Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/12/2015

A new report by Moody’s Investors Service details Chicago’s weak economic growth and increasing government-worker pension obligations.

After months of gridlock, compromise rears its head in Springfield

By Heather Weiner

11/12/2015

Good-faith negotiation and trust were foundational to all of the deals made, but some Statehouse Democrats pushed for extreme solutions while others were actively compromising.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Child Care Assistance Program, illinois lottery, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

Dems block plan to pay Illinois Lottery winners

By Hilary Gowins

11/11/2015

Gov. Rauner and the Illinois House of Representatives support a bill to release lottery winnings, but Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are standing in the way. Now Illinois Lottery winners may not be paid until 2016.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, illinois lottery, John Cullerton

House Democrats and Republicans still playing hardball

By Mark Fitton

11/11/2015

Restoration of child-care cuts fails in Illinois House.

TAGS: Child Care Assistance Program, Illinois Medicaid Redetermination Project, Medicaid

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

11/06/2015

Although the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that altering pension benefits of current government workers violates the Illinois Constitution, there are still actions – from politicians voluntarily reforming their own pension system, to allowing municipal bankruptcy – that Illinois can take to set government-worker pensions on a more fiscally sound path.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

11/04/2015

October saw a former Chicago Public Schools CEO plead guilty to wire fraud and several other instances of criminal charges and civil lawsuits against public officials, as well as crony deals between businesses and government.

TAGS: corruption

Where things stand: No Illinois budget likely until 2016

By Heather Weiner

10/31/2015

State politicians will decide the fate of Chicago’s demand for more money, but a budget vote isn’t likely before January 2016.

TAGS: budget

Illinois still has the highest workers’ compensation costs in the region – by far

By Michael Lucci

10/29/2015

A new study reveals that Illinois has the highest workers’ compensation costs in the Midwest and the seventh highest in the United States.

TAGS: manufacturing, workers compensation

Chicago passes largest property-tax hike in modern city history

By Austin Berg

10/28/2015

Mayor Rahm Emanuel and city aldermen choose tax hikes over necessary reform.

TAGS: Chicago

Watch: Chicago cops impound Lyft car for picking up passenger near O’Hare

By Austin Berg

10/27/2015

Besides what appears to be retaliation against a citizen for exercising his First Amendment rights, the incident reveals the absurdity of Chicago’s ban on airport pickups for popular services such as Uber, Lyft and Sidecar.

TAGS: rideshare

Chicago

Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth

After months of gridlock, compromise rears its head in Springfield

Dems block plan to pay Illinois Lottery winners

House Democrats and Republicans still playing hardball

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

Where things stand: No Illinois budget likely until 2016

Illinois still has the highest workers’ compensation costs in the region – by far

Chicago passes largest property-tax hike in modern city history

Watch: Chicago cops impound Lyft car for picking up passenger near O’Hare

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