Illinois tops neighboring states with $10 minimum wage on July 1

06/29/2020

Illinois’ second minimum wage increase this year is part of a plan to hit $15 an hour in 2025. Small businesses face tough decisions on cutting staff or raising prices.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, minimum wage, recession

Blame Illinois exodus on jobs, housing, tax policy

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

06/25/2020

Census data shows who is fleeing Illinoisans and why. Here’s why you should care.

TAGS: jobs, outmigration, population, tax burden

5 reasons why Illinois’ latest spending plan insults taxpayers

By Adam Schuster

05/29/2020

Lawmakers made no serious attempt to balance the new budget, instead counting on a federal bailout. They accepted an $1,800 raise for themselves, while only making significant cuts to education.

TAGS: budget, government spending, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, special session

Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

05/22/2020

Illinois was ranked as the most restrictive state in the U.S. in a survey of COVID-19 actions that impact everyday life.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order

Pritzker gives stay-at-home order for Illinois, in effect until April 7

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker on March 20 ordered state residents to stay home except for essential workers and trips for supplies. The order came as Illinois recorded its fifth death and 585 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, JB Pritzker

Illinois expected to join California, New York with ‘shelter-in-place’ order

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to issue the order beginning Saturday to contain spread of COVID-19.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19

Champaign City Council gives mayor power to impose curfew, seize private property

By Vincent Caruso

03/13/2020

Water rationing and forced business closures were among a litany of emergency powers the city council granted Champaign’s mayor and city manager in response to the global health crisis.

TAGS: ban, Champaign, coronavirus, COVID-19, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t

By Austin Berg

02/28/2020

There’s no doubt: the county taxed soda more, so people bought less of it. It’s a simple lesson. So why doesn’t Springfield get it?

TAGS: Cook County, home price index, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, soda tax, tax burden, Toni Preckwinkle

Illinois wastes taxes supporting too many school district bureaucracies

By Adam Schuster

02/25/2020

Illinois could put $708 million more toward classrooms or property tax relief if it reduced school district bureaucracy to national average.

TAGS: administrative bloat, consolidation, education bureaucracy, education spending, Rita Mayfield, school district efficiency

Illinois Senate bill would ban gas-powered leaf blowers

By Vincent Caruso, Austin Berg

02/25/2020

A recent proposal to ban Illinois retailers from selling gas-powered leaf blowers and penalize Illinoisans for using them would hurt small businesses.

TAGS: economic freedom, job creation, leaf blower ban, paternalism, regulations, small business

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Illinois tops neighboring states with $10 minimum wage on July 1

Blame Illinois exodus on jobs, housing, tax policy

5 reasons why Illinois’ latest spending plan insults taxpayers

Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

Pritzker gives stay-at-home order for Illinois, in effect until April 7

Illinois expected to join California, New York with ‘shelter-in-place’ order

Champaign City Council gives mayor power to impose curfew, seize private property

Why the soda tax ‘worked’ and the progressive tax won’t

Illinois wastes taxes supporting too many school district bureaucracies

Illinois Senate bill would ban gas-powered leaf blowers

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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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