Taxpayer victory: General Assembly passes bill restricting golden parachutes for government officials

By Vincent Caruso, Chris Lentino

05/29/2018

Senate Bill 3604 would limit government workers’ ability to collect extravagant severance packages, also known as “golden parachutes,” on their way out of office.

TAGS: Alex Clifford, College of DuPage, Doug Baker, Metra, NIU: Northern Illinois University, pensions, Robert Breuder, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Property-tax-for-pensions plan would pummel Illinois homeowners

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

05/25/2018

With one proposal to pay off Illinois’ pension debt asking the typical homeowner to pay more than $1,900 in additional property taxes for the next 30 years, the stakes for pension reform have never been clearer.

In a shrinking state, Census sheds light on struggling cities

By Austin Berg

05/24/2018

When people can’t find good job opportunities in Illinois, they are too often forced to leave. And to take their place, too few have enough confidence in the state to move in from elsewhere and build a future.

TAGS: Belleville, Decatur, jobs, outmigration, progressive income tax, property taxes, Robert Martwick, Rockford, taxes, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

Chicago was the only major U.S. city to lose population from 2016 to 2017

By Austin Berg

05/23/2018

In a shrinking state, half of Illinois’ largest cities have shed population since 2010.

TAGS: Belleville, Chicago, Decatur, jobs, Metro East, outmigration, Peoria, population, Rockford, spending, spending cap, U.S. Census Bureau

Civic Federation calls for tax hikes, opposes sensible reform in budget criticism

By Adam Schuster

05/17/2018

The Civic Federation’s criticism of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget is a mixed bag, with its own proposals for Illinois’ financial crisis – including nearly $3 billion in tax hikes – missing the mark.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, Civic Federation, health insurance, income tax, Laurence Msall, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, municipal pensions, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois families catching crossfire in scholarship fight

By Austin Berg

05/17/2018

Despite that booming demand, there are political efforts afoot to crush the scholarship program.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, school choice, tax credits

Government union lobbying turns legislation against students

By Mailee Smith

05/14/2018

SB 2838 was meant to aid school districts – and students – by providing a means for schools to recruit substitute teachers. But government union lobbying transformed it into a pro-union, pro-strike bill that hinders educational opportunities for students during teacher strikes.

TAGS: AFL-CIO, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Carbondale could lead on easing food truck regulations

05/11/2018

Though some of Illinois’ larger municipalities such as Chicago and Evanston have been overly restrictive in regulating food trucks, the Carbondale City Council has debated loosening them for its city, soliciting mixed opinions.

TAGS: Carbondale, food trucks, jobs, regulations

Lawmakers to homeowners: ‘You’ll get nothing and like it’

By Austin Berg

05/10/2018

In a matter of hours, Illinoisans saw bipartisan opposition to property tax relief and bipartisan support for higher property taxes.

TAGS: outmigration, Peter Breen, property taxes, Rita Mayfield, taxes, Tom Morrison

Janus v. AFSCME: A new era of freedom for government workers on the line

By Mailee Smith

05/04/2018

The Janus case could mean the restoration of government workers’ constitutional right to free speech.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor, U.S. Supreme Court, unions

Chicago

Taxpayer victory: General Assembly passes bill restricting golden parachutes for government officials

Property-tax-for-pensions plan would pummel Illinois homeowners

In a shrinking state, Census sheds light on struggling cities

Chicago was the only major U.S. city to lose population from 2016 to 2017

Civic Federation calls for tax hikes, opposes sensible reform in budget criticism

Illinois families catching crossfire in scholarship fight

Government union lobbying turns legislation against students

Carbondale could lead on easing food truck regulations

Lawmakers to homeowners: ‘You’ll get nothing and like it’

Janus v. AFSCME: A new era of freedom for government workers on the line

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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