4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

By LyLena Estabine

01/13/2026

Causes, costs, how to set the state free

Illinois lawmakers plan to short pensions by $5.1B in July

By Bryce Hill

02/10/2025

Illinois’ five state-run retirement systems need $16.8 billion in funding for the coming fiscal year, but state lawmakers only plan to pay $11.7 billion. That’s $5.1 billion less than needed for plans already approaching insolvency.

Illinois state pension debt climbs to $144B

By LyLena Estabine

12/16/2024

Illinois' unfunded statewide public pension liabilities grew another $1.5 billion in the past year. Better investment returns couldn’t keep up with public worker pensions growing faster than projected.

New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans

By Patrick Andriesen

02/09/2024

The bill introduced by state Rep. Tim Ozinga would redirect savings from shrinking pension payments to support local school districts and reduce Illinois’ second-in-the -nation property taxes. Some districts could see their tax bills cut in half.

Illinois’ public pension mess shows threat of unchecked government union power

By Joe Tabor

09/14/2022

For 52 years the Illinois Constitution’s pension protection clause has locked the state into retirement promises it cannot afford. Amendment 1 could do the same for government union demands, handing taxpayers the bill.

TAGS: government unions, pensions

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

By Joe Tabor

08/17/2022

Published Aug. 17, 2022 Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension...

10 Illinois pension abuses show why taxpayers deserve reform

By Justin Carlson

08/04/2022

Illinois’ broken pension system has allowed loopholes and schemes that cheat other pensioners and drive up taxpayers’ burdens. Here are 10 examples.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Mike Madigan, pension reform, pensions

Experts: Illinois lawmakers wrong to back 80% funding level for pensions

By Adam Schuster

04/01/2022

Illinois’ 90% funding target already violates best practices, but some have proposed going even lower. That’s a bad idea based on a myth, according to the American Academy of Actuaries.

TAGS: Illinois, pensions

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

By Adam Schuster

08/26/2020

Decades of institutionalized financial mismanagement left Illinois with the nation’s worst fiscal health. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been at the center of nearly every bad decision along the way.

62 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions

06/05/2020

Illinois’ broken pension system puts $100,000 a year or more into the hands of 62 former state lawmakers. It has paid more than $1 million to 94 of them.

TAGS: Arthur L. Berman, Barbara Flynn Currie, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, Jim Edgar, lawmaker pay, Lou Lang, Pat Quinn, pensions

Jim Edgar

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

Illinois lawmakers plan to short pensions by $5.1B in July

Illinois state pension debt climbs to $144B

New bill promises up to 50% property tax relief for Illinoisans

Illinois’ public pension mess shows threat of unchecked government union power

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

10 Illinois pension abuses show why taxpayers deserve reform

Experts: Illinois lawmakers wrong to back 80% funding level for pensions

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

62 former state lawmakers receiving more than $100K pensions

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