Think Illinois spends millions on migrants? Wrong. It spends billions.

By Ravi Mishra

06/09/2025

Illinois will have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care by the end of 2025. Costs have shattered projections and left taxpayers poorer.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois lawmakers sue peers over last-minute, $55B budget vote

By Dylan Sharkey

06/06/2025

A group of Illinois lawmakers is suing their peers over the last-minute rush to OK a $55 billion state budget few people had seen – just like they do every year. The lawsuit aims to block the budget before Gov. J.B. Pritzker signs it in to law.

Inside Illinois’ 2026 budget: spend now, squeeze more, solve later

By Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

06/06/2025

State lawmakers built Illinois’ record $55.2 billion budget for 2026 on gimmicks, one-time fixes and piecemeal tax hikes. They left pension debt, transit cliffs and real reform for another day.

Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break

By Patrick Andriesen

06/05/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $55.2 billion budget relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco, short-term rentals and more. At the same time, he’s set to take away a property tax break.

5 things Illinois taxpayers are lucky state lawmakers failed to pass

By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis

06/03/2025

Illinois lawmakers got creative with state budget proposals to overhaul pensions and raise new revenue, many of which would have hit consumers and small businesses hardest. They also failed to intrude on how families choose to educate their children.

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

By Josh Bandoch, Lauren Zuar

06/03/2025

Published June 3, 2025 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The best path to empowerment and success, especially for poor people, is work. Work allows us to prosper while providing dignity, upward mobility, the means to support ourselves and create value for others. It’s how we become thriving members of our community. Central to this process is our education...

Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly

By Joe Tabor

06/02/2025

With the Illinois state legislative session ended, bills will start crossing the governor’s desk, some containing tax hikes, unaffordable spending and needless regulation. Here’s how Gov. J.B. Pritzker can stop these bad policies from becoming law.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, property taxes, taxes

Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes

By Bryce Hill, Ravi Mishra, Lauren Zuar

06/01/2025

Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plan surpasses last year’s budget by $2 billion, requiring taxpayers to pay over $800 million in additional costs for yet another year of record spending.

Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland

By Ravi Mishra

05/30/2025

State leaders rely on budget gimmicks and short-term fixes and they assume speculative proposals will become law and operate exactly as planned just to balance the books, if only on paper. Transparent, laws-on-the-books-based modeling is the only path to long-term stability.

Lawmakers considering adding more than $64.5 billion in pension costs in final hours of budget negotiations

By Bryce Hill

05/30/2025

As state lawmakers finalize the 2026 budget, public sector unions are pushing for major benefit spikes for Tier 2 pensioners to be included in last-minute additions.

Illinois

Think Illinois spends millions on migrants? Wrong. It spends billions.

Illinois lawmakers sue peers over last-minute, $55B budget vote

Inside Illinois’ 2026 budget: spend now, squeeze more, solve later

Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break

5 things Illinois taxpayers are lucky state lawmakers failed to pass

Beyond degrees: Empowering Illinoisans through career-first education

Here’s how Pritzker can stop bad bills out of Illinois General Assembly

Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes

Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland

Lawmakers considering adding more than $64.5 billion in pension costs in final hours of budget negotiations

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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