Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

By Brad Weisenstein

11/09/2023

Illinois’ Invest in Kids school choice program for over 9,600 low-income students will end at the close of 2023. But supporters vow to resurrect it during the upcoming legislative session.

TAGS: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids, school choice

Invest in Kids press conference: Real students are impacted

By Brad Weisenstein

11/08/2023

About 150 students and advocates Nov. 8 were in Springfield chanting and trying to persuade state lawmakers to keep the Invest in Kids school choice program. Parents, educators and politicians made the case during a press conference hosted by Illinois Policy.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, school choice

COVID-19 recession could double Illinois’ delinquent mortgage rate in 2020

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

06/16/2020

Up to 130,000 Illinois homeowners could fall behind on their mortgage payments if state lawmakers fail to provide relief.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, delinquency, mortgage, property taxes

Illinois lawmakers introduce bills to delay property tax payments

05/16/2020

Illinoisans who have struggled without paychecks because of the COVID-19 shutdown could get a delay on their property taxes. The hope is they are working again before they must pay the bill.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, property taxes

Push to repeal Illinois’ fireworks ban gains momentum

07/18/2018

A petition to repeal Illinois’ fireworks ban has garnered more than 7,000 signatures, as lawmakers in the General Assembly throw their support behind a bill that would do just that.

TAGS: Barbara Wheeler, C.D. Davidsmeyer, Dave Severin, fireworks ban, Joe Sosnowski

Does your lawmaker oppose a progressive income tax?

By Austin Berg

04/03/2018

One progressive tax proposal filed in the Illinois House of Representatives would hike income taxes on Illinoisans earning as little as $17,300 a year.

TAGS: income tax, progressive income tax

Rauner’s plan B for pension reform: Amend the constitution

By Benjamin VanMetre

04/09/2015

While the state waits for the Supreme Court’s SB 1 ruling, Gov. Bruce Rauner and other lawmakers are working up a pitch to amend the state constitution.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, pensions, Senate Bill 1

Preventing the next College of DuPage scandal: Transparency bills seek better online access

By Jim Long

03/21/2015

New bills aims to deliver on campaign promises of greater government transparency.

TAGS: College of DuPage, good government

Illinois Policy Action’s legislative agenda focuses on education, pensions, health care and more

By Jane McEnaney

02/15/2014

Yesterday marked Illinois lawmakers’ deadline to introduce bills for this spring’s legislative session. Our government affairs team was down in Springfield, finalizing Illinois Policy Action’s 2014 legislative agenda. Here’s a sneak peek at some of the major legislative initiatives we’ll be pushing this session: Pension reform State Rep. Ron Sandack has introduced a bill that...

A principled stand against pension “fix”

By Matt Paprocki

12/04/2013

Lawmakers met in Springfield on Tuesday for a special session on pension reform. After an early morning committee hearing, a gathering of each of the four legislative caucuses and several hours of lengthy floor debates, a pension bill passed the House and Senate, and now awaits Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature. The Illinois Policy Institute adamantly...

TAGS: Brad Halbrook, Brian Stewart, Dale Righter, Dan Duffy, David Harris, David Luechtefeld, defined benefit plans, Dwight Kay, Jason Barickman, Jeanne Ives, Joe Sosnowski, Kyle McCarter, pensions, Senate Bill 1, Tom Cross, Tom Morrison

Joe Sosnowski

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

Invest in Kids press conference: Real students are impacted

COVID-19 recession could double Illinois’ delinquent mortgage rate in 2020

Illinois lawmakers introduce bills to delay property tax payments

Push to repeal Illinois’ fireworks ban gains momentum

Does your lawmaker oppose a progressive income tax?

Rauner’s plan B for pension reform: Amend the constitution

Preventing the next College of DuPage scandal: Transparency bills seek better online access

Illinois Policy Action’s legislative agenda focuses on education, pensions, health care and more

A principled stand against pension “fix”

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