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

Midwestern United States

Sears cuts 200 Illinois jobs

Illinoisans have nation’s lowest confidence in state economy

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2016 budget address

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

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students