Illinois unemployment is again on the rise as Pritzker proposes business taxes

By Brad Weisenstein

02/25/2021

Unemployment claims bumped up for a second week in Illinois as Gov. J.B. Pritzker decided to push for 9 new taxes, mostly hitting businesses and job creation. Illinois ranked 49th for recovery last week.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor, taxes, unemployment

Pritzker’s budget pushes 9 new taxes worth nearly $1 billion

By Adam Schuster

02/24/2021

The budget proposal includes no reforms to pensions or other cost drivers, misleadingly labels various business tax increases as ‘closing corporate tax loopholes,’ and relies on gimmicks that conceal true deficits. And there’s a new gas tax.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, tax hikes

Illinois’ leisure and hospitality industry among hardest hit in Midwest

By Bryce Hill

02/18/2021

The industry had been one of the bright spots in the Illinois economy but COVID-19 and state-mandated mitigation efforts have decimated it.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, recession, restaurants

Full Text: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address

02/17/2021

Delivered virtually Feb. 17, 2021, from the Illinois State Fairgrounds

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, State of the State

Expected $7.5 billion in federal aid won’t fix Illinois budget crisis without structural reforms

By Adam Schuster

02/16/2021

Illinois needed federal aid far more than other states because of pension crisis inaction, as well as an irresponsible pandemic budget. Bailouts won’t protect taxpayers or services for vulnerable Illinoisans, but reforms can.

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker, pensions

2021 State of the State: Illinois economy weak before COVID-19

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

01/31/2021

Illinois’ weak economic foundations and fiscal mismanagement were preexisting conditions that caused it to suffer a deeper COVID-19 downturn. They will also hurt its recovery.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, recession, State of the State

2020 is worst year for jobs in Illinois’ history

By Bryce Hill

01/25/2021

Illinois lost 423,300 jobs from December 2019 through December 2020.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Lightfoot pushes Pritzker to ease restrictions as dining resumes in southern, central Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein

01/19/2021

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she wants Gov. J.B. Pritzker to give city residents more freedom to drink and dine out. Two other Illinois regions were just granted more liberty to do so.

TAGS: COVID-19, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot, restrictions

Pritzker to decide COLA increase for Chicago firefighter pensions, with $850M price tag

By Adam Schuster

01/15/2021

Over the objections of Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who called the legislation “irresponsible,” state lawmakers passed a bill to increase the cost-of-living adjustment for 2,200 Chicago firefighter pensions to 3% from 1.5%. Gov. J.B. Pritzker should veto it.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, firefighter pensions, JB Pritzker

While Pritzker talks state worker furloughs, New York delays raises

By Mailee Smith

01/14/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker could delay the $313 million in raises state workers have yet to receive, but instead he’s considering taking $75 million from their paychecks and leaving taxpayers without their services.

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