8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic

06/17/2022

Illinois’ overall job numbers continue to rise, but the recovery is spotty. Over half of the metropolitan areas failed to add jobs in April.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, employment, job creation, jobs

Taxpayer pension costs exceeded Illinois projections by $13.7 billion since 2013

By Justin Carlson

06/17/2022

Unrealistic assumptions and missed investment returns have meant Illinois taxpayers paid $13.7 billion more for public pensions than state leaders projected five years earlier. Unless the estimates improve, taxpayers will pay an extra $21.3 billion during the next decade.

TAGS: debt, JB Pritzker, pension reform, pensions

Amendment 1 would guarantee $2,100 property tax hike for typical Illinois family

By Bryce Hill

06/15/2022

A proposed change to the Illinois Constitution would effectively transfer power over taxpayer money to government worker unions. The trend of property tax hikes would likely grow even worse during the next four years.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois, property taxes

Illinois adds jobs in April, still missing 146,300 from pandemic

06/15/2022

Illinois’ employment recovery continued in April, but the state is still missing almost one in five jobs lost during the pandemic.

TAGS: COVID-19, employment, jobs, unemployment

Unions backed doubling gas tax, now push disguised tax hike amendment

By Hannah Schmid

06/02/2022

The same unions that supported doubling the gas tax in 2019 donated $15 million to politicians who voted for Amendment 1, a proposed tax hike sold as a “workers’ rights” amendment.

TAGS: Amendment 1, gas tax, government unions, JB Pritzker, taxes, workers rights

Longer public schools closed for pandemic, more students they lost

By Hannah Schmid

05/26/2022

New research shows remote learning spurred the enrollment declines plaguing public schools. Schools with more in-person instruction lost fewer students.

TAGS: COVID-19, public schools, teachers union

Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years

By Joe Tabor

05/19/2022

During the past decade, state lawmakers have asked to change the Illinois Constitution six times while voters have failed to get any changes on the ballot. In 52 years, Illinoisans have only gotten one amendment question before voters. That needs to change.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois Constitution

Amendment 1 will make bad Illinois business climate worse

05/17/2022

A Rockford family and their trucking business are being driven out of Illinois by high taxes and bad public policies. If voters agree Nov. 8 to enshrining public union power in the Illinois Constitution, expect more businesses and workers to leave.

TAGS: Amendment 1, economic recovery, government unions, unemployment

Chicago Teachers Union election May 20 could affect frequency of strikes

By Mailee Smith

05/17/2022

CTU has walked out on students three times in three school years. The outcome of its upcoming leadership election pits the status quo against potential change – and could alter the political trajectory of the nation’s most militant teachers union.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, election, strike

Amendment 1 would allow secret government union contracts

By Hannah Schmid

05/16/2022

The Illinois Freedom of Information Act requires open access to government union contracts. But Amendment 1 would allow union leaders to override state law to make those contracts secret.

TAGS: Amendment 1, contract, government unions

Constitution of Illinois

8 Illinois metro areas fail to add jobs in April; just 1 recovers from pandemic

Taxpayer pension costs exceeded Illinois projections by $13.7 billion since 2013

Amendment 1 would guarantee $2,100 property tax hike for typical Illinois family

Illinois adds jobs in April, still missing 146,300 from pandemic

Unions backed doubling gas tax, now push disguised tax hike amendment

Longer public schools closed for pandemic, more students they lost

Illinois voters got just 1 proposed constitutional amendment on ballot in 52 years

Amendment 1 will make bad Illinois business climate worse

Chicago Teachers Union election May 20 could affect frequency of strikes

Amendment 1 would allow secret government union contracts

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