When Illinois politicians call taxes ‘temporary’ or ‘fair,’ they won’t be

09/16/2020

Illinois lawmakers make many promises about tax increases. Then they break those promises.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

62 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions

06/05/2020

Illinois’ broken pension system puts $100,000 a year or more into the hands of 62 former state lawmakers. It has paid more than $1 million to 94 of them.

TAGS: Arthur L. Berman, Barbara Flynn Currie, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, Jim Edgar, lawmaker pay, Lou Lang, Pat Quinn, pensions

5 broken tax promises show why Illinois voters distrust Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’

By Adam Schuster

11/03/2019

From the lottery, to the tollway, to two “temporary” income tax hikes, Illinois politicians have a history of broken promises about how they tax and spend residents’ money.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, lottery, progressive income tax, tollway

Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate

By Austin Berg

11/27/2018

After unanimous approval from the Illinois House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate has remained conspicuously silent on a bill meant to address one man’s dominance of a little-known network of government authorities.

TAGS: Andrew Hamilton, Bruce Rauner, corruption, good government, Illinois Senate

Madigan’s money: AFSCME spending trail reveals extensive and hidden political activity

By Mailee Smith, Joe Tabor

11/01/2018

AFSCME Council 31, its PAC and AFSCME headquarters are major political players, funneling millions of dollars every year to Democrats or self-proclaimed progressive organizations.

53 representatives sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

By Chris Lentino

09/06/2018

Taxpayers across Illinois oppose a progressive tax but many state lawmakers still refuse to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.

TAGS: graduated income tax, income tax, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, taxes

Madigan re-elected chairman of Illinois Democratic Party

By Austin Berg

04/23/2018

The longtime House speaker is the only state legislative leader in the nation to also serve as a party chairman.

TAGS: Democrats, house rules, Mike Madigan

Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery

By Orphe Divounguy

01/24/2018

Illinois will not diverge from its path of poor growth until lawmakers realize the failures of recent tax hikes.

TAGS: GDP: gross domestic product, income tax, investment, taxes

Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike

By Orphe Divounguy, Austin Berg, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

01/22/2018

Illinois' jobs growth trailed that of the nation during the first half of 2017, then slowed to a halt in the wake of the General Assembly's record-breaking tax hike.

TAGS: income tax, jobs, property taxes, taxes, unemployment

Currie to receive 6-figure pension after first year of retirement

By Austin Berg

09/21/2017

The longtime House majority leader will benefit from a sweetener provision that grants massive pension spikes to career lawmakers after one year of retirement.

TAGS: Barbara Flynn Currie, pensions

Barbara Flynn Currie

When Illinois politicians call taxes ‘temporary’ or ‘fair,’ they won’t be

62 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions

5 broken tax promises show why Illinois voters distrust Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’

Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate

Madigan’s money: AFSCME spending trail reveals extensive and hidden political activity

53 representatives sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

Madigan re-elected chairman of Illinois Democratic Party

Land of lagging: Illinois’ sluggish economy and lawmakers’ tax hike treachery

Illinoisans saw jobs growth plummet after 2017 tax hike

Currie to receive 6-figure pension after first year of retirement

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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