Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

05/22/2020

Illinois was ranked as the most restrictive state in the U.S. in a survey of COVID-19 actions that impact everyday life.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order

Pritzker again delaying unemployment benefits for independent contractors, gig workers

05/07/2020

Illinois’ self-employed workers have been unable to receive assistance since the pandemic began. Now the state wants them to apply, be denied, and apply again for help.

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

Pritzker should look to other states to develop a responsible reopening plan

By Amy Korte

05/01/2020

Uncertainty is amplifying the difficulty of the COVID-19 crisis, and Illinoisans need information on what a safe reopening will look like.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, economy, executive order, small business

Chicago needs a ‘wartime budget’ to face the COVID-19 crisis

By Adam Schuster

04/28/2020

City leaders must prioritize critical spending – and avoid hiking taxes on a struggling economy.

TAGS: Chicago, coronavirus, COVID-19, credit rating, emergency, Lori Lightfoot, pensions

Despite economic crisis, Pritzker won’t consider postponing $261 million in state raises

By Mailee Smith

04/24/2020

With more than 755,000 Illinoisans out of work, state employees are still scheduled to get their automatic raises. Gov. J.B. Pritzker is treating those raises as non-negotiable. Governors in other states would disagree.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, state worker pay

Pritzker failing to help out-of-work Illinoisans as other states adapt

By Austin Berg

04/21/2020

Illinoisans shoulder among the highest tax burdens of any state, and that should come with robust services. But soaring debt and pension costs have left too little room for the things residents need most from government.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Illinois state, local tax burden ranked highest in nation

By Brad Weisenstein

04/14/2020

Illinois residents pay more of their income toward state and local taxes than any other state’s residents. A progressive income tax proposal on the ballot in November would raise the state’s total tax burden by $3.7 billion.

TAGS: outmigration, progressive income tax, tax burden

Illinois scheduled to give $261M in automatic pay raises to state workers

By Mailee Smith

04/13/2020

Pritzker should join other Democratic governors in postponing automatic pay raises, which would free up funds for needy Illinoisans and potentially preserve state worker jobs in the long run.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, coronavirus, COVID-19, pensions, public sector, state worker pay

Before COVID-19 downturn, Illinois saw shrinking payrolls and nation’s worst loss of manufacturing jobs

By Bryce Hill

03/31/2020

New data show Illinois lost private sector jobs amid a national economic expansion for the first year on record in 2019, a sign of the state’s deep structural problems in the run-up to the current market downturn.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, coronavirus, COVID-19, economic growth, employment, jobs, labor force participation rate, unemployment

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

By Bryce Hill

03/27/2020

New census data reveals that for a second year, all 10 metro areas based primarily in Illinois experienced population decline.

TAGS: outmigration, population, tax burden, tax hikes, U.S. Census Bureau

New York

Illinois tops list for harshest COVID-19 restrictions in America

Pritzker again delaying unemployment benefits for independent contractors, gig workers

Pritzker should look to other states to develop a responsible reopening plan

Chicago needs a ‘wartime budget’ to face the COVID-19 crisis

Despite economic crisis, Pritzker won’t consider postponing $261 million in state raises

Pritzker failing to help out-of-work Illinoisans as other states adapt

Illinois state, local tax burden ranked highest in nation

Illinois scheduled to give $261M in automatic pay raises to state workers

Before COVID-19 downturn, Illinois saw shrinking payrolls and nation’s worst loss of manufacturing jobs

Every Illinois metro area loses population for second year in a row

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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