Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

By Paul Vallas

10/15/2025

Chicago Transit Authority ridership is still below pre-pandemic levels. Crime and a budget shortfall make matters worse, but there are cost-effective ways to make it safer.

TAGS: CTA: Chicago Transit Authority

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

By Paul Vallas

09/08/2025

Federal help is needed in Chicago, but it should be professional law enforcement and encompass the entire justice system. Sending just the National Guard is destined to create problems when Chicago’s embattled communities need solutions.

Pritzker offers National Guard if Chicago cops’ COVID-19 vax statuses thin ranks

By Dylan Sharkey

10/15/2021

With Chicago Police officers refusing to report their COVID-19 vaccination statuses, city streets soon could go unprotected. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is offering to call out the National Guard to keep order.

TAGS: FOP: Fraternal Order of Police, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot, vaccine mandate

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address

By illinoispolicy

01/31/2018

Delivered on Jan. 31, 2018.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, State of the State

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

Governor Bruce Rauner Inaugural Speech

01/13/2015

A transcript of Governor Bruce Rauner's Inauguration speech on January 12, 2014.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner

New Jersey Privatizing Ideas: Save Hundreds of Millions

07/09/2010

by Kate Piercy New Jersey Governor Chrisitie’s administration has put out a 57-page report identifying areas where government services could be privatized in order to save tax dollars — 210 million dollars a year, to be exact. According to a report from NorthJersey.com: State parks, psychiatric hospitals and even turnpike toll booths could also be run...

National Guard of the United States

Vallas: How to improve Chicago’s billion-dollar transit crisis

Vallas: Chicago needs federal intervention, but not National Guard

Pritzker offers National Guard if Chicago cops’ COVID-19 vax statuses thin ranks

Full text: Gov. Bruce Rauner’s 2018 State of the State Address

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

Governor Bruce Rauner Inaugural Speech

New Jersey Privatizing Ideas: Save Hundreds of Millions

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