Comptroller halts funding for state IT modernization program

03/15/2017

Illinois Comptroller Susana Mendoza is suspending funding for a technology initiative Gov. Bruce Rauner has said would save taxpayer money and promote efficiency, data security and transparency in state government.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois Comptroller, Susana Mendoza

Fact-checking Rahm: Students have been leaving Illinois for at least 15 years

By Madelyn Harwood

03/13/2017

Uncertainty about skyrocketing tuition costs, rising taxes, and other factors are the likeliest culprits of Illinois’ student out-migration crisis.

TAGS: Chicago, education, outmigration, population, Rahm Emanuel

AFSCME’s battle with Rauner is far from over

By Mailee Smith

03/09/2017

An Illinois appellate court ruled in favor of AFSCME March 1, but that isn’t the end of the court battle between the state and its largest government-worker union. The court’s order to prevent the governor from implementing his contract offer is temporary, and there is much more to come.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, labor, unions

Illinois Medicaid expansion costs are already double initial projections

By Jonathan Ingram

03/09/2017

Between 2014 and 2016, Illinois’ Medicaid expansion cost $4.6 billion more than its supporters had forecasted, crowding out services for Illinois’ most vulnerable residents.

TAGS: budget, health care, Medicaid

Sugary drink tax would be a bitter pill to swallow

By Austin Berg

03/09/2017

Illinois holds more than $66 million worth of stocks and bonds in PepsiCo, Coca Cola and Dr. Pepper Snapple alone.

TAGS: budget, grand bargain, soda tax, taxes

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

03/09/2017

Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan, regulations

Rivian Automotive gets $49.5 million in state tax credits for 1,000 jobs over 10 years

By Brendan Bakala

03/08/2017

The car manufacturer is promising to bring more than 1,000 jobs to Normal, Ill., after being offered $49.5 million in state tax credits and more in local tax credits and abatements.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, cronyism, DCEO: Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, jobs, manufacturing, tax credits

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

By Chris Lentino

03/06/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has suggested funding CPS with tax increment financing, or TIF, funds; this would temporarily bail out the district, but more needs to be done to address serious concerns about Chicago’s TIF program.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Christine Radogno, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year

By Michael Lucci

03/06/2017

A golden rule of finance is this: Debt that can’t be paid won’t be paid.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, pensions

Taxpayers lose first round to AFSCME in appellate court

By Mailee Smith

03/03/2017

An Illinois appellate court issued an order on March 1 preventing Gov. Bruce Rauner from implementing his contract offer to AFSCME, the union that represents approximately 35,000 state workers. That means the state and Illinois taxpayers will continue to lose millions of dollars a month while the case proceeds.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bruce Rauner, labor, Roberta Lynch, unions

Bruce Rauner

Comptroller halts funding for state IT modernization program

Fact-checking Rahm: Students have been leaving Illinois for at least 15 years

AFSCME’s battle with Rauner is far from over

Illinois Medicaid expansion costs are already double initial projections

Sugary drink tax would be a bitter pill to swallow

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

Rivian Automotive gets $49.5 million in state tax credits for 1,000 jobs over 10 years

Rauner memo: Use TIF funds to save Chicago Public Schools

Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year

Taxpayers lose first round to AFSCME in appellate court

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