Lake Forest city manager outearns all 50 state governors

By Vincent Caruso

03/19/2018

In Illinois, hundreds of municipal workers earn more than every state governor. The city manager of Lake Forest is the second-highest paid city manager in the state.

TAGS: property taxes, salaries, spending

Off the rails: Estimated cost for Lake Forest Amtrak stop has grown by more than 400 percent

By Vincent Caruso

03/12/2018

Efforts to add an Amtrak train stop in Lake Forest have been plagued by a series of setbacks for a project now estimated to cost more than $13.4 million.

TAGS: Amtrak, budget, grants, lobbying

Report: Lake Forest officials squandered $200K on lobbying costs without city approval

By Vincent Caruso

03/02/2018

An independent investigation found nearly $200,000 went toward lobbying the state and federal government for an Amtrak train stop - funds that were spent behind the back of city lawmakers and taxpayers.

TAGS: lobbying

The ‘magic’ of Metra: Higher costs, lower service

By Chris Lentino

12/19/2017

Costs for Metra's administrative workers, including managers, lawyers, accountants and IT specialists went up 54 percent over the last five years.

TAGS: Metra, transportation

Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending

By David Giuliani

05/29/2015

The broken state budget proposed by House Speaker Mike Madigan includes spending on wine production, mosquito abatement and a student newspaper.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan, taxes, waste

Want to fix Illinois’ railroads? Pass workers’ compensation reform first

By Austin Berg

05/24/2015

Illinois spends three times more on workers’ compensation for railroad construction and maintenance than neighboring Indiana.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, jobs, workers compensation

Amtrak: Hardly derailed

By Randal O'Toole

03/02/2015

If Illinois subsidies to Amtrak disappeared tomorrow, barely anyone would notice a difference.

TAGS: Amtrak, budget

Illinois lawmakers hid ObamaCare-related Medicaid spending

By Jonathan Ingram

05/31/2013

If you’re not already disgusted by the budget implementation bill that passed today (shrubbery, Amtrak, grant unaccountability), try this on for size. The General Assembly hid ObamaCare-related Medicaid spending so that it doesn’t show up in the General Revenue Fund budget. A budget amendment hides “all federal matching funds” received to pay Medicaid costs for “individuals eligible for medical...

A Tale of Two Speeches

02/28/2011

Madison and Springfield less than 300 miles apart, yet they couldn't be more different in their approaches to governing.

Propose $2.5 Trillion in Spending Cuts, Check

12/31/2010

Rep. Jim Jordan proposes federal budget cuts which will save $2.5 Trillion over ten years

Amtrak

Lake Forest city manager outearns all 50 state governors

Off the rails: Estimated cost for Lake Forest Amtrak stop has grown by more than 400 percent

Report: Lake Forest officials squandered $200K on lobbying costs without city approval

The ‘magic’ of Metra: Higher costs, lower service

Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending

Want to fix Illinois’ railroads? Pass workers’ compensation reform first

Amtrak: Hardly derailed

Illinois lawmakers hid ObamaCare-related Medicaid spending

A Tale of Two Speeches

Propose $2.5 Trillion in Spending Cuts, Check

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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