Sexual harassment case against Madigan campaign ends with $275K settlement

By Brad Weisenstein

12/09/2019

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan settled a sexual harassment case involving his former political lieutenant, but the related corruption implications are far from over.

TAGS: #metoo, AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Alaina Hampton, ComEd, Democratic Party, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, federal lawsuit, house rules, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois House of Representatives, Kevin Quinn, Legislative Inspector General, lobbying, Mike Madigan, sexual harrassment, Springfield, Tim Mapes

Income tax hike dropped Illinois’ economic freedom rank, ‘fair tax’ would drop it more

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

11/15/2019

The largest permanent income tax hike in Illinois history was followed by a slide to 34th least-free state in the union, behind nearly every neighboring state.

TAGS: economic freedom, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, pension guarantee, pension spiking, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Pritzker contract gives AFSCME unfettered access to workers’ private information

By Mailee Smith

09/02/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker agreed to a deal with AFSCME Council 31 that threatens the privacy of state workers and violates workers’ rights.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, contract, JB Pritzker, labor

Pritzker signs AFSCME deal costing taxpayers $3.6 billion more than it needed to

By Adam Schuster

08/29/2019

By continuing practices such as automatic raises and taxpayer-subsidized platinum health insurance, along with a new $2,500 bonus, the AFSCME contract will transfer more than $3.6 billion in extra compensation from taxpayers to state workers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, contract, health insurance, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

Unfair big government contracts hurt Illinois’ economy, cut job creation

By Orphe Divounguy, Mailee Smith, Bryce Hill

08/19/2019

Without reforms that level the playing field between the public and private sectors, the cost of Illinois’ public sector workers will continue to damage the state’s labor market, economy and taxpayers.

Thousands of government workers exercise rights in the year after landmark Janus case

By Mailee Smith

06/27/2019

This is the first anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling government employees cannot be forced to pay a union. In that year, about 20,000 workers from just three of Illinois’ public-sector unions have said “no” to union membership.

TAGS: fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor

Pritzker’s AFSCME deal gives 12% automatic raises, $2,500 bonus to state workers

By Adam Schuster

06/26/2019

By continuing practices such as automatic raises and taxpayer-subsidized platinum health insurance, along with a new $2,500 bonus, the AFSCME contract will transfer more than $3.6 billion in additional compensation from taxpayers to state workers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, JB Pritzker, labor, pension guarantee, pensions, state worker pay, taxes

Lightfoot must pursue pension reform, reasonable labor contracts to fix Chicago’s budget

By Bill Reveille

06/17/2019

Persistent budget deficits, enormous and growing pension obligations, a high debt burden and labor contract negotiations all await Lori Lightfoot as she settles into office.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, Chicago City Council, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

Illinois Senate Democrats pass progressive income tax plan, pretend property tax freeze

By Bryce Hill

05/01/2019

The Senate’s progressive tax proposal already differs from Pritzker’s original plan while adding a property tax freeze full of loopholes.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

More than 8,000 Illinois workers have stopped paying AFSCME Council 31

By Mailee Smith

04/29/2019

Thousands of Illinois workers are no longer sending a part of their paycheck to one of the state’s most politically active unions.

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

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees

Sexual harassment case against Madigan campaign ends with $275K settlement

Income tax hike dropped Illinois’ economic freedom rank, ‘fair tax’ would drop it more

Pritzker contract gives AFSCME unfettered access to workers’ private information

Pritzker signs AFSCME deal costing taxpayers $3.6 billion more than it needed to

Unfair big government contracts hurt Illinois’ economy, cut job creation

Thousands of government workers exercise rights in the year after landmark Janus case

Pritzker’s AFSCME deal gives 12% automatic raises, $2,500 bonus to state workers

Lightfoot must pursue pension reform, reasonable labor contracts to fix Chicago’s budget

Illinois Senate Democrats pass progressive income tax plan, pretend property tax freeze

More than 8,000 Illinois workers have stopped paying AFSCME Council 31

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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