If Illinois could have reduced corruption to the national average, an estimated 79,000 fewer people would be living in poverty, according to an analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute. State lawmakers can help by passing ethics reforms.

TAGS: corruption, economy, ethics reform, Illinois, income inequality, poverty

4 lessons Illinois should learn from Connecticut’s ‘fair tax’ failure

By Vincent Caruso

03/11/2019

Only one state has switched its income tax structure from flat to progressive in the past 30 years. Its disastrous results may explain why.

TAGS: Connecticut, fair tax, income inequality, income tax, JB Pritzker, poverty, progressive income tax, taxes

Progressively worse: Pritzker’s tax push has a dangerous precedent

By Austin Berg

03/07/2019

The last state to take Pritzker’s path should serve as a bright red flag to Illinoisans weighing whether to back him.

TAGS: Connecticut, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, poverty, progressive income tax, taxes, unemployment

Progressive income taxes don’t reduce income inequality

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

03/05/2019

Despite Illinois’ governor’s claims, states with progressive income taxes face greater gaps between rich and poor.

TAGS: income inequality, income tax, JB Pritzker, poverty, progressive income tax, taxes

Front lines of a broken state

By Austin Berg

10/30/2015

What happens to a family that can’t afford to leave Illinois?

TAGS: jobs, poverty, unemployment

Illinois’ warped welfare system traps families in poverty

By Austin Berg

06/20/2015

A new report from the Illinois Policy Institute details an insidious poverty trap created by the “welfare cliff.”

TAGS: poverty, welfare

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

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Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

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Allan Luzbetak

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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