Bill to honor Barack Obama’s birthday headed to Gov. Rauner

By Brendan Bakala

05/19/2017

Illinois Senate Bill 55 would observe former President Barack Obama’s Aug. 4 birthday, but keep state facilities open.

Cullerton bill takes wrong approach to Illinois pension reform

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/19/2017

Illinois Senate President John Cullerton’s pension bill could be unconstitutional, is unfair to workers and based on unproven math, and perpetuates Illinois’ broken pension system.

TAGS: Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, pensions

6 key reasons to say ‘no’ to Flynn Currie pension bill in the Illinois House

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/17/2017

Illinois state Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie has introduced a pension bill that is unfair to new and current workers, is potentially unconstitutional, bails out Chicago Public Schools’ pensions, and perpetuates Illinois’ broken pension system.

TAGS: Barbara Flynn Currie, budget, Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, Jim Durkin, pensions

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

By Madelyn Harwood

05/17/2017

By fixing cost drivers, decreasing the cost of doing business in Illinois, and easing the tax burden, Illinois can encourage jobs growth and stand a better chance at attracting and retaining younger people.

Illinois senator’s proposal offers pension reform through 401(k)-style plans

By Ted Dabrowski

05/11/2017

State Sen. Dale Righter, R-Mattoon, has proposed a plan that would give all state workers access to retirement plans that offer portability and flexibility – and an escape from Illinois’ broken pension system.

TAGS: Dale Righter, pensions, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Illinois gave Glassdoor more than $6M in tax breaks in 2016

By Brendan Bakala

05/05/2017

Glassdoor agreed to three sets of hiring dates in 2016, 2017 and 2018 in which the job-finding website would hire 240 new employees.

TAGS: cronyism, tax credits

Capital One received more than $20 million in tax breaks from Illinois in 2015

By Brendan Bakala

05/02/2017

The state agreed to the tax credits in exchange for Capital One hiring 210 new employees and retaining 900.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Business and Employment Development Tax Credit Act, cronyism, Illinois Chamber of Commerce, jobs, Michael Zalewski, Mike Madigan, Natalie Manley, Pam Althoff, tax credits, Transforming Helping and Reviving Illinois’ Versatile Economy

EDGE tax credit program expires, but extension passes Illinois House

By Brendan Bakala

05/01/2017

Illinois’ EDGE tax credit program expired April 30; however, proponents of EDGE have passed a one-month extension in the Illinois House of Representatives.

TAGS: David McSweeney, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Mark Batinick, Natalie Manley, Scott Drury, tax credits

Union representing Illinois state nurses has a history of prioritizing union jobs at all costs

By Mailee Smith

04/28/2017

Privatizing some medical services provided to inmates in the Illinois Department of Corrections could potentially save the state $8 million a year. But the Illinois Nurses Association has a history of doing all it can to keep taxpayers on the hook for that money – and for union jobs that might not even be necessary.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, IDOC: Illinois Department of Corrections, INA: Illinois Nurses Association, labor, unions

Federal investigation exposes Madigan patronage

By Austin Berg

04/27/2017

With House Speaker Mike Madigan’s longevity comes a patronage army paid with public dollars.

TAGS: corruption, Frank Mautino, Metra, Mike Madigan, patronage, Richard Daley, Rod Blagojevich

Bruce Rauner

Bill to honor Barack Obama’s birthday headed to Gov. Rauner

Cullerton bill takes wrong approach to Illinois pension reform

6 key reasons to say ‘no’ to Flynn Currie pension bill in the Illinois House

Illinois’ youth problem: More millennials left Illinois than any other age demographic from 2011 through 2014

Illinois senator’s proposal offers pension reform through 401(k)-style plans

Illinois gave Glassdoor more than $6M in tax breaks in 2016

Capital One received more than $20 million in tax breaks from Illinois in 2015

EDGE tax credit program expires, but extension passes Illinois House

Union representing Illinois state nurses has a history of prioritizing union jobs at all costs

Federal investigation exposes Madigan patronage

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