Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog

By Patrick Andriesen

02/17/2022

Illinois state senators approved a new legislative inspector general over complaints by the Legislative Ethics Commission chair that the process and vetting were ignored for the new watchdog. House members vote next.

TAGS: Illinois Senate, Legislative Inspector General, watchdog

Pritzker keeps mask mandates for schools indefinitely

By Amy Korte

02/09/2022

The governor’s maintenance of statewide school mask mandates without benchmarks for their removal makes Illinois an outlier.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, mask mandate, public schools

Illinois lawmakers file bill to save school choice program for low-income kids, families

By Amy Korte, Hannah Schmid

02/08/2022

Roughly half of the low-income students benefitting from Illinois’ tax credit scholarships are minorities, and about 26,000 students are waiting for a chance at a private school that better fits their needs. State lawmakers are working on a permanent fix.

TAGS: Illinois, Invest in Kids, school choice

Crime surge, police exodus put Illinois criminal justice reforms in crosshairs

By Dylan Sharkey

01/24/2022

Eliminating cash bail and regulating police officers were parts of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act that some lawmakers blame for a rise in crime and loss of police officers. Republican state lawmakers want it repealed, while Democrats say it just needs tweaks.

TAGS: Chicago, crime, police, SAFE-T Act

Illinois lawmakers fail to replace their ethics watchdog

By Hannah Schmid

01/21/2022

The Illinois General Assembly is without a watchdog. The former legislative inspector general quit after saying she was just a paper tiger. Now lawmakers cannot agree on her replacement.

TAGS: ethics reform, Illinois, Legislative Inspector General, watchdog

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

12/22/2021

Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...

Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money

By Adam Schuster

08/24/2021

Classrooms First Act would benefit virtually all Illinoisans including teachers, parents and students.

Competitive elections raise voter participation, uncontested elections hinder democracy

By Orphe Divounguy, Jon Josko, Adam Schuster

07/07/2021

On average, more than 4.7 million voting-age Illinoisans live in districts where there was only one option for the state House on the ballot, undermining their representation. Roughly half of all Illinois House races were uncontested under Illinois’ gerrymandered 2011 district map.

Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities

By Mailee Smith

04/21/2021

Both police reform advocates and law enforcement supporters face the same serious obstacle in Illinois: police union contracts include provisions protecting officers from discipline. Those contracts carry more weight than state law.

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans

By Adam Schuster

03/17/2021

Illinois has a chance to fix its state finances, thanks to federal relief. But unless pension growth is brought under control, both retirees and taxpayers will be at risk as debt continues to consume state services.

Democratic Party

Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog

Pritzker keeps mask mandates for schools indefinitely

Illinois lawmakers file bill to save school choice program for low-income kids, families

Crime surge, police exodus put Illinois criminal justice reforms in crosshairs

Illinois lawmakers fail to replace their ethics watchdog

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

Classrooms First: District consolidation can improve Illinois’ education outcomes while saving taxpayers money

Competitive elections raise voter participation, uncontested elections hinder democracy

Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans

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