure hiring is not political. That federal watchdog has four recent examples of why state hiring still needs oversight.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Shakman decrees

High school parents sue to block Pritzker COVID-19 vax mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

01/14/2022

Illinois parents of athletes sued to prevent school districts and state powers from mandating vaccinations for high school students. The lawsuit argues such an order would be arbitrary and violate students’ rights.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, vaccine mandate

Illinois has been subject to Pritzker’s emergency powers for nearly 22 months. Where does this power come from?

By Joe Tabor

01/06/2022

Illinois’ emergency management statute grants the governor broad powers to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the General Assembly has shown no interest in amending it.

TAGS: COVID-19, emergency, JB Pritzker

Pritzker emergency No. 23 comes as Colorado drops masks

By Dylan Sharkey

12/14/2021

Illinois is far from finished with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statewide COVID-19 mandates, but another Democratic governor just said the emergency is over and the state shouldn’t be making people wear masks anymore.

TAGS: Colorado, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks

Illinois teachers sue Pritzker over COVID-19 school mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

12/14/2021

A class-action lawsuit filed by 88 Illinois teachers seeks to block Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mandates on shots, tests and vaccinations for school personnel.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks, teachers union

Pritzker bans outside donors ahead of Illinois Supreme Court races

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2021

Gov. J.B. Pritzker banned ‘dark money’ in Illinois’ judicial elections after record spending unseated a longtime Madigan ally from the Illinois Supreme Court. Voters will decide more high court vacancies soon.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, JB Pritzker

Democrats’ legislative remap dilutes Illinois minority voting power, lawsuits claim

By Patrick Andriesen

12/10/2021

The plaintiffs representing Black and Latino voters argued Illinois Democrats’ new legislative maps are gerrymandered to break up voting blocs, diluting minority voting power during the next decade.

TAGS: gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Pritzker’s $2 billion COVID-19 aid slush fund uncovered

By Patrick Andriesen

12/08/2021

Six months after state lawmakers hastily approved Illinois’ 2022 budget, a hidden discretionary fund has been identified giving Gov. J.B. Pritzker total control over $2 billion in federal COVID-19 aid.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, slush fund

Keep investing in Illinois’ Invest in Kids tax credit scholarships

By Amy Korte

12/08/2021

Illinois state lawmakers resisted efforts to cut tax credit scholarships in Illinois, instead extending the program. Now low-income and minority students need them to make the scholarships permanent so they can get the educations that best fit their needs.

TAGS: education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, private schools, school, school choice, tax credit scholarships, tax credits, taxes

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...

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Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

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Toni Larocco

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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