Pritzker extends mask mandate for another 150 days

By Brad Weisenstein

01/06/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker continues to run the state’s COVID-19 response by executive mandate, with state lawmakers still silent 10 months into the pandemic.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, JB Pritzker, restrictions

Illinois government saw too many make ‘naughty’ list in 2020

By Brad Weisenstein

12/22/2020

COVID-19 showed everyone the heroes in health care and essential services, but it also exposed weak character or bad behavior of many in Illinois government.

TAGS: Christmas, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Cook, Madison, St. Clair counties rank among nation’s top ‘judicial hellholes’

By Brad Weisenstein

12/11/2020

A trio of Illinois counties are known for being plaintiff friendly, especially for asbestos and no-injury biometric screening cases. COVID-19 liability is expected to fill future court dockets.

TAGS: BIPA: Biometric Information Privacy Act, corruption

Illinois lawmakers want voters to have recall power over Madigan

12/10/2020

Two state lawmakers want to amend the Illinois Constitution so voters can recall elected leaders. There is a simpler path to fix the state’s corruption.

TAGS: Jason Barickman, Mark Batinick, Mike Madigan, recall

Madigan leadership team member becomes 19th vote opposing him as House speaker

By Brad Weisenstein

12/01/2020

Enough Illinois House Democrats already said they would vote to end Mike Madigan’s 35 years as speaker but losing a party leader will make it much more difficult for him to retain power.

TAGS: corruption, Illinois House of Representatives, Kathleen Willis, Mike Madigan

Madison County voters asked about Illinois lawmaker raises, double dipping

By Joe Tabor

11/02/2020

Two advisory ballot initiatives will ask Madison County voters about automatic raises for lawmakers and public worker double dipping.

TAGS: ballot referendums, lawmaker pay, Madison County, pensions

Citizen’s guide to overseeing elections processes

10/29/2020

Illinoisans can work elections through numerous positions from election judges to polling place technicians

TAGS: ballot, Election Day, voting

Pritzker issues 9th emergency declaration to extend COVID-19 powers

By Joe Tabor

10/21/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has issued a ninth disaster proclamation, extending his emergency powers for another 30 days over all of Illinois.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, emergency, executive order, JB Pritzker

Star of misleading ‘fair tax’ ad set to draw $1.1M in pension payments for 1 year of state work

By Brad Weisenstein

10/19/2020

‘Fair tax’ backers funded by Gov. J.B. Pritzker created the illusion of bipartisanship by using a former public employee union staffer who collects a generous taxpayer-funded pension due to a loophole in state law.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, pensions, progressive tax, Vote Yes for Fairness

Pritzker administration threatens 20% tax hike on everyone ‘regardless of their level of income’

By Adam Schuster

09/25/2020

While acknowledging the harm it would do to the state economy and working Illinoisans, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton claimed lawmakers would be ‘forced’ to look at hiking everyone’s taxes due to the budget crisis.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

Illinois General Assembly

Pritzker extends mask mandate for another 150 days

Illinois government saw too many make ‘naughty’ list in 2020

Cook, Madison, St. Clair counties rank among nation’s top ‘judicial hellholes’

Illinois lawmakers want voters to have recall power over Madigan

Madigan leadership team member becomes 19th vote opposing him as House speaker

Madison County voters asked about Illinois lawmaker raises, double dipping

Citizen’s guide to overseeing elections processes

Pritzker issues 9th emergency declaration to extend COVID-19 powers

Star of misleading ‘fair tax’ ad set to draw $1.1M in pension payments for 1 year of state work

Pritzker administration threatens 20% tax hike on everyone ‘regardless of their level of income’

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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