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.

Full text: Mike Madigan’s resignation statement

02/18/2021

Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan is resigning as a state representative after 50 years in office.

TAGS: corruption, Mike Madigan, resignation

Illinois taxpayers charged $1.8M for misleading ‘fair tax’ amendment pamphlet

By Brad Weisenstein

10/16/2020

The blue pamphlets sent to Illinois voters were mandated by law, but the constitutional amendment explanation inside included misleading language in its favor.

TAGS: ballot referendums, election, fair tax, JB Pritzker

Illinois government unions give Madigan $10 million reasons to stay together

By Mailee Smith

08/13/2020

The state’s government unions have heavily funded the election committees run by longtime Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan – who then uses his influence to pass union-friendly bills.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, corruption, Democratic Party, Mike Madigan, unions

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

06/18/2020

The contractor who revamped Illinois’ unemployment system to handle self-employed workers is being sued. One of the nearly 32,500 applicants who had private information exposed said it was used to access her bank account.

TAGS: identity theft, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, unemployment

State agency published private data of nearly 32,500 unemployed Illinoisans

05/21/2020

Just as Illinois opened its unemployment system to self-employed workers, the new system exposed Social Security numbers and other private information of 32,483 applicants, according to a Freedom of Information Act response.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

02/26/2020

Eddie Johnson was fired before his scheduled retirement after he was found asleep behind the wheel. He blamed medication. Video showed him drinking.

TAGS: Chicago, CPD: Chicago Police Department, Eddie Johnson, Laquan McDonald, Lori Lightfoot, police pensions, public safety

Oakbrook Terrace mayor resigns amid red-light camera probe

01/23/2020

Federal investigators have been digging into the political corruption surrounding red-light cameras, including a pair of the multi-million dollar traffic devices in Oakbrook Terrace.

TAGS: FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, federal investigation, FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, IDOT: Illinois Department of Transportation, Martin Sandoval, Oakbrook Terrace, red light cameras, Redflex Traffic Systems, SafeSpeed, Susana Mendoza, Tony Ragucci

State worker who allegedly kept ‘mouth shut’ about ‘rape in Champaign’ to receive $2.7M in pension payments

By Austin Berg

01/20/2020

House Speaker Mike Madigan has built a substantial political army through taxpayer-funded promises.

TAGS: Champaign, constitutional amendment, debt, Forrest Ashby, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, Michael McClain, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, pensions, Springfield

Sandoval resigns Senate seat amid federal corruption probe, effective Jan. 1

By Vincent Caruso

11/27/2019

The once-powerful state officeholder previously resigned as chairman of the influential Illinois Senate Transportation Committee in October.

TAGS: FBI: Federal Bureau of Investigation, gas tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Martin Sandoval, McCook, Mike Madigan, red light cameras, SafeSpeed, Senate Transportation Committee, Springfield, Tom Cullerton, transportation

Freedom of Information Act

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

Full text: Mike Madigan’s resignation statement

Illinois taxpayers charged $1.8M for misleading ‘fair tax’ amendment pamphlet

Illinois government unions give Madigan $10 million reasons to stay together

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

State agency published private data of nearly 32,500 unemployed Illinoisans

Fired Chicago Police superintendent receiving nearly $200K pension

Oakbrook Terrace mayor resigns amid red-light camera probe

State worker who allegedly kept ‘mouth shut’ about ‘rape in Champaign’ to receive $2.7M in pension payments

Sandoval resigns Senate seat amid federal corruption probe, effective Jan. 1

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