9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

By Mailee Smith

06/11/2025

The Illinois Federation of Teachers represents employees in more than 200 school districts across the state, but it does a lot that defies expectations. Here are nine things you and its members likely misunderstand, most related to colluding with the Chicago Teachers Union.

TAGS: IFT: Illinois Federation of Teachers

Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks

By Ravi Mishra

05/30/2025

With the budget facing a potential $1.2 billion deficit, some ideas on the table include taxing deliveries from companies such as Amazon and digital ads.

Testimony: Chicago pension systems’ dire finances cannot afford benefit boost

By Bryce Hill

02/27/2025

Members of the Illinois Senate Pensions Committee heard from pension administrators and government unions about the need for more benefits from retirement systems that are already broken. The Illinois Policy Institute was there, too, to represent taxpayers’ interests.

Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

By LyLena Estabine

01/23/2025

Published Jan. 23, 2025 Chicago’s 2020 Additional Dwelling Unit Ordinance, while well-intentioned, has stifled development. Despite 71% of Chicagoans being in favor of putting additional dwelling units on existing residential lots – higher than the national average – restrictive and inequitable regulations have ensured very few are built.1 Only 44% of pre-approved applications have received...

National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons

By Mailee Smith

12/06/2024

NEA has lost nearly 400,000 members since its peak in 2009. It could be because just 9% of the union’s spending is on representing teachers – with the rest on politics, administration and other union leader priorities.

TAGS: education, IEA-NEA: Illinois Education Association

Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

By Mailee Smith

09/19/2024

Illinois government workers’ union dues fund Democratic Party campaign committees, which are now seeking to tip the presidential election outcome in swing states. That fails to align with at least 40% of members’ politics.

TAGS: SEIU: Service Employees International Union

Democratic National Convention to tout education policy near Chicago school where no kids read at grade level

By Dylan Sharkey

08/16/2024

Education will be a major platform piece during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. Too bad the party will meet near a Chicago school where spending $27K per student yields none who can read at grade level.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education

Pritzker scorecard: Illinois’ governor failing on economy, taxes, education

By Bryce Hill

08/15/2024

Real-world outcomes for Illinoisans have dropped since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. The nation’s Democrats need to see where he’s taken Illinois before following his lead.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

More than 90 local government leaders sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

By Jim Long

05/21/2018

Local government leaders across Illinois are asking their state lawmakers to stand up against House Speaker Mike Madigan’s progressive tax push.

TAGS: local government, Mike Madigan, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois Senate passes Chicago bailout, overrides Rauner’s amendatory veto

By Austin Berg

08/13/2017

All Senate Democrats and one Republican voted to override Gov. Bruce Rauner and pass Senate Bill 1 in its original form, including a bailout for Chicago Public Schools.

TAGS: Andy Manar, Bruce Rauner, education, Illinois Senate, Senate Bill 1, veto

Kamala Harris

9 things you’d likely get wrong about Illinois Federation of Teachers

Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks

Testimony: Chicago pension systems’ dire finances cannot afford benefit boost

Chicago’s hidden housing solution: How additional dwelling unit expansion can make city more affordable

National Education Association sees teacher exodus as political spending balloons

Illinois government workers’ union dues being diverted to swing-state politics

Democratic National Convention to tout education policy near Chicago school where no kids read at grade level

Pritzker scorecard: Illinois’ governor failing on economy, taxes, education

More than 90 local government leaders sign on to letter opposing progressive tax

Illinois Senate passes Chicago bailout, overrides Rauner’s amendatory veto

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