New Pritzker lockdowns driven by politics over science

By Brad Weisenstein

08/28/2020

Two areas of Illinois faced the same COVID-19 threat but received very different treatment from the governor. One is home to a political power base he needs to pass his progressive income tax in November.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, JB Pritzker

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

By Adam Schuster

08/26/2020

Decades of institutionalized financial mismanagement left Illinois with the nation’s worst fiscal health. Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan has been at the center of nearly every bad decision along the way.

Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes

By Vincent Caruso

08/26/2020

With the "fair tax" campaign, lawmakers aim to sell voters a shovel to entrench the status quo by advertising it as a weapon with which to fight against it.

TAGS: corruption, fair tax, federal investigation, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, Terry Link

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

By Bryce Hill

08/25/2020

Illinois’ high levels of corruption damage the state’s economy, costing it $10.6 billion since 2000. States with higher levels of corruption average lower levels of economic growth.

TAGS: corruption, economic growth, ethics, JB Pritzker, Mike Madigan, tax burden

Pritzker gets OK to treat businesses as criminals for failing to enforce his COVID-19 mask order

By Brad Weisenstein

08/11/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker again turned to criminal penalties to gain compliance with his coronavirus mandates. He is targeting business owners when customers and staff fail to wear masks.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, JB Pritzker, small business

9 Democrats demand Madigan’s resignation as Illinois House speaker

08/06/2020

America’s longest-serving House speaker is facing mounting pressure from within his own party over corruption implications in the federal case against ComEd.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, Democratic Party, Mike Madigan

Has your Illinois state representative called on Madigan to resign?

08/04/2020

Pressure is growing on the longest-serving state House speaker in American history to resign as federal investigators probe his relationships with corporate lobbyists.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, Mike Madigan

Ohio House speaker arrested on racketeering charges

07/21/2020

Larry Householder wields significant power as the House speaker in the Ohio State Legislature.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, Larry Householder, Ohio

Madigan’s office served with grand jury subpoena

By Brad Weisenstein

07/17/2020

America’s longest-serving politician is at the center of a federal corruption investigation into lobbying, bribery and using ComEd for political patronage jobs.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, Mike Madigan, patronage

Pritzker budget spends more on everything, but education is left behind

06/17/2020

Illinois’ fiscal year 2021 budget is larger than 2020’s, yet spending on education lost ground without an adjustment for inflation.

Republican Party

New Pritzker lockdowns driven by politics over science

Madigan’s fiscal legacy: How the longest-serving state House speaker built Illinois’ mountain of debt

Link in the chain of Illinois power, corruption, taxes

Corruption costs Illinois an estimated $556M per year

Pritzker gets OK to treat businesses as criminals for failing to enforce his COVID-19 mask order

9 Democrats demand Madigan’s resignation as Illinois House speaker

Has your Illinois state representative called on Madigan to resign?

Ohio House speaker arrested on racketeering charges

Madigan’s office served with grand jury subpoena

Pritzker budget spends more on everything, but education is left behind

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