Lawmakers stand for spending cap in Springfield

By Joe Tabor

04/27/2018

A constitutional amendment to impose fiscal discipline on state lawmakers is gaining bipartisan support.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, Michael Connelly, spending, spending cap, taxes, Tom Cullerton

Bill would allow government bonuses for union members, but ban them for other state workers

By Mailee Smith

04/24/2018

Government worker unions and their allies are preparing for a potential loss in Janus v. AFSCME, doing whatever they can to bolster union ranks. One example: House Bill 5309, which would privilege union status over the interests of other state government workers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Janus v. AFSCME, labor

Will Illinois pass a budget this year?

By Adam Schuster

04/20/2018

History shows lawmakers prefer to avoid tough but necessary choices.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, credit rating, debt, income tax, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, spending, spending cap, taxes

Illinois House passes bill stopping pay raises for lawmakers

By Brendan Bakala

04/20/2018

House Bill 5760 would stop lawmakers’ scheduled cost-of-living adjustment. Illinois lawmakers are the fifth-highest paid state lawmakers in the nation.

TAGS: COLA: cost of living adjustment, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, lawmaker pay, pensions, salaries

House bill would shield retirement income from taxation

By Vincent Caruso

04/19/2018

A proposed amendment to the Illinois Constitution would render residents’ retirement earnings off limits for Springfield.

Happy birthday, Mike Madigan

By Austin Berg

04/19/2018

What do you get a man who has everything?

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Trio of licensing reform bills advance to House floor

By Vincent Caruso

04/13/2018

Three proposals that would ease occupational licensing restrictions have reached the House floor, passing unanimously out of committee.

TAGS: occupational licensing, Tom Demmer

The painful push for a progressive tax in Illinois

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

04/04/2018

Instead of pushing for further tax hikes on tapped-out taxpayers, lawmakers should rally behind a bipartisan effort to limit state spending.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, income tax, progressive income tax, Robert Martwick, spending, spending cap, taxes, Tom Cullerton

Does your lawmaker oppose a progressive income tax?

By Austin Berg

04/03/2018

One progressive tax proposal filed in the Illinois House of Representatives would hike income taxes on Illinoisans earning as little as $17,300 a year.

TAGS: income tax, progressive income tax

False promises, real harm: Why Illinoisans should reject a progressive income tax

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

03/26/2018

States with a progressive income tax see greater income inequality, and have seen income inequality rise faster than states without a progressive income tax.

Illinois House of Representatives

Lawmakers stand for spending cap in Springfield

Bill would allow government bonuses for union members, but ban them for other state workers

Will Illinois pass a budget this year?

Illinois House passes bill stopping pay raises for lawmakers

House bill would shield retirement income from taxation

Happy birthday, Mike Madigan

Trio of licensing reform bills advance to House floor

The painful push for a progressive tax in Illinois

Does your lawmaker oppose a progressive income tax?

False promises, real harm: Why Illinoisans should reject a progressive income tax

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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