Patronage hires lead to federal oversight of Cook County Clerk’s office

04/22/2020

An illegal patronage operation brought on federal oversight when Karen Yarbrough was Cook County’s recorder of deeds. It’s happened again to her as county clerk.

TAGS: Cook County Clerk, corruption, ethics violation, Mike Madigan, patronage

Illinois spent $17 million on masks from China that may be unusable

04/22/2020

The state is attempting to shore up its supply of personal protection equipment, but received millions of masks the state health department recommended only using in a crisis.

TAGS: China, coronavirus, COVID-19, Donald Trump, JB Pritzker

‘Fair tax’ paves the way to taxing retirement income in Illinois

By Adam Schuster

04/15/2020

By granting broad new taxing authority to Springfield, the progressive income tax amendment makes a retirement income tax much more likely – a fact some supporters have acknowledged publicly.

TAGS: fair tax, outmigration, progressive income tax, retirement tax

Proposal would cut pay for Chicago politicians to fund coronavirus response

By Austin Berg

03/24/2020

One Chicago alderman is calling for the city’s 53 elected officials to forfeit their six-figure salaries for 15 days.

TAGS: Chicago, coronavirus, COVID-19, lawmaker pay, Ray Lopez

Illinois unemployment claims jump by 64K as COVID-19 closes businesses

By Brad Weisenstein

03/20/2020

Unemployment claims spiked this week as Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker ordered bars and restaurants to halt dine-in service, the service industry took major hits and large gatherings were banned to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, jobs, unemployment

Chinatown developer who recorded Madigan, Solis charged with fraud

03/18/2020

The developer’s recordings helped federal investigators charge Chicago Ald. Ed Burke and deepened the investigation into Illinois state corruption.

TAGS: corruption, Danny Solis, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, fraud, Mike Madigan

Illinois mistakenly lists over 1,000 voters as not registered

03/17/2020

This revelation is the third mistake involving the Illinois Secretary of State concerning voter registration since January.

TAGS: election, Illinois Secretary of State, Illinois State Board of Elections, primary, REAL ID

Bill proposes to tie Illinois state spending to what taxpayers can afford

03/06/2020

Lawmakers routinely spend faster than taxpayers’ incomes grow. A new bill would put Illinois with the majority of states that limit taxes or spending.

TAGS: borrowing, budget, constitutional amendment, deficit, government spending, pensions, spending cap, tax increase

Illinois House passes bill to tear down nearly 100 red-light cameras

02/26/2020

A proposal to limit red-light cameras in Illinois is making significant progress.

TAGS: corruption, David McSweeney, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Jonathan Carroll, Martin Sandoval, Mattie Hunter, red light cameras, SafeSpeed

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

By Brad Weisenstein

02/21/2020

Federal investigators are seeking records from a small village near Chicago. The subpoena names Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan, his political lieutenants and former ComEd lobbyists.

TAGS: Chicago, Commonwealth Edison, conflict of interest, corruption, ethics, FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, IRS: Internal Revenue Service, Kevin Quinn, Marty Quinn, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, revolving door, Timothy Mapes

Chicago Sun-Times

Patronage hires lead to federal oversight of Cook County Clerk’s office

Illinois spent $17 million on masks from China that may be unusable

‘Fair tax’ paves the way to taxing retirement income in Illinois

Proposal would cut pay for Chicago politicians to fund coronavirus response

Illinois unemployment claims jump by 64K as COVID-19 closes businesses

Chinatown developer who recorded Madigan, Solis charged with fraud

Illinois mistakenly lists over 1,000 voters as not registered

Bill proposes to tie Illinois state spending to what taxpayers can afford

Illinois House passes bill to tear down nearly 100 red-light cameras

Records involving Madigan sought by federal probe into southwest Chicago suburb

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