Pritzker claims $1.7B surplus while his budget shows $1.5B deficit

By Adam Schuster

02/02/2022

Despite claims during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s speech, his budget documents show a flood of federal COVID-19 aid temporarily shrank Illinois’ deficit but failed to balance its budget. His next budget will not end well.

TAGS: budget, deficit, JB Pritzker

Pritzker pitches $1B in temporary tax cuts after $5.4B in permanent tax hikes

By Patrick Andriesen

02/01/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker is expected to unveil $1 billion in temporary tax cuts on groceries, property taxes and gas bills in his new budget. It all goes away just months after he seeks reelection Nov. 8, changing little.

TAGS: budget, JB Pritzker, State of the State, taxes

Pritzker vetoes COVID-19 sick leave for school workers, says only vaccinated deserve it

By Dylan Sharkey

01/25/2022

Gov. J.B Pritzker vetoed a bill guaranteeing sick leave for school and college employees related to COVID-19. He said he would rather sign a bill reserving compensation for employees fully vaccinated against the coronavirus.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, public schools, sick leave, vaccines

Secretary of State Offices reopen as Omicron peak subsides, statewide mitigations mount

By Patrick Andriesen

01/24/2022

Secretary of State Jesse White said the offices will reopen over the next two days as drivers’ facilities resume in-person services after the Omicron peak. Governor offers no such assurances about lifting mitigations in the state.

TAGS: COVID-19, Illinois Secretary of State, Omicron

Illinois teachers push back on COVID-19 vax mandate

By Dylan Sharkey

01/21/2022

Illinois teachers currently face mandated COVID-19 testing if unvaccinated. The Illinois State Board of Education might remove that option depending on whether it follows Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate or a high court decision.

TAGS: ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, public schools, vaccine mandate

Pritzker seeks end to hiring oversight as watchdog details more patronage

By Dylan Sharkey

01/17/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker argues his state agencies no longer need a federal minder to ensure hiring is not political. That federal watchdog has four recent examples of why state hiring still needs oversight.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, Shakman decrees

Illinois has been subject to Pritzker’s emergency powers for nearly 22 months. Where does this power come from?

By Joe Tabor

01/06/2022

Illinois’ emergency management statute grants the governor broad powers to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic, and the General Assembly has shown no interest in amending it.

TAGS: COVID-19, emergency, JB Pritzker

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

12/22/2021

Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...

Pritzker emergency No. 23 comes as Colorado drops masks

By Dylan Sharkey

12/14/2021

Illinois is far from finished with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s statewide COVID-19 mandates, but another Democratic governor just said the emergency is over and the state shouldn’t be making people wear masks anymore.

TAGS: Colorado, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks

Illinois teachers sue Pritzker over COVID-19 school mandates

By Patrick Andriesen

12/14/2021

A class-action lawsuit filed by 88 Illinois teachers seeks to block Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s COVID-19 mandates on shots, tests and vaccinations for school personnel.

TAGS: COVID-19, JB Pritzker, masks, teachers union

J. B. Pritzker

Pritzker claims $1.7B surplus while his budget shows $1.5B deficit

Pritzker pitches $1B in temporary tax cuts after $5.4B in permanent tax hikes

Pritzker vetoes COVID-19 sick leave for school workers, says only vaccinated deserve it

Secretary of State Offices reopen as Omicron peak subsides, statewide mitigations mount

Illinois teachers push back on COVID-19 vax mandate

Pritzker seeks end to hiring oversight as watchdog details more patronage

Illinois has been subject to Pritzker’s emergency powers for nearly 22 months. Where does this power come from?

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

Pritzker emergency No. 23 comes as Colorado drops masks

Illinois teachers sue Pritzker over COVID-19 school mandates

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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