Day 2: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 23 minutes

By Eric Kohn

06/22/2017

Less than 43 minutes of work over two days has cost Illinois taxpayers $100,000.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, special session

Illinois lawmakers vote to rename a portion of Roosevelt Road ‘Muhammad Ali Road’

By John Kristof

06/22/2017

Instead of working to pass a budget, House representatives passed a nonbinding resolution to rename a portion of Roosevelt Road on the boundary line of Chicago and Cicero.

TAGS: Chicago, Muhammad Ali Road

Madigan dupes another governor

By Austin Berg

06/22/2017

Madigan has stared down Gov. Bruce Rauner for more than 700 days and Rauner just blinked.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, income tax, Mike Madigan, taxes

Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session in under 10 minutes

By Robert Brutvan

06/21/2017

The Illinois House of Representatives met for about seven minutes, and the Senate met for approximately 10 minutes on June 21 before adjourning from special session – costing Illinois taxpayers $50,000 for less than 20 minutes of work.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Special session will cost taxpayers $50,000 per day

06/21/2017

The cost of getting lawmakers to Springfield alone will run taxpayers $21,000 per day.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, lawmaker pay

Illinois’ unpaid bill backlog grows to more than $15B

By Marianna Schmiesing

06/20/2017

The state’s backlog of unpaid bills is expected to reach $22.7 billion if Illinois goes a third fiscal year without a budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, unpaid bills

Amazon may employ 8,000 people in Illinois by end of 2018

By Brendan Bakala

06/16/2017

The Romeoville fulfillment center is one of several Illinois facilities Amazon has opened or plans to open in the coming years. For some of those locations, Amazon has signed deals with the state of Illinois worth tens of millions in potential tax credits.

TAGS: Amazon, jobs, tax credits

Northern Illinois University president to receive $600K severance package amid patronage scandal

By Austin Berg

06/16/2017

Administrative costs at Illinois universities have spun out of control. The latest example comes as the Northern Illinois University Board of Trustees voted to approve a $600,000 golden parachute for President Doug Baker.

TAGS: corruption, Doug Baker, higher education, NIU: Northern Illinois University

Michigan introduces 401(k)-style plan for teachers

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/16/2017

With the successful passage of 401(k)-style pension reform in Michigan’s state legislature, Illinois lawmakers should examine their own growing pension crisis and pursue bolder reforms to stabilize the state’s finances.

TAGS: 401(k), Michigan, pensions

What’s a junk bond and why Illinois will be America’s first “junk” state

By Michael Lucci

06/16/2017

Illinois’ bonds are currently priced like they are junk-rated.

TAGS: bonds, budget, credit rating, general obligation bonds

Bruce Rauner

Day 2: Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session after only 23 minutes

Illinois lawmakers vote to rename a portion of Roosevelt Road ‘Muhammad Ali Road’

Madigan dupes another governor

Illinois House and Senate adjourn special session in under 10 minutes

Special session will cost taxpayers $50,000 per day

Illinois’ unpaid bill backlog grows to more than $15B

Amazon may employ 8,000 people in Illinois by end of 2018

Northern Illinois University president to receive $600K severance package amid patronage scandal

Michigan introduces 401(k)-style plan for teachers

What’s a junk bond and why Illinois will be America’s first “junk” state

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