Waste watch: Illinois’ porky budget gives $7M to move pigs

By Geoff Feinstein

12/31/2025

Illinois’ hidden budgeting process let lawmakers hand out 2,815 grants, including $7 million to move the University of Illinois’ pigs.

TAGS: budget, taxes

Harvey needs a way out of its crippling pension debt

By Joe Tabor

10/27/2025

Harvey became the second city in 35 years to ask the state to step in under Illinois’ Financially Distressed City Law. It won’t address the main issue: growing pension liabilities.

Shampoo bottles, telehealth, property taxes in over 275 new Illinois laws

By Joe Tabor

09/13/2024

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed over 275 bills into law recently. Here is what you need to know about changes to taxes, hotel shampoo, light bulbs and virtual health care.

Pritzker sends another $250K in taxpayer money to group pushing more taxes

By Dylan Sharkey

08/23/2024

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s budget includes $250,000 for a group advocating for increased government spending and higher taxes. He gave the group money last year, too.

TAGS: CTBA: Center for Budget and Tax Accountability, JB Pritzker

Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

By Chris Coffey

06/21/2024

Utah consolidated and integrated government job and social services into a one-stop shop. Illinois can follow that example and efficiently pull more people out of poverty and into the working world.

TAGS: employment

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.

Black business leader speaks out about ‘fair tax’ harms, gets axed from Pritzker event

08/14/2020

Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment would hurt small, minority-owned businesses the most.

TAGS: ILBCC: Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce, JB Pritzker, progressive tax, small business

Where Illinois small businesses can get government financial help

04/08/2020

The federal government authorized a financial aid program for small businesses that have closed their doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but state and local government also offer assistance.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, small business

Nearly 1.5M Illinois workers risk layoffs or reduced hours from COVID-19 economic fallout

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

04/03/2020

A quarter of Illinois’ workers are staring down the economic impacts of a global pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, GDP: gross domestic product, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity

Waste watch: Illinois’ porky budget gives $7M to move pigs

Harvey needs a way out of its crippling pension debt

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Shampoo bottles, telehealth, property taxes in over 275 new Illinois laws

Pritzker sends another $250K in taxpayer money to group pushing more taxes

Utah makes life easier for job seekers; Illinois can, too

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

Black business leader speaks out about ‘fair tax’ harms, gets axed from Pritzker event

Where Illinois small businesses can get government financial help

Nearly 1.5M Illinois workers risk layoffs or reduced hours from COVID-19 economic fallout

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