The history of Illinois’ fiscal crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/28/2017

Illinois’ fiscal collapse is the culmination of decades of budget gimmicks and taxes used to paper over the state’s structural spending problems and misplaced priorities that favor special interests over ordinary Illinoisans.

7 reasons the Illinois Republicans’ budget plan fails taxpayers

By Craig Lesner, John Klingner

06/16/2017

The budget plan proposed by Republican General Assembly members would raise taxes by over $5 billion without enacting any significant spending reforms.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, education, grand bargain, Illinois House of Representatives, income tax, Jim Durkin, pensions, property taxes

Illinois Republicans’ budget plan hikes taxes by $5 billion

By Craig Lesner, John Klingner

06/14/2017

The Republican plan hits Illinoisans in fiscal year 2018 with the same $5 billion-plus tax hike from the “grand bargain” plan that failed in May. That plan starts with a 33 percent income tax increase, and includes questionable new taxes on services such as Netflix, laundry services and more.

TAGS: grand bargain, Illinois House of Representatives, income tax, Jim Durkin, Netflix

Rare interview shows Madigan rejecting term limits, downplaying power

By Austin Berg

05/15/2017

House Speaker Mike Madigan ducks responsibility for Illinois' woes, spurns term limits, and minimizes his massive power in a new interview.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan, term limits, workers compensation

‘Grand bargain’ redux: Brady plan the next in a long list of failed ‘compromises’ for Illinoisans

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/12/2017

Only in Illinois could a budget deal that hits struggling Illinoisans with billions in new taxes be called a “grand bargain.”

TAGS: Bill Brady, budget, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, taxes

5 consequences of Illinois’ bad budget deals

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

05/02/2017

Another Band-Aid budget deal won’t fix the financial problems that plague Illinois or stop the state’s credit rating from falling to junk.

TAGS: budget, credit rating

Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/28/2017

Credit rating agencies have warned Illinois’ credit could slide into junk territory if the legislative session ends in May without a budget deal to get the state’s finances back on track.

TAGS: Chicago, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, credit rating, Moody's Investor Service, pensions, Standard & Poor's

Damage from Edgar ramp obscured by dotcom boom

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/25/2016

Former Gov. Jim Edgar’s pension compromise with House Speaker Mike Madigan in the 1990s set the state’s pension funds down an unsustainable road.

TAGS: Edgar Ramp, Jim Edgar, pensions

Former Gov. Edgar’s ‘compromise’ pension plan led to Illinois’ fiscal crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/09/2016

Under former Gov. Jim Edgar’s pension ramp, unfunded pension liabilities have increased nearly $100 billion despite taxpayers contributing $16.4 billion more to the five state-run pension systems than required under the Edgar plan.

TAGS: Jim Edgar, pensions

Branded with a number on my name

By Scott Reeder

04/13/2016

When they let me out of prison, I held my head up high. Determined I would rise above the shame. But no matter where I’m living, the black mark follows me. I’m branded with a number on my name. —Merle Haggard

TAGS: criminal justice reform, reentry

Jim Edgar

The history of Illinois’ fiscal crisis

7 reasons the Illinois Republicans’ budget plan fails taxpayers

Illinois Republicans’ budget plan hikes taxes by $5 billion

Rare interview shows Madigan rejecting term limits, downplaying power

‘Grand bargain’ redux: Brady plan the next in a long list of failed ‘compromises’ for Illinoisans

5 consequences of Illinois’ bad budget deals

Illinois on track to become first ‘junk’-rated state in nation

Damage from Edgar ramp obscured by dotcom boom

Former Gov. Edgar’s ‘compromise’ pension plan led to Illinois’ fiscal crisis

Branded with a number on my name

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