Missed opportunity: Irresponsible budgeting costs Illinois nearly $27 billion

By FJ Hilgart

02/28/2025

Illinois had a prime opportunity with increased revenues and COVID relief funds to balance the budget. Instead, the government spent it all and now faces an even larger shortfall.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker’s 2026 budget poses short-term fixes, sneaks in new “tax hike”

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

02/25/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 2026 budget includes record spending, cuts to economic development and overreliance on short-term revenue tricks—including a cleverly hidden tax hike, leaving significant work for the state to reach financial stability.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker’s magic beans: Growing a record-setting $55B Illinois budget

By Bryce Hill

02/19/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker invoked a fairy tale about magic beans and a giant during his annual state of the state and budget address. Too bad he forgot to take an ax to the giant, record-setting budget he has grown by $16.7 billion since taking office.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker at 50% approval ahead of Illinois budget address

By Dylan Sharkey

02/18/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s favorability is at exactly 50% ahead of his annual budget address, a chance to win over the 46% of voters with an unfavorable opinion of him. But based on his history of aggressive spending and taxation, what are the odds?

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker

Gov. Pritzker hints no tax hikes or pension benefit spikes in 2026 state budget

By Dylan Sharkey, Patrick Andriesen

02/17/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said raising taxes or hiking pension benefits are not first choices for in his fiscal year 2026 budget. The governor said Illinois needs to “live within our means in this state.”

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker, taxes

Pritzker’s gas tax hike doubles yearly take to nearly $2B

By Patrick Andriesen

10/01/2024

Illinois drivers are expected to pay nearly $2 billion in state gas taxes by the end of the year, more than twice what they paid before Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office and doubled the tax. Pritzker’s tax hike took $4 billion extra from drivers between 2019 and 2023.

TAGS: gas tax, JB Pritzker

Pritzker sends another $250K in taxpayer money to group pushing more taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

08/23/2024

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget includes $250,000 for a group advocating for increased government spending and higher taxes. He gave the group money last year, too.

TAGS: CTBA: Center for Budget and Tax Accountability, JB Pritzker

Illinois No. 2 in nation for highest gas taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

08/16/2024

Only California has higher gasoline taxes than Illinois. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s automatic gas tax boost just bumped the rate to 47 cents per gallon. It was 19 cents before Pritzker took office.

TAGS: gas prices, JB Pritzker, taxes

Pritzker scorecard: Illinois’ governor failing on economy, taxes, education

By Bryce Hill

08/15/2024

Real-world outcomes for Illinoisans have dropped since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. The nation’s Democrats need to see where he’s taken Illinois before following his lead.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker to show Democrats how he thinks big about taxes, budgets, deficits

By Patrick Andriesen

08/13/2024

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $53.1 billion state budget imposes $1.1 billion in new taxes on Illinoisans and still manages to underfund public pensions. He’s boosted state spending by $15 billion in six years. Housing, jobs and population are all suffering.

TAGS: DNC: Democratic National Convention, JB Pritzker

JB Pritzker

Missed opportunity: Irresponsible budgeting costs Illinois nearly $27 billion

Pritzker’s 2026 budget poses short-term fixes, sneaks in new “tax hike”

Pritzker’s magic beans: Growing a record-setting $55B Illinois budget

Pritzker at 50% approval ahead of Illinois budget address

Gov. Pritzker hints no tax hikes or pension benefit spikes in 2026 state budget

Pritzker’s gas tax hike doubles yearly take to nearly $2B

Pritzker sends another $250K in taxpayer money to group pushing more taxes

Illinois No. 2 in nation for highest gas taxes

Pritzker scorecard: Illinois’ governor failing on economy, taxes, education

Pritzker to show Democrats how he thinks big about taxes, budgets, deficits

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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