How Illinois lawmakers can hide ethics investigations from the public

By Lilly Rossi

07/16/2026

Releasing reports is often up to the small Legislative Ethics Commission. That needs to change.

Lawmakers boost their salaries to over $100,000

By Lilly Rossi

06/23/2026

Their base pay has risen almost 50% since J.B. Pritzker became governor, compared with just a 30% increase for Illinoisans.

Over 40% of Illinois bills passed in last week of session

By Lilly Rossi

06/18/2026

Giving Illinoisans a sense of déjà vu, the Illinois General Assembly raced the clock to pass legislation toward the final day of session — or in some cases just after the deadline.

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

By Patrick Andriesen

05/28/2026

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

U.S. Supreme Court decision puts brakes on Illinois redistricting amendment

By Joe Tabor

04/30/2026

Louisiana v. Callais prohibits using race to draw districts. That would make the proposed amendment unconstitutional.

Proposed amendment does nothing to curb gerrymandering in Illinois

By Joe Tabor

04/29/2026

If state House Democrats were serious about protecting our votes, they would require competitive elections and remove politicians from the process.

Testimony: Lawmakers can help workers sustain careers through an evolving economy 

By Josh Bandoch

03/27/2026

House Bill 4882 was supported with written testimony by Josh Bandoch, head of policy at Illinois Policy.

Voters had no choice in nearly 9-in-10 primary elections

By Patrick Andriesen

03/02/2026

Illinois voting data shows voters had no choice of candidate in nearly 9-in-10 Democratic and Republican primaries for state and federal office in 2024.

Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay

By Lilly Rossi

01/19/2026

Taxpayers usually get told what raise they will receive. They also get told what raises they will give: to state lawmakers, and by those same lawmakers.

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

01/13/2026

Causes, costs, how to set the state free

Illinois House of Representatives

How Illinois lawmakers can hide ethics investigations from the public

Lawmakers boost their salaries to over $100,000

Over 40% of Illinois bills passed in last week of session

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

U.S. Supreme Court decision puts brakes on Illinois redistricting amendment

Proposed amendment does nothing to curb gerrymandering in Illinois

Testimony: Lawmakers can help workers sustain careers through an evolving economy

Voters had no choice in nearly 9-in-10 primary elections

Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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