Frank Mautino and the arrogance of Illinois’ political insiders

By Austin Berg

04/27/2017

State agencies have paid more than $270,000 to Mautino Distributing Company – most of it after Madigan brought Mautino into a leadership role in 2009.

TAGS: corruption, Frank Mautino, Illinois Auditor General, Jeanne Ives, Mike Madigan, patronage, Rich Miller

Mautino pleads the Fifth in campaign finance case

By Greg Bishop

04/20/2017

The gas the Mautino campaign claims to have purchased over 16 years would equate to more than 35,000 miles every year. The circumference of the earth is 24,901 miles.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Frank Mautino, good government, transparency

Tax increment financing: A primer

By Chris Lentino

02/21/2017

Local governments create TIF districts to encourage development in “blighted” areas; but TIFs often don’t deliver on promised economic benefits, while they do divert tax dollars from other uses and create opaque slush funds for the mayor to reward insider developers.

TAGS: Chicago, property taxes, taxes, TIF: Tax Increment Financing

New bill would even the playing field for third-party and independent candidates

By Brendan Bakala

01/23/2017

Senate Bill 63 would make signature requirements to get on the ballot uniform for all candidates.

TAGS: ballot, election, Kyle McCarter

Calumet City aldermen and state representative Thaddeus Jones accused of exploiting campaign funds

By Brendan Bakala

01/13/2017

The Illinois State Board of Elections is accusing state Rep. Thaddeus Jones, who is now running for mayor of Calumet City, of misusing thousands of dollars of campaign funds.

TAGS: campaign finance, corruption, Thaddeus Jones

2016: Chicago’s year of the tax hike

12/31/2016

To address the city’s worsening financial crises, Chicago politicians turned up the dial on their usual answer to budgetary woes: raising taxes.

Uber, food trucks and Airbnb: Chicago’s 3 biggest over-regulation stories from 2016

By Chris Lentino

12/27/2016

It’s no secret Chicago aldermen aren’t friendly to outsider businesses and innovative industries. Here’s a look at some of the most egregious examples from 2016.

TAGS: Airbnb, Chicago, collaborative economy, food trucks, homesharing, regulations, Uber

After court ruling, Chicago food trucks must fight on against protectionist city rules

12/06/2016

In her Dec. 5 ruling, a Cook County Circuit Court judge said Chicago’s oppressive food truck regulations serve legitimate city interests. But evidence shows the only interests the rules protect are those of politically connected restaurant owners and politicians.

TAGS: Beavers Coffee + Donuts, Chicago, food trucks

Judge upholds onerous Chicago food truck rules

By Hilary Gowins

12/05/2016

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Anna Helen Demacopoulos squelched a ray of hope for Chicago food trucks Dec. 5 as the court upheld two of the city’s most oppressive regulations. In recent weeks, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has been coming after these small-business owners. But they’ve faced the city’s wrath for years, even after City Council...

TAGS: Chicago, food trucks, Institute for Justice

Group that blocked independent redistricting reform contributed $6.6M to Madigan-controlled political organizations

By Eric Kohn

11/02/2016

Since 1994, members of The People’s Map — which sued to keep a legislative map reform amendment off Illinois’ November ballot — and their employers have given over $6.6 million to Friends of Michael J. Madigan, the Democratic Majority and the Democratic Party of Illinois, which House Speaker Mike Madigan chairs.

TAGS: fair maps, gerrymandering, independent maps, Mike Madigan

Illinois State Board of Elections

Frank Mautino and the arrogance of Illinois’ political insiders

Mautino pleads the Fifth in campaign finance case

Tax increment financing: A primer

New bill would even the playing field for third-party and independent candidates

Calumet City aldermen and state representative Thaddeus Jones accused of exploiting campaign funds

2016: Chicago’s year of the tax hike

Uber, food trucks and Airbnb: Chicago’s 3 biggest over-regulation stories from 2016

After court ruling, Chicago food trucks must fight on against protectionist city rules

Judge upholds onerous Chicago food truck rules

Group that blocked independent redistricting reform contributed $6.6M to Madigan-controlled political organizations

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