Illinois may become 2nd state allowing financial services run on cryptocurrency

By Patrick Andriesen

04/23/2021

The Illinois House unanimously passed a bill intended to help make Chicago and Illinois a hub for financial technology companies.

TAGS: Bitcoin, blockchain, cryptoassets, cryptocurrency, Illinois

Illinois may outlaw balloon releases of 50 and up, up and away

By Brad Weisenstein

04/22/2021

Illinoisans planning a balloon release will need to count carefully. State lawmakers voted to fine repeat offenders who wantonly release 50 or more balloons.

TAGS: nanny state, paternalism, regulations

No more Madigans, maybe, as 10-year term limits for legislative leaders passes Illinois House

04/22/2021

Illinois state representatives almost unanimously voted to stop legislative leaders from again building a 36-year dynasty like former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan. The Illinois House passed a 10-year term limit on party leaders in both the Illinois House and Senate.

TAGS: Illinois, leadership, Mike Madigan, term limits

Judge says taxpayers owe 2 Illinois senators who voted to reject raises

By Brad Weisenstein

04/12/2021

Judge rules in favor of two former state senators seeking the back pay they rejected and then crowed about rejecting. Ruling applies only to the pair.

TAGS: Illinois, Illinois Comptroller, lawmaker pay

Too many government units means property taxes are too high in Illinois

By Patrick Andriesen

03/30/2021

A bill to eliminate some of Illinois’ 1,400 townships is on hold, but state lawmakers could revive it and give voters the power to reduce their property tax bills.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, local government consolidation, property taxes, townships

Illinois Senate committee passes bill to help nursing shortage

03/24/2021

Sen. Feigenholtz’s Senate Bill 2068 would add Illinois to 34 other states participating in the Nurse Licensure Compact. Career moves, volunteer work and pandemic relief would all benefit.

TAGS: COVID-19, emergency, Nurse Licensure Compact

Political maps get 23 public hearings in April across Illinois

By Patrick Andriesen

03/15/2021

Illinois House members scheduled public hearings before they try to redraw the maps showing who serves what area in Congress and the Statehouse. How they can legally create a map in June when Census data will not be out until September remains a question.

TAGS: fair maps, JB Pritzker, legislative district, redistricting

Madigan will retire with $2.9 million public pension after contributing just $350,000

By Adam Schuster

02/19/2021

Because of a pension sweetener for politicians that Madigan helped create, the former speaker’s pension will spike more than $66,000 the year after his first full year of retirement, then grow 3% each year thereafter.

TAGS: Mike Madigan, pensions

Illinois education spending belongs in classrooms, not in administrative offices

02/05/2021

A bill in the Illinois House would work to consolidate administration of Illinois’ schools without closing schools. The move would put more money in classrooms and take less from property taxpayers.

TAGS: administrative bloat, education bureaucracy, education spending, school district efficiency

Bill would give more power to CTU in fight to prevent school reopening

By Mailee Smith

01/11/2021

Illinois labor laws prevent the Chicago Teachers Union from going on strike to protest the reopening of school buildings. But the union is winning a push for legislation that places students’ return to school in jeopardy.

TAGS: COVID-19, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, strike

Illinois Senate

Illinois may become 2nd state allowing financial services run on cryptocurrency

Illinois may outlaw balloon releases of 50 and up, up and away

No more Madigans, maybe, as 10-year term limits for legislative leaders passes Illinois House

Judge says taxpayers owe 2 Illinois senators who voted to reject raises

Too many government units means property taxes are too high in Illinois

Illinois Senate committee passes bill to help nursing shortage

Political maps get 23 public hearings in April across Illinois

Madigan will retire with $2.9 million public pension after contributing just $350,000

Illinois education spending belongs in classrooms, not in administrative offices

Bill would give more power to CTU in fight to prevent school reopening

Illinois Forward 2027: How to fix Illinois’ state finances

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