3 Illinois Policy Action bills advance out of committee before April deadline

By Heather Weiner

04/08/2016

Local government transparency, local government consolidation and criminal justice reform gain traction despite politicized legislature.

TAGS: consolidation

Illinois gets $2.7M windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

By Amy Korte

04/04/2016

Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015; as a result, during the first three months of 2016, the state took in $2.7 million more in fees for late license-plate renewal than it did during the same period in 2015.

TAGS: budget, regulations, transportation

Illinois’ gubernatorial veto procedures

By Matt Paprocki

03/24/2016

The governor can exercise the veto power in four different ways: a total veto, an amendatory veto, an item veto and a reduction veto.

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

03/16/2016

In light of the Illinois General Assembly’s refusal to pass a balanced budget, the Unbalanced Budget Response Act is a prudent measure that would temporarily allow the governor to shift funds and reduce spending to balance the state’s budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois Constitution

Illinoisans have nation’s lowest trust in state government by far

By Austin Berg

02/19/2016

New polling data show nearly 3 in 4 Illinoisans lack confidence in Springfield.

TAGS: corruption, Gallup

Illinois Democrats revive union arbitration legislation that would cut Rauner out of contract negotiations

By Hilary Gowins

02/12/2016

Through House Bill 580, Democrats in the General Assembly take a second run at removing Gov. Bruce Rauner from contract negotiations with AFSCME.

Illinois corruption watch: January 2016

02/12/2016

In January several instances of corruption, influence peddling and mismanagement across Illinois were brought to light, from the College of DuPage’s expense-account mismanagement, to Chicago’s red-light-camera bribery case.

Illinois’ incredible, shrinking business establishments

By Michael Lucci

02/08/2016

From the first quarter of 2001 until the second quarter of 2015, business establishment growth has been 34 percent while jobs growth has been only 1 percent.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages

Madigan’s budget solution is to make Illinois the most heavily taxed state in the Midwest

By Michael Lucci

01/28/2016

Instead of spending reform and policies to promote economic growth, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan proposes the same high-taxing, big-spending plans that got Illinois into its current fiscal mess.

TAGS: taxes

Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges

By Austin Berg

01/27/2016

A federal jury convicted former transportation official John Bills of fraud, extortion, bribery and more.

TAGS: Chicago, red light cameras

Illinois House of Representatives

3 Illinois Policy Action bills advance out of committee before April deadline

Illinois gets $2.7M windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

Illinois’ gubernatorial veto procedures

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

Illinoisans have nation’s lowest trust in state government by far

Illinois Democrats revive union arbitration legislation that would cut Rauner out of contract negotiations

Illinois corruption watch: January 2016

Illinois’ incredible, shrinking business establishments

Madigan’s budget solution is to make Illinois the most heavily taxed state in the Midwest

Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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