CTU’s mayoral candidate lost, and now it won’t deal with the winner

By Mailee Smith

09/25/2019

Chicago Teachers Union backed Toni Preckwinkle for mayor of Chicago, donating nearly $300,000 to her campaign in 2019. But Lori Lightfoot won – and now CTU is threatening to go on strike despite being offered a generous deal.

TAGS: contract, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Lori Lightfoot, strike, Toni Preckwinkle, unions

Teacher strike easiest in Chicago among 10 largest U.S. school districts

By Mailee Smith

09/24/2019

Teacher strikes are illegal in 8 of the top 10 largest school districts in the nation. Maybe that’s why a third Chicago Teachers Union strike in seven years looms.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Lightfoot looks to Springfield for more taxing power on high-end services, home sales

By Vincent Caruso

08/23/2019

Chicago’s mayor wants permission from Springfield to impose a new tax on high-end professional services and raise taxes on pricier home sales, as the city faces down a $1 billion deficit.

TAGS: Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, real estate, service tax, taxes

Chicago defends title of highest sales tax rate in the nation

08/14/2019

Chicago is tied with two other cities for the highest sales tax rates for a major U.S. city, adding another superlative for taxation of residents and visitors.

TAGS: Chicago, sales tax, taxes

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/04/2019

Chicago is the most corrupt city, and Illinois the second-most corrupt state, in the nation, according to a recent report by the University of Illinois at Chicago. But corruption in Illinois is more than a buzzword. It comes with social and economic costs. Not only does corruption lessen residents’ faith in the government, it decreases...

Gas tax hike moves Illinois’ pain at the pump to No. 3 in U.S.

By Adam Schuster

07/26/2019

Data from the American Petroleum Institute confirms doubling Illinois’ motor fuel tax will bring total taxes paid at the pump to third highest in the nation, up from 10th highest a year earlier.

TAGS: budget, capital project, gas tax, JB Pritzker, taxes

Illinois bill would allow fast-food restaurants to accept food stamps

By Brad Weisenstein

07/19/2019

Homeless, disabled and elderly Illinoisans who can’t easily cook a meal could get help by using food stamps at fast-food restaurants.

TAGS: food stamps, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Tom Demmer

Illinois state lawmakers among highest paid in nation

07/16/2019

The Illinois General Assembly passed budget that included a $1,600 pay raise for state lawmakers, who already rank among the nation’s highest paid.

TAGS: budget, lawmaker pay, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, taxes

Illinois’ rich millennials are moving to other states

06/23/2019

Youthful wealth, energy and talent that could help Illinois recover is leaving the state at the nation’s second-highest rate. State leaders’ thirst for new taxes will make the problem worse.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, jobs, millennials, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Illinoisans will see state gas tax double starting July 1

By Austin Berg

06/02/2019

Illinoisans will pay more for gas, vehicle registration, cigarettes and parking after a bipartisan vote for $45 billion in new capital spending.

TAGS: cigarette tax, gas tax, JB Pritzker, parking tax, taxes, vehicle registration

California

CTU’s mayoral candidate lost, and now it won’t deal with the winner

Teacher strike easiest in Chicago among 10 largest U.S. school districts

Lightfoot looks to Springfield for more taxing power on high-end services, home sales

Chicago defends title of highest sales tax rate in the nation

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

Gas tax hike moves Illinois’ pain at the pump to No. 3 in U.S.

Illinois bill would allow fast-food restaurants to accept food stamps

Illinois state lawmakers among highest paid in nation

Illinois’ rich millennials are moving to other states

Illinoisans will see state gas tax double starting July 1

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

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