Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

By Ravi Mishra

08/08/2025

As food costs soar, Mayor Brandon Johnson wants to keep hurting Chicago’s working families with a grocery tax. He faces a $1.12 billion deficit that a $73 million grocery tax won’t budge.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson

Chicago mayor recycles failed tax idea to fix $1.12B deficit

By Ravi Mishra

08/05/2025

As Chicago faces a major deficit for fiscal year 2026, Mayor Brandon Johnson is considering resurrecting a failed idea that punishes job creation: the corporate head tax.

TAGS: Brandon Johnson, Chicago, head tax

Suburban Chicago house tax plan would choke lagging growth

By LyLena Estabine

07/31/2025

The Illinois Senate attempted to pass a “rescue package” for Chicago area mass transit that would punish suburban homeowners with a new real estate transfer tax. State leaders must instead focus on reforms to boost housing and economic growth.

Illinois revenue $717M more than expected, but politicians still raise taxes

By Ravi Mishra

07/28/2025

Despite record revenues, Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s 2026 budget hikes taxes by another $482 million. Illinoisans are paying 44% more than six years ago and getting higher tax burdens as thanks.

7 ways Illinois lawmakers just made it easier to work

By Rich Witzel

07/18/2025

The Illinois General Assembly passed seven bills that expand the ability of professionals to work in Illinois. Lawmakers need to keep going and reduce the number of government permission slips needed to earn a living.

16 missed chances for state lawmakers to help out Illinoisans

By Joe Tabor

07/08/2025

Out of almost 7,000 bills filed, the Illinois General Assembly passed a little over 400. Some were good. Some were bad. Here are 16 bills that would have improved life in the state had they passed.

Illinois lawmakers worry about paper coupons, death carpets, stickers, beauty sleep

By Lilly Rossi

07/07/2025

What pressing issues did the Illinois General Assembly consider among 6,745 bills this past session? They pondered a sticker commission, “end-of-life” carpets, paper grocery coupons, 15-year-old voters and their own beauty sleep.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker

July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy

By Lilly Rossi

06/27/2025

Climate change education, gender inclusiveness, birth certificates, prostitution privacy, court translators and insulin costs all received attention from the Illinois General Assembly. Laws involving them take effect July 1. Plus, the state gasoline tax goes up.

TAGS: education, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, regulations

Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills

By Lilly Rossi

06/23/2025

For most bills filed in Springfield, taxpayers will have to guess at how much more will be demanded of them. Illinois General Assembly members only worried about costs 10 times for 3,859 of their bright ideas about how to improve the state.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, taxes

Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power

By Mailee Smith

06/23/2025

Government unions already hold tremendous power over taxpayers in Illinois. Three bills heading to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk will give them even more power by violating worker privacy, thwarting taxpayer protections and blocking schools in emergencies.

TAGS: Amendment 1, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, labor

Illinois General Assembly

Chicago mayor wants to keep taxing groceries despite hit to families

Chicago mayor recycles failed tax idea to fix $1.12B deficit

Suburban Chicago house tax plan would choke lagging growth

Illinois revenue $717M more than expected, but politicians still raise taxes

7 ways Illinois lawmakers just made it easier to work

16 missed chances for state lawmakers to help out Illinoisans

Illinois lawmakers worry about paper coupons, death carpets, stickers, beauty sleep

July 1 starts Illinois laws on gender-inclusiveness, climate education, prostitution privacy

Illinois lawmakers only attach price tags to 10 of 3,859 bills

Illinois General Assembly passes 3 bills boosting government union power

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