Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2018

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. The Land of Lincoln, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, soda tax, taxes

Free beer: How Illinois could become the country’s craft capital

By Austin Berg

08/16/2018

State lawmakers should seize the momentum in Illinois. Let your people brew. And transport. And sell.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, craft beer, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Rauner signs bill lifting restrictions on craft breweries

By Vincent Caruso

08/13/2018

Laws barring taprooms from serving hard cider – and craft beer produced by other breweries – are among the regulations bounced by House Bill 4897.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Bruce Rauner, craft beer, Jason Barickman, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Rauner signs bill relaxing outdated liquor license restrictions

By Joe Barnas

08/03/2018

Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Senate Bill 2436 on Aug. 2, a move that will increase local control over liquor licensure.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Bruce Rauner, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Bottle racket: Illinois’ high alcohol taxes boost cost of Independence Day celebrations

By Joe Barnas, Eddie Damstra

07/03/2018

The Land of Lincoln has some of the highest alcohol taxes in the Midwest. And Illinoisans preparing for Independence Day are feeling the pinch.

TAGS: alcohol tax, craft beer, liquor laws, taxes

Bill amending prohibitive liquor licensing law goes to governor’s desk

By Joe Barnas

06/04/2018

The measure would relax statewide restrictions on liquor licensure and encourage local control.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, licensing, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, small business

Belleville City Council to consider fee hikes

By Austin Berg

03/03/2018

Some businesses would see license fees double, among other fee hikes meant to shore up city finances.

TAGS: Belleville, fees, licensing, liquor laws, taxes

General Assembly overrides governor’s veto, granting 1 Chicago business an exemption from state liquor law

By Vincent Caruso

02/14/2018

State lawmakers passed into law a bill that exempts a single Chicago performance hall from a provision in Illinois state liquor law, overriding Gov. Bruce Rauner's veto. This practice of granting piecemeal exemptions is commonplace but cumbersome.

TAGS: John Cullerton, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws

Interstate shipping ban chills Illinois wine business, ices out wine consumers

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2017

Prohibition died in 1933, but alcohol-related cronyism is alive and well.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Chicago, liquor laws, regulations

Alcohol bill aimed to help special interests, further status quo

By Joe Kaiser

04/10/2017

An amendment to Illinois’ longstanding Liquor Control Act creates curious guidelines that seem likely to favor a few specific Chicago businesses, while keeping the status quo intact for the rest.

TAGS: Beer Industry Fair Dealing Act, Frank Mautino, James Clayborne, Juliana Stratton, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois, Wine and Spirits Fair Dealing Act

Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

Gov. J.B. Pritzker inherited a $2.8 billion budget deficit the moment he stepped into office. Next year, that deficit is projected to be $3.4 billion1. It’s the same story every budget season. But Illinois’ budget crises could be a thing of the past if the state would adopt pension reform, right-size its union contracts and...

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Budget Solutions 2020: A 5-year plan to balance Illinois’ budget, pay off debt and cut taxes

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Tracy Ross

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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