How Illinois political insiders protected Madigan, rewarded themselves

By Dylan Sharkey

06/13/2025

Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan was sentenced to 7.5 years in prison but his allies now run the Illinois House and Illinois Democratic Party. The rules he created to run his machine still work for new operators.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

By Hannah Schmid

05/12/2025

Chicago Teachers Union members have reason to question the leadership of President Stacy Davis Gates heading into the May 16 union election. Her many scandals have driven down the union’s reputation.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Illinois Federation of Teachers spends $46.1M on state politics

By Patrick Andriesen

03/19/2025

The Illinois Federation of Teachers spent $46.1 million on Illinois political committees since 2010. Campaign cash went to nearly three-quarters of sitting lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

By Josh Bandoch, Larry Han

10/16/2024

Published Oct. 16, 2024 Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and...

Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

By Mailee Smith

09/19/2024

Illinois government workers’ union dues fund Democratic Party campaign committees, which are now seeking to tip the presidential election outcome in swing states. That fails to align with at least 40% of members’ politics.

TAGS: SEIU: Service Employees International Union

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.

Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools

By Mailee Smith

01/15/2024

House Bill 4417 requires an annual “Workplace Readiness Week” in all Illinois high schools, which focuses not on getting kids ready for jobs but on the labor movement’s role in the workplace.

TAGS: education, government unions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly

Stacy Davis Gates loses undeserved property tax break, owes Indiana $1,533

By Jess Plowman

11/13/2023

An Indiana county will seek back taxes and penalties of $1,533 after Chicago Teachers Union President Stacy Davis Gates claimed a property tax deduction reserved for owner occupants. Davis Gates has claimed Chicago property taxpayers aren’t all paying their fair share.

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

By Brad Weisenstein

11/09/2023

Illinois’ Invest in Kids school choice program for over 9,600 low-income students will end at the close of 2023. But supporters vow to resurrect it during the upcoming legislative session.

TAGS: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids, school choice

Emanuel Chris Welch

How Illinois political insiders protected Madigan, rewarded themselves

Scandal recap: Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership of Chicago Teachers Union

Illinois Federation of Teachers spends $46.1M on state politics

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

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

Illinois bill would give unions platform for indoctrination in Illinois schools

Stacy Davis Gates loses undeserved property tax break, owes Indiana $1,533

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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