Biden promises nearly $36 billion for national pension bailouts

By Patrick Andriesen

12/12/2022

The Biden administration promised nearly $36 billion to stabilize pension plans for Teamsters nationwide after forecasts predicted the system’s default by 2026. Union members would have seen their retirement benefits slashed by 60% if the system defaulted.

TAGS: Joe Biden, pensions

Biden may suspend federal gas tax as Pritzker sets up double hike for 2023

By Dylan Sharkey

06/23/2022

President Biden will call on Congress to suspend the federal gasoline and diesel tax for three months. Instead of suspending it, Gov J.B. Pritzker delayed the next motor fuel tax hike until after the election, hitting Illinois drivers with two hikes in 2023.

TAGS: Amendment 1, gas prices, gas tax, JB Pritzker, Joe Biden, taxes

Biden extends transit mask mandate by 1 month

By Dylan Sharkey

03/11/2022

Travelers on planes, buses and other public transportation will have to stay masked until April 18. The federal mandate was to expire March 18.

TAGS: Amtrak, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, Joe Biden, mask mandate, Metra

Pritzker pressures Biden for tax change worth $2.5 million a year to governor

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

04/23/2021

In a letter to the president, Gov. J.B. Pritzker joined other Democratic governors to urge the removal of the State and Local Tax deduction cap. The move would primarily benefit the wealthy, including Pritzker.

TAGS: income tax, JB Pritzker, Joe Biden, SALT

Biden corporate tax plan would push Illinois rates to No. 5

04/02/2021

Combine the corporate tax rate President Joe Biden wants to fund his infrastructure plan with Illinois’ tax, and the resulting rate would be 35.4% – fifth highest in the nation and second in the Midwest.

TAGS: corporate income tax, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, Joe Biden, small business

Federal stimulus passes with $1,400 for most Illinoisans, $13 B for government

By Patrick Andriesen

03/10/2021

President Joe Biden on Friday is expected to sign the COVID-19 stimulus bill, with direct payments to most Illinoisans and a significant boost to local and state governments. Illinois can use this opportunity to fix state finances.

TAGS: Joe Biden, pensions

Illinois’ U.S. Senators urge Biden to keep public corruption-fighting prosecutor

By Patrick Andriesen

02/11/2021

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke are among the politicians curbed by Chicago’s current U.S. Attorney. A bipartisan group is trying to keep him in place to continue public corruption prosecutions.

TAGS: corruption, Dick Durbin, Joe Biden, John Lausch, madigan, Tammy Duckworth

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Cathy Stuehmeier

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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