As Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker positions himself as the foil to President Donald Trump, a look at his record as governor is telling. What it is telling is not good.
Tariffs by President Donald Trump sent markets tumbling and temporarily hurt public pension investments. While the markets recovered, the episode showed Chicago’s pension systems are extremely fragile.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget proposal slashes general funds for economic development while relying on federal dollars to mask the cuts. This move raises doubts about the governor’s fiscal priorities.
Deep-blue Illinois had President Biden to bail out the state’s and Chicago’s financial failings. Now city and state leaders have President Trump to blame for their financial failings. Eventually, taxpayers will be held responsible.
Expansions to Medicaid because of the Affordable Care Act and COVID-19 have increased the program in Illinois as Congress considers potential cuts or work requirements.
Illinois leaders have built a legacy of massive government spending deficits, extortionate taxes, marauding criminals and failing schools. Instead of Trump-proofing Illinois, maybe we need to Pritzker- and Johnson-proof it.
Published Feb. 10, 2025 Even though federal COVID relief funds provided an unexpected windfall, that one-time jolt of cash could leave many Illinois localities even worse off than they were before. That boost in revenue allowed local governments to put off difficult budgeting decisions, and as that revenue dries up, municipalities will have to contend...
Government unions posed threats to public welfare that were recognized by founders of the labor movement and by progressive icon Franklin D. Roosevelt. Those threats have become reality, with government union power dominating – especially in Illinois.
NEA has lost nearly 400,000 members since its peak in 2009. It could be because just 9% of the union’s spending is on representing teachers – with the rest on politics, administration and other union leader priorities.
The Chicago Teachers Union wails about schools closing, but it is the union’s actions that have been solely responsible for past school closings and for the conditions that will lead to more closures in the future.