Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid

By Austin Berg

07/17/2016

Illinois lawmakers earn base salaries of nearly $68,000 for what is essentially part-time work.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Kim Lightford, lawmaker pay, Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn

Illinois gets $5.24 million windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

By Amy Korte

06/27/2016

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, the state took in $5.24 million more in fees for late license-plate renewal between January and June 21, 2016, than it did during the same period in 2015.

TAGS: Illinois Secretary of State, license plate, vehicle registration

A mother’s will to win

By Austin Berg

06/02/2016

It’s easy to get cynical about Illinois politics. Frustration is the norm in Springfield. Optimism is an emotional liability. But Lisa Creason doesn’t play by those rules. When it comes to politics in the Land of Lincoln, the single mom from Decatur just pulled off the biggest underdog story of 2016. She drove to Springfield...

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Lisa Creason, occupational licensing

Illinois Senate kills Madigan budget

By Craig Lesner

06/01/2016

On May 31, the Illinois Senate rejected House Speaker Mike Madigan’s budget proposal, which was unbalanced by $7 billion.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan

General Assembly passes occupational-licensing reform

By Bryant Jackson-Green

06/01/2016

HB 5973 would remove significant occupational-licensing barriers, thereby making it easier for former offenders to support themselves and their families – and making it less likely ex-offenders will commit crimes in the future.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing

Removing barriers for ex-offenders: Occupational-licensing expansion bill passes Illinois Senate

By Hilary Gowins

05/27/2016

House Bill 5973 would help ex-offenders support themselves and their families by removing barriers for nonviolent ex-offenders who want to work in barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair braiding, nail services, roofing and funeral service.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing, reentry

Illinois soda tax would hit low-income households hardest

By Michael Lucci

05/22/2016

A soda tax would fall upon those who can afford it least, and would serve only as another tax hike “solution” for a state that has a spending problem.

TAGS: sugar tax

Illinois gets $3.5M windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

By Amy Korte

05/09/2016

Illinois motorists have paid more than $6.5 million this year for failing to renew vehicle license plates on time, more than double the amount collected in the same four-month span last year.

TAGS: license plate

Progressive tax would introduce marriage penalty into Illinois tax code

By Michael Lucci

04/27/2016

Replacing Illinois’ fair, flat income tax with a progressive tax would mean that some married couples with both spouses working would pay more in state income taxes than if they remained single.

TAGS: graduated income tax, income tax, progressive income tax

Local government transparency bill clears Illinois House

04/18/2016

House Bill 5522 would require local governments and school districts in Illinois to maintain websites with links to vital public information such as budgets, expenditures and officials’ names and numbers.

TAGS: corruption, local government, transparency

Illinois Senate

Illinoisans suffer, politicians get paid

Illinois gets $5.24 million windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

A mother’s will to win

Illinois Senate kills Madigan budget

General Assembly passes occupational-licensing reform

Removing barriers for ex-offenders: Occupational-licensing expansion bill passes Illinois Senate

Illinois soda tax would hit low-income households hardest

Illinois gets $3.5M windfall as motorists rack up fees for late vehicle registration

Progressive tax would introduce marriage penalty into Illinois tax code

Local government transparency bill clears Illinois House

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

Report Archive

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Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students