Rauner making moves on pension reform

By Ted Dabrowski

01/21/2016

On Jan. 21 Gov. Bruce Rauner reignited reform talks surrounding Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.

Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations

01/21/2016

Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed 2 percent tax and new regulations would harm Chicagoans trying to make ends meet by renting out space in their homes, as well as tourists looking for less expensive lodging.

TAGS: Airbnb, Chicago, taxes

2011 income-tax hike turned Illinois into a top 5 state for total tax burden, new study shows

By Michael Lucci

01/21/2016

Illinoisans handed over a larger portion of their earnings to state and local governments than did taxpayers in 45 lower-tax states in fiscal year 2012, according to a new Tax Foundation study.

Illinois pensions: What you need to know

01/21/2016

Here's what you need to know about Illinois' $111 billion state pension crisis.

TAGS: pensions, SERS: State Employee Retirement System, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Oversight of Chicago City Council coming soon

By Chris Lentino

01/19/2016

At its next meeting in February, City Council will likely approve legislation to expand the scope of the inspector general’s role to overseeing aldermen.

TAGS: Chicago

Chicago Public Schools debt slides deeper into ‘junk’ status

By Austin Berg

01/15/2016

Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services issued a two-notch downgrade to the Chicago Board of Education on Jan. 15, citing failure to address the district’s structural financial problems.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, credit rating, pensions, Standard & Poor's

Make body cameras mandatory to improve police accountability

By Bryant Jackson-Green

01/15/2016

Ninety-two percent of Americans support a body camera requirement for police officers; to enhance transparency and accountability, Chicago should require its police to use body cameras.

TAGS: police body cameras

Court testimony: Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal ordered donations to Madigan’s political organization

By Austin Berg

01/15/2016

Redflex bagman Martin O’Malley says John Bills ordered him to pay thousands of dollars to Mike Madigan’s 13th Ward Democratic Organization.

TAGS: Chicago, Mike Madigan, red light cameras

GE rejects Chicago as home for corporate headquarters, cites pension debt

By Ted Dabrowski

01/14/2016

General Electric will move its corporate headquarters and 800 jobs to Boston, Mass., from Fairfield, Conn., noting its concerns about Chicago’s government-worker pension debt in its rejection of the Windy City.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

Illinois’ budget from the inside: A conversation with State Budget Director Tim Nuding

By Donna Arduin

01/13/2016

Donna Arduin is an Illinois Policy Institute senior fellow and a partner at Arduin, Laffer & Moore Econometrics, a group that advises federal, state and municipal leaders, as well as political candidates and private-sector clients, on economic, fiscal and state policies.

TAGS: budget

Chicago

Rauner making moves on pension reform

Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations

2011 income-tax hike turned Illinois into a top 5 state for total tax burden, new study shows

Illinois pensions: What you need to know

Oversight of Chicago City Council coming soon

Chicago Public Schools debt slides deeper into ‘junk’ status

Make body cameras mandatory to improve police accountability

Court testimony: Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal ordered donations to Madigan’s political organization

GE rejects Chicago as home for corporate headquarters, cites pension debt

Illinois’ budget from the inside: A conversation with State Budget Director Tim Nuding

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