New bill would suspend Illinois lawmaker pay during budget impasse

By Heather Weiner

07/09/2015

It is wrong that the General Assembly doesn’t have to feel the impact of their actions when they are responsible for other Illinoisans not receiving paychecks.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, David McSweeney, John Cullerton, lawmaker pay, Mike Madigan

Onslaught of Chicago debt downgrades continues

By Ted Dabrowski

07/09/2015

The pension shortfall per Chicago household stands at $33,500 each.

TAGS: Chicago, debt

Cook County judge rules some state workers get minimum wage in absence of budget

By Heather Weiner

07/07/2015

Figuring out who qualifies for the payments will be a logistical nightmare, according to the state comptroller’s office.

TAGS: budget, minimum wage

Chicago’s idea for ending ‘unsustainable financial practices’? Billion-dollar borrowing

By Ted Dabrowski

06/15/2015

The city’s long-term borrowing is akin to a Chicagoan taking on a mortgage to pay down credit-card bills she will never be able to pay off anyway.

TAGS: Chicago

Making work pay in Illinois: How welfare cliffs can trap families in poverty

06/10/2015

Single parent with two children household and two parents with two children household scenarios in Cook County, City of Chicago, Lake County and St. Clair County

Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending

By David Giuliani

05/29/2015

The broken state budget proposed by House Speaker Mike Madigan includes spending on wine production, mosquito abatement and a student newspaper.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan, taxes, waste

Corruption Watch: April 2015

By Shawn Tonge

05/08/2015

April saw two major players in Illinois education ensnared in charges of cronyism, among more than 60 other corruption-related stories.

TAGS: good government

Illinois’ layers and layers of government ripe for consolidation

By David Giuliani

05/07/2015

Mergers are a no-brainer for communities across the state, but state policy makes it nearly impossible.

Potential tax hike for Illinoisans is staggering

05/05/2015

A new report claims Chicagoans would face property-tax hikes nearing 50 percent to adequately fund city pensions.

Illinois harbors hundreds of hidden pension crises

By Benjamin VanMetre

04/30/2015

They might not make headlines, but Illinois is home to hundreds of government-worker pension systems in horrible shape.

Cook County

New bill would suspend Illinois lawmaker pay during budget impasse

Onslaught of Chicago debt downgrades continues

Cook County judge rules some state workers get minimum wage in absence of budget

Chicago’s idea for ending ‘unsustainable financial practices’? Billion-dollar borrowing

Making work pay in Illinois: How welfare cliffs can trap families in poverty

Madigan budget laced with wasteful spending

Corruption Watch: April 2015

Illinois’ layers and layers of government ripe for consolidation

Potential tax hike for Illinoisans is staggering

Illinois harbors hundreds of hidden pension crises

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students