Out of ideas: Political insiders push for a $30 billion tax hike

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/17/2016

The Civic Federation is pushing a $30 billion tax hike in Illinois, following the same mistaken path that got Illinois in today’s fiscal crisis.

TAGS: Civic Federation, taxes

Illinois employers warn of nearly 1,400 layoffs in coming months

By Austin Berg

02/11/2016

Employers in Illinois filed notice with the state in January of hundreds of layoffs.

TAGS: unemployment

Chicagoans paying 50% tax rate on raw price of gas

By Hilary Gowins

02/11/2016

While gas prices have dropped to a 12-year low in Illinois, Chicagoans pay $0.32 more per gallon than the state average due to multiple layers of city, county and state taxation.

TAGS: Chicago, gas tax, taxes, transportation

CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low

By Michael Lucci

01/31/2016

Caterpillar Inc.’s announcement of 670 layoffs comes amid the loss of a quarter of the manufacturing jobs in Peoria and Tazewell counties since 2008.

Low-income entrepreneurs suffer most when government makes it harder to start a business

By Mark Adams

01/30/2016

Chicago’s many bureaucratic barriers to starting a business shield established businesses from competition and keep low-income entrepreneurs from getting ahead.

TAGS: Chicago, licensing, regulations

Madigan’s budget solution is to make Illinois the most heavily taxed state in the Midwest

By Michael Lucci

01/28/2016

Instead of spending reform and policies to promote economic growth, Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan proposes the same high-taxing, big-spending plans that got Illinois into its current fiscal mess.

TAGS: taxes

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s 2016 State of the State address

By illinoispolicy

01/27/2016

Transcript, provided by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office, of his 2016 State of the State address, as prepared for delivery, to the General Assembly on January 27, 2016.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, State of the State

Illinois only state among neighboring and Great Lake states to lose jobs in 2015

By Michael Lucci

01/26/2016

Illinois lost 3,000 jobs on net in 2015, while other neighboring and Great Lakes manufacturing states all gained tens of thousands of jobs on net for the year.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs, manufacturing, unemployment

Illinois lost 16,300 jobs on net in December 2015, down 3,000 jobs on the year

By Michael Lucci

01/23/2016

The state unemployment rate jumped to 5.9 percent from 5.7 percent, driven by an increase of 18,300 Illinoisans who are unemployed. Illinois also has 178,000 fewer people working compared to before the Great Recession.

TAGS: IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

New year, outta here: Another Illinois manufacturer seeks refuge in Indiana

By Austin Berg

01/08/2016

Enjoy Life Foods plans to move its lone Illinois manufacturing facility and up to 150 jobs to southern Indiana this year.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing

Midwestern United States

Out of ideas: Political insiders push for a $30 billion tax hike

Illinois employers warn of nearly 1,400 layoffs in coming months

Chicagoans paying 50% tax rate on raw price of gas

CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low

Low-income entrepreneurs suffer most when government makes it harder to start a business

Madigan’s budget solution is to make Illinois the most heavily taxed state in the Midwest

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s 2016 State of the State address

Illinois only state among neighboring and Great Lake states to lose jobs in 2015

Illinois lost 16,300 jobs on net in December 2015, down 3,000 jobs on the year

New year, outta here: Another Illinois manufacturer seeks refuge in Indiana

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