Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day

By Lilly Rossi, Joe Tabor

06/23/2025

Illinois General Assembly members raced the clock to pass legislation. Of the 436 bills passed by Illinois lawmakers this session, 155 were passed in the final week and 20 more after the May 31 midnight deadline.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Illinois lawmakers sue peers over last-minute, $55B budget vote

By Dylan Sharkey

06/06/2025

A group of Illinois lawmakers is suing their peers over the last-minute rush to OK a $55 billion state budget few people had seen – just like they do every year. The lawsuit aims to block the budget before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs it in to law.

Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly

By Joe Tabor

06/02/2025

With the Illinois state legislative session ended, bills will start crossing the governor’s desk, some containing tax hikes, unaffordable spending and needless regulation. Here’s how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop these bad policies from becoming law.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, property taxes, taxes

Illinois’ opaque budget process drives mismanagement, harms taxpayers

By Lauren Zuar

05/23/2025

Despite Illinois law setting clear budget rules, lawmakers routinely fast-track last-minute, backroom deals, keeping voters and other legislators in the dark.

Too much local government makes Illinois inefficient, raises property taxes

By Chris Coffey

05/21/2025

Illinois is the most inefficient state in the Midwest and the 14th-most inefficient in the country. That’s driven in part by excessive units of local government – more than in any other state. High property taxes are one result.

TAGS: local government consolidation

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

By Patrick Andriesen

05/20/2025

Illinois state lawmakers must be super speed readers, because who would vote on something they hadn’t read? They were given an average of 67 seconds per page to read the past nine state budgets, but last year received only 26 seconds per page.

Illinois payroll tax would kill jobs, reduce wages

By Bryce Hill

05/16/2025

Illinois state lawmakers are considering a statewide payroll tax that would raise business costs, reduce wages and kill jobs. Workers are already taxed on their income, meaning this would tax their wages twice.

Chicago’s pension debt being fueled by heavy, growing interest

By LyLena Estabine

04/30/2025

With $18.5 billion of the city’s $52.4 billion shortfall driven by interest on pension debt, it’s clear Illinois’ largest city needs the state to pass constitutional pension reform.

Chicago Teachers Union pushes $7.3B in taxes on Illinoisans

By Patrick Andriesen

04/30/2025

The Chicago Teachers Union and its partners are pushing nine new or higher taxes that could end up costing Illinoisans $7.3 billion more starting July 1. Their scheme to fill a proposed state budget deficit is likely to backfire and shrink the tax base.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Top Illinois pensioners invest $1, get $25 back in retirement benefits

By Patrick Andriesen

04/28/2025

Illinois’ top 50 state pensioners can expect an average lifetime payout of $8.47 million despite just $333,844 being contributed during their careers. That’s $1 in, $25 out, thanks to taxpayers.

Constitution of Illinois

Illinois lawmakers pass almost 100 bills on final day

Illinois lawmakers sue peers over last-minute, $55B budget vote

Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly

Illinois’ opaque budget process drives mismanagement, harms taxpayers

Too much local government makes Illinois inefficient, raises property taxes

Illinois lawmakers get 26 seconds per page to read 2025 budget

Illinois payroll tax would kill jobs, reduce wages

Chicago’s pension debt being fueled by heavy, growing interest

Chicago Teachers Union pushes $7.3B in taxes on Illinoisans

Top Illinois pensioners invest $1, get $25 back in retirement benefits

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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