Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break

By Brendan Bakala

04/07/2017

Under a 2015 agreement between the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and The Advisory Board Co., the state gave a tax credit worth millions of dollars in exchange for 55 jobs.

TAGS: DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, tax credits, taxes

Illinois has hurt its economy by piling on taxes since the Great Recession

By Michael Lucci

03/27/2017

State and local tax hikes in Illinois have hurt economic growth, lowered the standard of living, and contributed to out-migration.

TAGS: Great Recession, income tax, jobs, outmigration, taxes

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

03/22/2017

Proposed legislation to commemorate former President Barack Obama’s birthday as a state holiday in Illinois would have cost taxpayers nearly $20 million in state personnel expenses and lost productivity.

TAGS: Barack Obama, Deb Conroy, Fred Crespo, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois House of Representatives, Martin Moylan, Michelle Mussman, Stephanie Kifowit, Sue Scherer

Leaked Clinton emails display Madigan’s power ahead of documentary release

By Austin Berg

10/14/2016

Madigan rules Illinois with an iron grip. And failure to follow through on a favor can come with dire consequences.

TAGS: Chicago, Hillary Clinton, Mike Madigan, Wikileaks

Illinois Department of Insurance: Premiums for plans on ObamaCare exchange set to skyrocket

By Jonathan Ingram

08/25/2016

New data released by the Illinois Department of Insurance reveal premiums for health insurance plans on Illinois’ ObamaCare exchange could soar by an average of 44 to 55 percent in 2017.

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, health insurance

Illinois tax hikes harm family incomes and stunt economic growth

By Michael Lucci

07/21/2016

Politicians’ quick answer to the state’s problems is consistently to raise taxes, but evidence shows tax hikes are a negative for families struggling in a state already lacking opportunity.

TAGS: corporate income tax, income tax, jobs, millionaire tax, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

An Illinois workers’ compensation system for the 21st century

By Mark Adams

07/15/2016

The state of Illinois has one of the oldest workers’ compensation systems in America, dating to 1911.

Madigan’s plan: Reduce wages and standard of living for Illinois’ middle class

By Michael Lucci

07/07/2016

Madigan’s stated concern for the middle class rings hollow given that his own plan to boost the state’s fiscal health consists solely of income-tax increases, which would directly reduce the wages and standard of living for Illinoisans.

TAGS: income tax, jobs, Mike Madigan, taxes

May Corruption Watch

06/03/2016

May’s corruption headlines show the steep cost nontransparent government can have on taxpayers.

TAGS: corruption, good government

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

04/04/2016

Several instances of corruption and mismanagement of public property and trust came to light in March and included new developments in cases involving Chicago Public Schools’ former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

TAGS: corruption

Barack Obama

Illinois gives The Advisory Board Co. a $2.6M tax break

Illinois has hurt its economy by piling on taxes since the Great Recession

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

Leaked Clinton emails display Madigan’s power ahead of documentary release

Illinois Department of Insurance: Premiums for plans on ObamaCare exchange set to skyrocket

Illinois tax hikes harm family incomes and stunt economic growth

An Illinois workers’ compensation system for the 21st century

Madigan’s plan: Reduce wages and standard of living for Illinois’ middle class

May Corruption Watch

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

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