Working mom: Pritzker gas tax ploy assumes Illinoisans ‘stupid’

By Ann Miller

05/06/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s campaign gimmick to delay his next gas tax increase assumes Illinois drivers have a short memory. One working mom says her $72 fill-up is a regular reminder of just how many taxes Pritzker has imposed.

TAGS: gas prices, gas station, gas tax, JB Pritzker, pensions, taxes

Illinois college students pay 49% higher tuition to prop up massive pension spending

By Patrick Andriesen

04/25/2022

Illinois spends 27% less on higher education than it did in 2007. University pension spending grew by 510% in that time. It doesn’t take a math major to see why tuition has increased 49%.

TAGS: college tuition, pensions, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Chicago ex-alderman charged with bribery might keep pension

By Ann Miller, Justin Carlson

04/22/2022

Ex-Alderman Danny Solis handed federal prosecutors the top politicians in Chicago and the Statehouse to get out of bribery charges. His deal could let him keep his pension – a ploy too common in Illinois as voters consider Amendment 1’s potential for protecting pension abuse.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, Danny Solis, pensions

Illinois House bill would jeopardize Madigan’s $151K pension

By Dylan Sharkey

04/04/2022

A new bill in the Illinois House calls for suspending the pensions for legislators facing corruption charges. Former House Speaker Michael Madigan, recently indicted for racketeering and bribery, is set to collect $12,600 per month starting in July.

TAGS: corruption, Mike Madigan, pensions

Experts: Illinois lawmakers wrong to back 80% funding level for pensions

By Adam Schuster, Austin Atterbury-Kiernan

04/01/2022

Illinois’ 90% funding target already violates best practices, but some have proposed going even lower. That’s a bad idea based on a myth, according to the American Academy of Actuaries.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions

Bill to boost Chicago police pensions would cost taxpayers $3 billion

By Adam Schuster, Austin Atterbury-Kiernan

03/09/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a bill to boost Chicago firefighter cost-of-living increases last year, costing taxpayers $850 million. Despite Mayor Lori Lightfoot calling it “irresponsible,” a new bill would do the same for city police at more than triple the cost.

TAGS: Chicago, FOP: Fraternal Order of Police, pensions

Chicago pension debt drove city property taxes up 164% before COVID-19

By Adam Schuster

02/28/2022

City property taxes rose 30% faster than in suburban Cook County from 2000 to 2019. Record inflation in 2022 will bring increases statewide in 2023.

TAGS: Chicago, Illinois, pensions, property taxes

Illinois taxpayers pay nearly 78% of state health insurance

By Dylan Sharkey

02/09/2022

Amendment 1 would stop voters and lawmakers from curbing government unions’ ability to demand more from taxpayers, including platinum health insurance the average Illinoisan doesn’t enjoy.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Illinois, pensions

How to eliminate Illinois’ pension debt without hurting retirees

By Dylan Sharkey

02/09/2022

Illinois lawmakers haven’t taken up pension legislation in nearly a decade. It’s time to give voters a chance to fix the problem driving state fiscal woes. A constitutional amendment can fix the unsustainable public pension systems.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions, Tier 3

Chicago’s $43,100 debt per taxpayer driven by pension debt

By Justin Carlson

02/08/2022

Fiscal watchdog Truth in Accounting again gave an ‘F’ grade to Chicago, thanks to high debt driven by unsustainable pension costs. Fixing the problem will take amending the Illinois Constitution.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, pensions