Chicago Fact Sheet

08/28/2023

Chicago is one of the nation's greatest cities, but it has challenges. An outline of four of the most significant problems.

Chicago households making $100K targeted by Brandon Johnson allies

By Bryce Hill, Justin Carlson

06/06/2023

An ominously titled document by close confidants of new Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson states the new administration’s top priority is to take more money from households making $100,000 or more to fund what they claim is a “just Chicago.”

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Brandon Johnson’s tax hikes would hurt Chicago’s recovery, cost even more jobs

By Justin Carlson

03/31/2023

Chicago is still missing 26,500 jobs from pre-pandemic levels. Voters agree: more taxes on businesses is the wrong answer.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Chicago’s Fortune 500 headquarters are shrinking

By Dylan Sharkey

10/17/2022

Chicago has lost three Fortune 500 headquarters in 2022. McDonald’s could be the next to leave. Amendment 1 could make it more likely.

Citadel 3rd major company to leave Illinois in 2 months

By Dylan Sharkey

06/23/2022

Hedge-fund firm Citadel is moving its headquarters to Miami. Citadel CEO Ken Griffin said many employees have asked to move out of Illinois.

TAGS: Chicago, Citadel, corporate income tax, crime, Ken Griffin, outmigration

Caterpillar HQ leaving for Texas, decade after CEO warned Illinois

By Dylan Sharkey

06/15/2022

One of the state’s biggest employers is relocating their headquarters to Irving, Texas. A decade ago Caterpillar’s CEO warned state leaders of business losses unless they balanced the budget, controlled workers’ comp costs and cut taxes. He was ignored.

TAGS: Caterpillar, jobs, outmigration, taxes

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...

Tax hikes vs. reform: Why Illinois must amend its constitution to fix the pension crisis

By Adam Schuster

08/24/2018

Reforming future benefit growth via a constitutional amendment is the only way to ensure the retirement security of government workers, protect taxpayer budgets and fulfill the needs of Illinoisans reliant on core services.

Budget Solutions 2019: The responsible budget for Illinois

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

02/06/2018

Even after a 32 percent income tax hike, the Illinois General Assembly passed a state budget in 2017 that will generate an estimated $1.5 billion deficit in fiscal year 2018. That deficit is projected to grow to $2.15 billion in fiscal year 2019, according to the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, or GOMB. The...

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address

By illinoispolicy

01/31/2018

Delivered on Jan. 31, 2018.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, State of the State

Fortune 500

Chicago Fact Sheet

Chicago households making $100K targeted by Brandon Johnson allies

Brandon Johnson’s tax hikes would hurt Chicago’s recovery, cost even more jobs

Chicago’s Fortune 500 headquarters are shrinking

Citadel 3rd major company to leave Illinois in 2 months

Caterpillar HQ leaving for Texas, decade after CEO warned Illinois

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

Tax hikes vs. reform: Why Illinois must amend its constitution to fix the pension crisis

Budget Solutions 2019: The responsible budget for Illinois

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address

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