Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner taking right first steps

By Robert Steere

12/02/2014

The governor-elect has shown wisdom in his first steps to address budget challenges. Illinoisans should hope the trend continues once Rauner takes office.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget

Chicago, the state and the pension-law debate

By Robert Steere

12/01/2014

Few options remain as Illinois governments confront budget-busting pension obligations.

TAGS: budget, Chicago, pensions, taxes

5 reasons FOIA bill would crush government watchdogs in corrupt Illinois

By Brian Costin

11/28/2014

HB 3796 would hamstring watchdogs in a state riddled with corruption. Lawmakers should let Quinn’s veto stand.

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, good government

Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner’s balancing act begins with fiscal year 2015

By Robert Steere

11/18/2014

Fiscal year 2015 will be a key to future budget success. Is the governor-elect up to the task?

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Pat Quinn, taxes

Misguided Uber restrictions are back from the dead

By Bryant Jackson-Green

11/16/2014

Regulation doesn’t guarantee safety or quality; competition does.

TAGS: Chicago, jobs, regulations, Uber

Top 10 reasons Illinois should reject a state-based health-insurance exchange

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

11/07/2014

Not only is a state-based ObamaCare exchange not required by federal law, but it also contains many drawbacks for Illinois consumers and taxpayers.

TAGS: health care

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

State, suburbs double down on Divvy

By Austin Berg

09/30/2014

Chicago’s Divvy bikes will soon be pedaled down suburban streets. On Sept. 29, Gov. Pat Quinn approved a $3 million state grant expanding the bike-share program to the suburbs of Evanston and Oak Park, while adding 50 new docking stations to Chicago’s Garfield Park, Austin, Rogers Park and West Rogers park neighborhoods. Seven hundred new...

TAGS: Divvy, rideshare, taxes

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

Pat Quinn

Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner taking right first steps

Chicago, the state and the pension-law debate

5 reasons FOIA bill would crush government watchdogs in corrupt Illinois

Budgeting for tax relief: Rauner’s balancing act begins with fiscal year 2015

Misguided Uber restrictions are back from the dead

Top 10 reasons Illinois should reject a state-based health-insurance exchange

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

State, suburbs double down on Divvy

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

Illinois General Assembly exempts itself from spending cuts, appropriations process

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