Madigan, Cullerton bonuses among largest in the nation

By Shawn Tonge

03/17/2015

Only a handful of state legislative leaders earn larger leadership bonuses than Illinois’.

TAGS: John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

86% of Illinois state lawmakers received money from major government unions since 2002

By David Giuliani

02/06/2015

House Speaker Mike Madigan received more than $1.1 million since 2002 from the state’s five major public unions.

Quinn’s final battle: governor calls special session for comptroller special election, minimum-wage hike

By Donovan Griffith

12/19/2014

We have yet to see the full schedule for Quinn’s special session, but one thing is for sure, the governor is gearing up for one last battle on very important issues less than a week before a change of leadership.

TAGS: Pat Quinn

Veto session week 2 recap

By Donovan Griffith

12/06/2014

Action, or lack thereof, on the 2011 income-tax hikes, a minimum-wage increase, SEIU training and more affect Illinoisans in the wake of a lame-duck death.

TAGS: Chicago, lame duck session

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

By Brian Costin

11/01/2014

In October, we found 52 different stories of potential public corruption in Illinois, including a trio of stories related to the election. An Illinois Policy investigation into emails from a group of Kankakee County superintendents revealed potentially illegal activities to pass a countywide sales-tax hike for school facilities. Documents obtained suggest illegal actions by superintendents...

TAGS: good government, waste

Illinois has given companies more than $830M in EDGE tax credits since 1999

By Robert Steere

10/08/2014

Illinois’ Economic Development for a Growing Economy, or EDGE, tax credit program has been making the news from time to time during recent months, mostly in the context of discussions on how to reform Illinois taxes and grow Illinois’ economy simultaneously. The program is on the chopping block. Notably, talk of changes to the EDGE...

TAGS: EDGE: Economic Development for a Growing Economy

Bad blood makes for bad policy in General Assembly’s budget exemption

By Robert Steere

09/23/2014

Does bad blood between political leaders justify bad public policy? Most Illinoisans don’t think so, especially when the result is legislation that exempts their lawmakers from budgetary oversight. Earlier this year, at the midnight hour of spring session, Illinois’ legislative leaders carved out a special exemption for themselves from the state budgeting process. They enacted...

TAGS: taxes

Illinois General Assembly exempts itself from spending cuts, appropriations process

By Robert Steere

09/18/2014

In the throes of Illinois’ fiscal crisis, nearly every nook and cranny of the Illinois state budget should be fair game for review and reduction. But some state lawmakers don’t seem to think so, especially when it comes to their money. In the waning hours of the final day of this year’s spring session, state...

TAGS: John Cullerton, lawmaker pay, Mike Madigan, taxes

Chicago takes pole position in race for Obama library, no tax dollars required

By Jane McEnaney

09/16/2014

On Sept. 15, the Barack Obama Foundation announced four semifinalists in the battle to build Barack Obama’s presidential library and museum. The four potential host sites include the University of Chicago, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Columbia University in New York City and the University of Hawaii. Holding two of the four slots, the...

TAGS: Barack Obama, library, Obama presidential library, taxes

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

By Brian Costin

09/05/2014

At least 84 corruption-related stories have been reported from across the state of Illinois in August alone. Atop August headlines is the recent revelation that a federal grand jury subpoenaed the emails of Gov. Pat Quinn’s ex-chief of staff in relation to Quinn’s anti-violence grant program. The case, which has been referred to by some...

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, transparency, waste

Michael Madigan

Madigan, Cullerton bonuses among largest in the nation

86% of Illinois state lawmakers received money from major government unions since 2002

Quinn’s final battle: governor calls special session for comptroller special election, minimum-wage hike

Veto session week 2 recap

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

Illinois has given companies more than $830M in EDGE tax credits since 1999

Bad blood makes for bad policy in General Assembly’s budget exemption

Illinois General Assembly exempts itself from spending cuts, appropriations process

Chicago takes pole position in race for Obama library, no tax dollars required

Illinois corruption watch, August 2014

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