Pritzker lifts 10-person limit on religious gatherings after facing legal pressure

By Joe Barnas

05/29/2020

After being asked by the U.S. Supreme Court to reply to religious groups’ objections, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced he was ending the 10-person limit on religious gatherings.

TAGS: IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, JB Pritzker, stay at home order, U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court decision opens door for repeal of obscure Illinois tax

By Adam Schuster, Travis Nix

06/23/2018

Illinois is expected to raise an additional $200 million in sales tax revenue due to changes in the new state budget and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. Lawmakers should offset this expansion of the sales tax by ending a $200 million harmful tax on business investment.

TAGS: franchise tax, sales tax, taxes, U.S. Supreme Court

US Supreme Court ruling means Illinois could legalize sports betting

By Vincent Caruso

05/15/2018

A decisive opinion issued by the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a 1992 ban on sports gambling, putting the ball in Springfield’s court.

TAGS: gambling, gaming, Lou Lang, Napoleon Harris, Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, sports betting, sports gambling, Steve Stadelman, U.S. Supreme Court

Janus v. AFSCME: A new era of freedom for government workers on the line

By Mailee Smith

05/04/2018

The Janus case could mean the restoration of government workers’ constitutional right to free speech.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor, U.S. Supreme Court, unions

U.S. Supreme Court agrees to take up Wisconsin gerrymandering case

By Marianna Schmiesing

08/03/2017

Illinois’ election districts heavily dilute suburban vote.

TAGS: election, fair maps, gerrymandering, independent maps, U.S. Supreme Court, Wisconsin

Illinois state worker case could bring Right to Work to public sector workers in all 50 states

By Mailee Smith

06/06/2017

The public employees in Janus v. AFSCME have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the state of Illinois from forcing workers to pay union fees as a condition of government employment.

TAGS: labor, right to work, U.S. Supreme Court, unions

Supreme Court to rule on the proper reading of ObamaCare

By Jeffrey Schwab

03/05/2015

The fact that the government does not like the consequences of its actions is not a reason to ignore the clear meaning of the text of the Affordable Care Act.

TAGS: King v. Burwell, U.S. Supreme Court

ObamaCare: The year ahead

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

01/02/2015

The Affordable Care Act is headed back to the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015.

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, health care, U.S. Supreme Court

IL Supreme Court expedites pension battle

By Benjamin VanMetre

12/12/2014

The expedited hearing is good news. It means the state will know specifically what it can do to address its $111 billion unfunded pension debt sooner rather than later.

TAGS: pensions, Senate Bill 1, U.S. Supreme Court

Illinois Supreme Court dismisses challenge to red-light cameras

By Bryant Jackson-Green

11/24/2014

In a strange turn of events, the Illinois Supreme Court on Nov. 20 dismissed a challenge to Chicago’s red-light camera program.

TAGS: U.S. Supreme Court

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s power over Illinois politics is more precarious than ever. A steady stream of federal investigations, wiretaps and raids of people close to him, a deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison wherein the utility giant admitted to bribing the speaker, and a grand jury subpoena served to Madigan’s office have led...

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To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

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Craig Richardson: Batter & Berries

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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