State legal memo: Illinois governor needs lawmakers’ approval before extending emergency powers

By Joe Tabor

05/18/2020

Amid a recent series of lawsuits, the 2001 informal opinion by the Illinois Attorney General’s office concludes the emergency powers granted a governor during a disaster cannot be extended beyond 30 days without legislative approval.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, executive order

Poll shows diverse support for Illinois pension reform

03/11/2020

Illinois Democrats, union members, government or nonprofit workers, and people of all income groups support a pension amendment that allows for changes in cost-of-living raises and other future benefits.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, pensions

Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2019

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. Illinois, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, Bruce Rauner, capital plan, Chicago, craft beer, distillery, Hospitality Business Association of Chicago, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, Midwest, prohibition, Sara Feigenholtz, soda tax, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle, vape ban, vaping, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois

Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2018

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. The Land of Lincoln, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, soda tax, taxes

Lawsuit seeks to end Burke’s ‘political army’ in Chicago workers’ comp system

By Austin Berg

08/07/2018

Chicago’s longest-serving alderman runs the city’s workers’ comp program without any outside scrutiny. But a new lawsuit aims to change that.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, Ed Burke, patronage, workers compensation

Janus v. AFSCME: A new era of freedom for government workers on the line

By Mailee Smith

05/04/2018

The Janus case could mean the restoration of government workers’ constitutional right to free speech.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, labor, U.S. Supreme Court, unions

Janus v. AFSCME could mean more freedom for Illinois’ government workers

By Mailee Smith

10/09/2017

For four decades, government workers have been denied their First Amendment right to freedom of association, but that could change with a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2018.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, fair share, Janus v. AFSCME, right to work

Bill to impose ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers fails to move in Illinois House

By Amy Korte

06/06/2017

Senate Bill 1719 would impose a 20 percent surcharge on fees earned by investment managers, but the spring legislative session ended with the Illinois House failing to call the measure for a vote.

TAGS: Chris Welch, daniel biss, taxes

Illinois House proposes ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers

By Amy Korte

04/06/2017

House Bill 3393 would impose a 20 percent surcharge on fees earned by investment managers.

TAGS: Chris Welch, House Revenue and Finance Committee, outmigration, taxes

Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year

By Michael Lucci

03/06/2017

A golden rule of finance is this: Debt that can’t be paid won’t be paid.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, pensions

Constitution of the United States

State legal memo: Illinois governor needs lawmakers’ approval before extending emergency powers

Poll shows diverse support for Illinois pension reform

Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering

Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

Lawsuit seeks to end Burke’s ‘political army’ in Chicago workers’ comp system

Janus v. AFSCME: A new era of freedom for government workers on the line

Janus v. AFSCME could mean more freedom for Illinois’ government workers

Bill to impose ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers fails to move in Illinois House

Illinois House proposes ‘privilege tax’ on investment managers

Interest on Illinois’ pension debt is $9.1B per year

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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