Testimony: Chicago leaders agree to boost housing supply, affordability

By Josh Bandoch, LyLena Estabine

03/03/2025

Chicago City Council members heard from Illinois Policy Institute researchers as they considered allowing more commercial space to be converted to housing. The council then unanimously voted for the change that will boost supply and affordability.

Testimony: Chicago pension systems’ dire finances cannot afford benefit boost

By Bryce Hill

02/27/2025

Members of the Illinois Senate Pensions Committee heard from pension administrators and government unions about the need for more benefits from retirement systems that are already broken. The Illinois Policy Institute was there, too, to represent taxpayers’ interests.

Illinois ranks 48th for people moving out, loses over 56K residents

By Bryce Hill

02/27/2025

Illinois ability to keep its residents is third from the bottom. Only California and New York have more people moving to other states.

TAGS: outmigration, population

4 of 5 top states Americans moving to have flat or no income tax

By Bryce Hill

02/26/2025

Of the states most Americans are moving to, 4 of 5 have a flat or no income tax. The states losing the most residents? There again, 4 of 5 have progressive taxes. Illinois’ flat tax is an advantage it should keep.

Slow economic growth stops Illinoisans from getting ahead

By Chris Coffey

02/26/2025

Illinois ranks 44th in the country on entrepreneurship and economic growth, which stops people from getting ahead.

Chicago borrows $830M, but mayor can’t use it for Chicago Teachers Union

By Dylan Sharkey

02/26/2025

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson secured approval for his $830 million borrowing plan but can no longer use the money to benefit his cronies at the Chicago Teachers Union. The city just grew its nearly $41 billion in debt.

Illinois’ flat income tax puts taxpayers exactly in middle, encourages wealthy to stay

By Patrick Andriesen

02/26/2025

A new report from the Tax Foundation shows the typical Illinois taxpayer will save big thanks to the constitutional protections of Illinois’ flat tax. Some state lawmakers want to take that protection away.

Pritzker’s 2026 budget poses short-term fixes, sneaks in new “tax hike”

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

02/25/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 2026 budget includes record spending, cuts to economic development and overreliance on short-term revenue tricks—including a cleverly hidden tax hike, leaving significant work for the state to reach financial stability.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois considers repealing business tax responsible for big headaches, little revenue

By Dylan Sharkey, Bryce Hill

02/24/2025

A new bill would repeal an outdated Illinois business tax. The franchise tax is tough to calculate, most businesses don’t owe it and it generates little revenue in a state that already hits businesses hard with other taxes.

Chicago mayor wants to borrow $830M, which could benefit his Chicago Teachers Union cronies

By Dylan Sharkey

02/21/2025

Mayor Brandon Johnson asked to borrow $830 million one day after the city’s credit rating dipping to near-junk status. He would have broad discretion over how to spend the money – including on his friends at the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Chicago

Testimony: Chicago leaders agree to boost housing supply, affordability

Testimony: Chicago pension systems’ dire finances cannot afford benefit boost

Illinois ranks 48th for people moving out, loses over 56K residents

4 of 5 top states Americans moving to have flat or no income tax

Slow economic growth stops Illinoisans from getting ahead

Chicago borrows $830M, but mayor can’t use it for Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois’ flat income tax puts taxpayers exactly in middle, encourages wealthy to stay

Pritzker’s 2026 budget poses short-term fixes, sneaks in new “tax hike”

Illinois considers repealing business tax responsible for big headaches, little revenue

Chicago mayor wants to borrow $830M, which could benefit his Chicago Teachers Union cronies

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