Illinois’ 2nd-highest gas taxes drive up Thanksgiving travel costs

By Dylan Sharkey

11/20/2023

More than 55 million people are traveling for Thanksgiving this year, according to AAA. Illinois motorists can avoid the nation’s second-highest gas taxes by filling up in other states.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, taxes, Thanksgiving

Governor’s doors locked on students advocating school choice at rally

By Jess Plowman

11/01/2023

A rally Nov. 1 outside Gov. J.B. Pritzker's office in Chicago ended with private school students finding themselves locked out of the public building. They were there to ask Pritzker to save the Invest in Kids program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker

Pritzker says he would sign Invest in Kids extension

By Dylan Sharkey

10/20/2023

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he would extend the Invest in Kids tax credit scholarship program if a bill reaches his desk. State lawmakers on Oct. 24 return to Springfield.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker

Pritzker would veto Chicago mayor’s financial transaction tax plan

By Dylan Sharkey

10/17/2023

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he would oppose a financial transaction tax that Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson wants as part of his plan for $800 million in new taxes.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, JB Pritzker

Poll: 60% of Illinoisans don’t want Pritzker to run for president

By Dylan Sharkey

10/17/2023

Most Illinoisans don’t want to see Gov. J.B. Pritzker seek the Oval Office. Just less than a majority of voters support the job Pritzker is doing in Illinois.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker Doles Out 19% Raises and $1,200 Stipend in Largest AFSCME Contract Ever

By Bryce Hill

08/08/2023

Illinois’ largest public employee union, AFSCME Council 31, finalized their second contract with Gov. J.B. Pritzker July 25. New pay raises will cost taxpayers $625 million.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, JB Pritzker

Illinois grocery tax returns July 1

By Dylan Sharkey

06/06/2023

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s temporary tax relief expires July 1 when Illinois reinstates the grocery tax instead of joining the 37 states that don’t tax groceries at all.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker calls for campaign finance reform after spending $323M on campaigns

By Dylan Sharkey

05/01/2023

Gov. J.B. Pritzker told Harvard students self-financing political campaigns isn’t the answer, calling for campaign finance reform. Pritzker self-financed both of his gubernatorial campaigns for a total of $323 million.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois job growth among worst in U.S. during Pritzker’s first term

By Justin Carlson

03/22/2023

All 11 major industries in Illinois were among the worst in the nation for job growth from January 2019 to January 2023, with each of them ranking in the bottom half in the nation.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

3 years after COVID-19 hit, Pritzker declares 40th emergency order

By Dylan Sharkey

03/08/2023

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker declared COVID-19 a disaster in Illinois for the 40th time. Illinois is 1 of only 6 states still using COVID-19 to declare a public health emergency.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

America’s War on Poverty has been an abject failure. Nearly $12 trillion and 60 years later, official poverty rates remain basically unchanged. While the nation waged a well-intentioned assault on poverty, it inadvertently launched a far more sinister war: on dignity. While attempting to eradicate poverty, America created countless government welfare programs. In doing so,...

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Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

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Valentina Marieyah Pacheco-Cornejo

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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