Chicago retirement fund for first responders at greater risk

By LyLena Estabine

08/14/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a law adding $11.1 billion in new liabilities to Chicago’s fire and police pensions, already the worst-funded in the nation. These “sweeteners” hurt retirement security more than they help.

Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile

By Charlotte Rotkis

08/13/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s extensive out-of-state travel raises questions about whether he’s prioritizing national exposure over challenges facing Illinois. During a 12-month stretch, he averaged one out-of-state trip per month.

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

By Jerry Barmore

08/07/2025

Gov. J.B. Pritzker had a chance to stop a bill putting taxpayers on the hook for $11.1 billion in inflated pension benefits for Chicago police and firefighters. He blew it. Taxpayers will be paying the price for decades.

TAGS: Chicago, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions

37 states wouldn’t let Pritzker run for 3rd term in 2026

By Dylan Sharkey, Charlotte Rotkis

07/08/2025

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is running for a third term in 2026. In two-thirds of the states, term-limit laws would prevent him from running.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Pritzker’s latest gas tax hike greets Independence Day travelers

By Rich Witzel

06/30/2025

Just in time for Independence Day travel, drivers will face Illinois’ latest gasoline tax hike. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has added 29 cents per gallon since 2019 – costing the average driver $143 more per year.

TAGS: gas, JB Pritzker, taxes

Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral

By Paul Vallas

06/27/2025

J.B. Pritzker wants a third term as Illinois governor, but based on his history of boosting taxes and creating spending records, can Illinois afford him for four more years? Will the state grow even smaller as Illinoisans get fed up and leave?

TAGS: JB Pritzker, outmigration, taxes

When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem

By Joe Tabor, Lilly Rossi

06/20/2025

6,745 bills were filed in the Illinois General Assembly this session, but only a small fraction passed both houses. Of those, 86% were introduced by Democrats. That big disparity is rooted in Democrats drawing legislative districts that shrink opposition.

TAGS: budget, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker

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.

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 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.

JB Pritzker

Chicago retirement fund for first responders at greater risk

Pritzker averages a trip out of Illinois per month while polishing national profile

Pritzker further undermines Chicago police, fire pensions

37 states wouldn’t let Pritzker run for 3rd term in 2026

Pritzker’s latest gas tax hike greets Independence Day travelers

Vallas: J.B. Pritzker’s $55.2B budget fuels Illinois’ financial death spiral

When GOP gets just 14% of state legislation, Illinois has a legislative map problem

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

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

Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland

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