26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

By Ravi Mishra

08/11/2025

A $1.12 billion budget gap spurs Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to circulate a menu of 26 tax hikes. Instead of making Chicago even more hostile to taxpayers, he should be looking at budget reforms and ways to stop spending so much.

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

By Tom Viz

08/11/2025

Less than 22% of voters approve of the Chicago Teachers Union. No surprise, considering the scandals and radical dogma pushed by its two top leaders.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

By Paul Vallas

08/11/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is burnishing his national image as a Democratic presidential candidate by inserting himself in the Texas redistricting controversy. But Illinoisans are growing tired of Pritzker and taxation, pushing his favorability rating into the negative.

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

By Ravi Mishra

08/08/2025

As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

By Jerry Barmore

08/07/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker had a chance to stop a bill putting taxpayers on the hook for $11.1 billion in inflated pension benefits for Chicago police and firefighters. He blew it. Taxpayers will be paying the price for decades.

TAGS: Chicago, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions

Illinois housing prices climb, production remains slow

By LyLena Estabine

08/07/2025

June housing production in Illinois continues to lag the rest of the nation, leading to price problems across the state

TAGS: affordable housing

Chicago mayor recycles failed tax idea to fix $1.12B deficit

By Ravi Mishra

08/05/2025

As Chicago faces a major deficit for fiscal year 2026, Mayor Brandon Johnson is considering resurrecting a failed idea that punishes job creation: the corporate head tax.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, head tax

National award recognizes Center for Poverty Solutions’ job co-op

By Eddie Kornegay

08/04/2025

The Illinois Policy Institute’s Center for Poverty Solutions received national backing for a job co-op that will target Chicago’s most beleaguered neighborhoods. The effort will help communities liberate themselves from government dependence.

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

By Patrick Andriesen

08/04/2025

Chicago homicides were at a decade low for the 12 months through June, but also down was the arrest rate from 42% to 27%.

Chicago’s commercial property taxes 2X U.S. city average, kill opportunity

By Cameron Jasper, LyLena Estabine

08/01/2025

Chicago’s high commercial property taxes hurt both businesses and homeowners. The result is less business, fewer jobs and growing inequality across communities.

TAGS: property taxes

Chicago

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

Less than 22% of voters approve of Chicago Teachers Union

Vallas: Pritzker works on national profile as Illinoisans tire of him

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

Illinois housing prices climb, production remains slow

Chicago mayor recycles failed tax idea to fix $1.12B deficit

National award recognizes Center for Poverty Solutions’ job co-op

Chicago homicides lowest in decade, but so is arrest rate

Chicago’s commercial property taxes 2X U.S. city average, kill opportunity

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