McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor

By Vincent Caruso

11/17/2018

The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find relief through tax savings.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, local government consolidation, McHenry County, Sam Yingling

Senate overrides Rauner veto on bill proposing new car-sharing taxes, regulations

By Vincent Caruso

11/15/2018

Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a lobbyist-backed bill aiming to sideswipe car-sharing startups with new taxes and regulations. The bill returns to the House.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, carsharing, Getaround, Illinois Senate, Pam Althoff, Turo

High rise: Evanston voters create a progressive ‘mansion tax’

By Vincent Caruso

11/15/2018

An increase in Evanston’s “mansion tax” will tighten the city’s squeeze on property owners making their way out the door.

TAGS: Evanston, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Incoming Illinois House Democrat calls for ‘no’ vote on Madigan for speaker

By Austin Berg

11/13/2018

Illinois House Rep.-elect Anne Stava-Murray is making an unprecedented call to dump the longest-serving legislative leader in U.S. history.

TAGS: Anne Stava-Murray, House Speaker, Mike Madigan, Scott Drury

Lame ducks: What Illinois taxpayers should watch for in veto session

11/13/2018

Lawmakers, including 37 lame duck legislators, on Nov. 13 convened in Springfield for a veto session likely to feature political pensions and unfunded mandates.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, fall veto, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, pensions, tobacco, Tobacco 21, veto

Illinois’ richest governor, meet the nation’s most powerful state lawmaker

By Austin Berg

11/08/2018

Pritzker’s money could offer Madigan’s House members cover should they dare to go against the speaker.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan

By Mailee Smith

11/06/2018

State records show AFSCME has funneled at least $1.4 million to Michael Madigan and Madigan-controlled committees in the past five years – including at least $823,200 just this year.

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

58 former Illinois state lawmakers collecting six-figure pensions

11/06/2018

Former lawmakers receive generous benefits from the state’s worst-run retirement fund.

TAGS: Arthur L. Berman, COLA: cost of living adjustment, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, Jim Edgar, lawmaker pay, pensions

Nearly half of Illinois House candidates face no opponent

By Austin Berg

11/01/2018

House Speaker Mike Madigan has drawn Illinois’ legislative maps for three of the past four decades.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, election, fair maps, Illinois House of Representatives, Illinois Senate, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Illinois metro areas gain 800 jobs in September

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

10/26/2018

While a majority of Illinois’ metro areas experienced expanding payrolls in September, metro areas only gained 800 jobs on net.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Illinois House of Representatives

McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor

Senate overrides Rauner veto on bill proposing new car-sharing taxes, regulations

High rise: Evanston voters create a progressive ‘mansion tax’

Incoming Illinois House Democrat calls for ‘no’ vote on Madigan for speaker

Lame ducks: What Illinois taxpayers should watch for in veto session

Illinois’ richest governor, meet the nation’s most powerful state lawmaker

Union dues at work: AFSCME gives $1.4 million to Madigan

58 former Illinois state lawmakers collecting six-figure pensions

Nearly half of Illinois House candidates face no opponent

Illinois metro areas gain 800 jobs in September

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