Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

By Bryce Hill

06/04/2020

Record April job losses hurt some communities even more than Illinois’ statewide decline of 13.4%.

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

By Bryce Hill

05/28/2020

Nearly 1 in 4 Illinoisans find themselves out of work, more than all border states except Kentucky.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois politicians have been banking on a bailout for years. Don’t give it to them.

By Austin Berg

05/01/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker, House Speaker Mike Madigan and other Illinois leaders were banking on a federal bailout long before COVID-19. How else can one explain their recklessness?

TAGS: bailout, coronavirus, COVID-19, Don Harmon, Donald Trump, Jason Plummer, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan

Bill would allow licensed, out-of-state nurses to serve Illinois patients

03/20/2020

To prepare for a rise in hospital visits, Illinois should remove interstate barriers for medical professionals.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, Mike Zalewski, National Council of State Boards of Nursing, nurse

Special report: Illinois must act now to guard against COVID-19 financial fallout

By Adam Schuster

03/17/2020

Due to its poor financial health and lagging economy, Illinois carries unique economic and fiscal risks from a prolonged market downturn or recession. The state must act now to mitigate harm from COVID-19.

State of the state: Pritzker saw worst first-year jobs numbers since Blagojevich

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

01/27/2020

Illinois job creation lagged the national median in nearly every sector.

TAGS: 401(k), BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chicago, constitutional amendment, economic competitiveness, economic growth, fair tax, government spending, graduated income tax, housing, housing market, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, income, income growth, JB Pritzker, job creation, jobs, labor, labor force participation rate, outmigration, pensions, personal income, population, private sector, progressive income tax, public sector, retirement age, spending, spending cap, Springfield, tax burden, tax hikes, tax increase, U.S. Census Bureau, unemployment

Unfair big government contracts hurt Illinois’ economy, cut job creation

By Orphe Divounguy, Mailee Smith, Bryce Hill

08/19/2019

Without reforms that level the playing field between the public and private sectors, the cost of Illinois’ public sector workers will continue to damage the state’s labor market, economy and taxpayers.

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/04/2019

Chicago is the most corrupt city, and Illinois the second-most corrupt state, in the nation, according to a recent report by the University of Illinois at Chicago. But corruption in Illinois is more than a buzzword. It comes with social and economic costs. Not only does corruption lessen residents’ faith in the government, it decreases...

Tax hikes vs. reform: Why Illinois must amend its constitution to fix the pension crisis

By Adam Schuster

08/24/2018

Reforming future benefit growth via a constitutional amendment is the only way to ensure the retirement security of government workers, protect taxpayer budgets and fulfill the needs of Illinoisans reliant on core services.

Rigged: How Illinois’ labor laws stack the deck against taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

12/14/2017

If Illinois is going to compete with its neighbors – and keep people from moving out of the state – it must reduce the enormous property tax burden its families are forced to bear. Following the lead of surrounding states by enacting collective bargaining reforms is one good place to start.

Kentucky

Decatur, Peoria and Elgin hardest hit by job loss during Illinois lockdown

Unemployment claims exceed 1.15 million as Illinois heads into 10th week of lockdown

Illinois politicians have been banking on a bailout for years. Don’t give it to them.

Bill would allow licensed, out-of-state nurses to serve Illinois patients

Special report: Illinois must act now to guard against COVID-19 financial fallout

State of the state: Pritzker saw worst first-year jobs numbers since Blagojevich

Unfair big government contracts hurt Illinois’ economy, cut job creation

Corruption costs Illinois taxpayers at least $550M per year

Tax hikes vs. reform: Why Illinois must amend its constitution to fix the pension crisis

Rigged: How Illinois’ labor laws stack the deck against taxpayers

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