Buying local just got a lot less appealing for Chicagoans. The city reclaimed the highest sales-tax rate of any major city in the nation on July 15, when the Cook County Board, which oversees Illinois’ largest city, voted to raise its portion of the sales tax, bringing Chicago’s combined rate to 10.25 percent from 9.25...

TAGS: Chicago, sales tax

Illinois is now the biggest food-stamp user in the Midwest

By Michael Lucci

07/13/2015

Many of the reforms that were so effective in Michigan are included in Gov. Bruce Rauner’s legislative agenda for Illinois.

TAGS: manufacturing, SNAP

Illinois House Democrats pass temporary budget, Senate must concur, Rauner says he won’t sign

By Darlene Senger

07/10/2015

Even if Senate Bill 2040 passes into law, it only buys the General Assembly a couple of weeks.

TAGS: budget

4 important takeaways from Rauner commission’s initial report on criminal justice

By Bryant Jackson-Green

07/09/2015

The initial overview of plans to safely reduce Illinois’ prison population by 25 percent contains important lessons for policymakers.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, sentencing reform

New bill would suspend Illinois lawmaker pay during budget impasse

By Heather Weiner

07/09/2015

It is wrong that the General Assembly doesn’t have to feel the impact of their actions when they are responsible for other Illinoisans not receiving paychecks.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, David McSweeney, John Cullerton, lawmaker pay, Mike Madigan

Illinois’ fiscal health ranks worst in the nation

By Bobby Shaw

07/09/2015

A new study puts Illinois’ state finances in dead last among the 50 states.

Growth through tax hikes? Illinois tried it – and failed

By Ted Dabrowski

07/09/2015

Arguing that tax hikes are a precursor to growth and a flood of new residents is simply backward.

TAGS: budget, cloud tax, income tax, sales tax

Illinois

Despite Senate OKing one-month budget, Illinois no closer to a balanced budget

High black imprisonment risk tied to educational opportunity

As Springfield stalls reform, another Illinois manufacturer heads across state lines

Chicago now home to the nation’s highest sales tax

Illinois is now the biggest food-stamp user in the Midwest

Illinois House Democrats pass temporary budget, Senate must concur, Rauner says he won’t sign

4 important takeaways from Rauner commission’s initial report on criminal justice

New bill would suspend Illinois lawmaker pay during budget impasse

Illinois’ fiscal health ranks worst in the nation

Growth through tax hikes? Illinois tried it – and failed

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