House Dems OK $800 million in new spending after heated debate

By Greg Bishop

04/06/2017

Illinois has racked up $14 billion in unpaid bills.

TAGS: Bill Brady, Bruce Rauner, Greg Harris, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, Patti Bellock, Robert Pritchard, Tom Demmer

Why are Illinois Democrats preparing to bail out bankers and cash-strapped local governments?

By Michael Lucci

04/03/2017

Bailout bills moving in the Illinois General Assembly would attempt to turn Illinois’ massive debt problems into guaranteed profits for banks and bondholders and a lower standard of living for other Illinoisans.

TAGS: bonds, budget, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, general obligation bonds, grand bargain, John Cullerton, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, property taxes, RTA: Regional Transportation Authority

‘Grand bargain’ would cut private sector pay and continue government worker perks

By Michael Lucci

03/28/2017

Illinois state government works to prioritize special interests over taxpayers – and the budget deal being negotiated in the Senate would continue that.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, Christine Radogno, grand bargain, manufacturing, outmigration, property taxes, taxes

Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid

03/23/2017

State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods, filed legislation March 23 that would give the Illinois Comptroller’s office discretion to delay payments to lawmakers if insufficient funding exists to do so. This came just hours after a Cook County judge said lawmakers must be paid.

TAGS: budget, Chris Welch, Dan McConchie, Illinois Comptroller, John Cullerton, Kate Cloonen, lawmaker pay, Lisa Hernandez, Mary Flowers, Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, Silvana Tabares, Susana Mendoza

Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately

By Brendan Bakala

03/21/2017

The Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s request to stop state employees from getting paid until a budget is passed.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, labor, Lisa Madigan, unions

Judge says lawmakers shouldn’t be paid ahead of everyone else

By Brendan Bakala

03/17/2017

Judge Garcia points to the lack of a budget as reason enough to delay payments to legislators.

TAGS: budget, lawmaker pay, Leslie Munger

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

03/09/2017

Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan, regulations

Senate ‘grand bargain’ breakdown

By Jim Long

03/02/2017

The Senate adjourned yesterday without taking any votes on the "grand bargain."

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton

What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/13/2017

What’s making college unaffordable for Illinois students isn’t budget gridlock, it’s soaring administrative costs in higher education.

TAGS: higher education

Fitch downgrades Illinois’ credit rating

By Brendan Bakala

02/02/2017

The New York-based credit agency cited the lack of action on a budget as the primary reason for the downgrade.

TAGS: budget, credit rating, debt, Fitch Ratings

John Cullerton

House Dems OK $800 million in new spending after heated debate

Why are Illinois Democrats preparing to bail out bankers and cash-strapped local governments?

‘Grand bargain’ would cut private sector pay and continue government worker perks

Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid

Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately

Judge says lawmakers shouldn’t be paid ahead of everyone else

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

Senate ‘grand bargain’ breakdown

What Illinois college students should know before meeting with Rauner, lawmakers

Fitch downgrades Illinois’ credit rating

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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