Forced agenda: Chicago Teachers Union contract aims to dictate radical, costly worldview to Chicagoans

By Mailee Smith

07/02/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union is putting political goals in its contract demands, something not found in other large cities. It is trying to impose policy on the public without elected representatives debating whether the policies will hurt students and taxpayers.

Vallas: Neighboring schools show why Chicago Teachers Union is so wrong

By Paul Vallas

06/14/2024

Students at a private school and a Chicago public school in the same neighborhood experience very different outcomes in their educations. Which one produces struggling students? The one dominated by the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: education

Speaker Welch got union power into Illinois Constitution, now his workers use it against him

By Mailee Smith

06/03/2024

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch supported the so-called workers’ rights amendment but won’t recognize his own staff’s union. That union has now filed suit.

TAGS: Chris Welch

Illinois leaders who pushed pro-union amendment thwart their own staffers

By Dylan Sharkey

05/22/2024

Illinois House Speaker Chris Welch and Illinois Senate President Don Harmon are taking heat from staffers for killing legislation allowing the workers to unionize. Statehouse leaders are big on union rights, as long as it’s not in their offices.

What you should know about the Chicago Teachers Union

By Brad Weisenstein

04/04/2024

The Chicago Teachers Union put its lobbyist in the Chicago mayor's office and is now negotiating its next contract with him. What taxpayers should know about CTU, how it's impacted education, its leadership and its ambitions to be the political machine running the nation's third-largest city.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education

Bill would give Illinois voters power to change how state is run

By Dylan Sharkey

02/15/2024

Illinois lawmakers will consider expanding the power for citizens to amend the Illinois Constitution through petitions, including for issues such as term limits and to end gerrymandering.

TAGS: Illinois Constitution

Taxpayer advocates push fixes for Chicago’s massive pension debt

By Jess Plowman

01/10/2024

At a press conference, a new alliance said failure to address Chicago’s pension problems will threaten public services, fail retirees and push taxes higher so more people are encouraged to leave Illinois.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, pensions

Vallas: Chicago can use home rule powers to curb crime

By Paul Vallas

09/19/2023

The SAFE-T Act could make it too hard for Chicago to detain offenders. Residents can’t afford that when the city is already amid a violent crime surge. Chicago leaders should use home rule powers to create a city public safety act.

TAGS: crime

Lawsuit filed over Illinois mandating all constitutional challenges be filed in just 2 counties

By Joe Tabor

09/07/2023

The law would limit the venue for state constitutional claims to Cook or Sangamon counties. Downstate residents are suing because judges they aren’t allowed to elect will hear cases.

What does Chicago’s mayor need to impose his revised ‘mansion tax’?

By Joe Tabor

08/24/2023

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has reportedly compromised on his proposed mansion tax in favor of a graduated real estate tax. What needs to happen before he can start collecting the extra taxes?

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago

Constitution of Illinois

Forced agenda: Chicago Teachers Union contract aims to dictate radical, costly worldview to Chicagoans

Vallas: Neighboring schools show why Chicago Teachers Union is so wrong

Speaker Welch got union power into Illinois Constitution, now his workers use it against him

Illinois leaders who pushed pro-union amendment thwart their own staffers

What you should know about the Chicago Teachers Union

Bill would give Illinois voters power to change how state is run

Taxpayer advocates push fixes for Chicago’s massive pension debt

Vallas: Chicago can use home rule powers to curb crime

Lawsuit filed over Illinois mandating all constitutional challenges be filed in just 2 counties

What does Chicago’s mayor need to impose his revised ‘mansion tax’?

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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