Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families  

By Josh Bandoch, Joe Tabor

07/09/2024

Published July 9, 2024 America is facing a housing affordability crisis. According to a 2022 survey, 73% of Americans said the average person could not afford a home in their area, and 69% were worried about their children and grandchildren being able to afford a home. That’s unfair. Everyone deserves a good roof over their...

Chicago Teachers Union gives nearly $1.3M to sitting Illinois lawmakers

By Chris Coffey

06/06/2024

Since 2010, CTU has funded the political committees of 84 of 177 lawmakers currently in the Illinois General Assembly. When you look at just Democrats, it is 72% – nearly half from outside Chicago.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union

Editorial: State lawmakers in Springfield pass bill to cut off competition in 78 races

By Hilary Gowins

05/06/2024

Why did SB 2412 need to pass on May 2, in the middle of the election cycle, weeks after the primary election but still well ahead of the November general election? Many candidates had already started the complicated process of petition gathering and paperwork under the old rules. What justifies changing those rules in the middle of the game?

TAGS: election laws

Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports

By Patrick Andriesen

11/22/2023

The Illinois State Board of Education failed to publish diagnostic reports required by the Invest in Kids Act to track scholarship recipients’ progress starting in 2019. State lawmakers are letting the program expire without seeing a single report.

2 in 3 Chicagoans disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson on crime

By Dylan Sharkey

11/17/2023

When it comes to crime, 66% of Chicago voters disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s job performance, according to the newest Lincoln Poll. Just 25% of Democrats approve.

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

By Brad Weisenstein

11/09/2023

Illinois’ Invest in Kids school choice program for over 9,600 low-income students will end at the close of 2023. But supporters vow to resurrect it during the upcoming legislative session.

TAGS: Chicago Teachers Union, Invest in Kids, school choice

Invest in Kids press conference: Real students are impacted

By Brad Weisenstein

11/08/2023

About 150 students and advocates Nov. 8 were in Springfield chanting and trying to persuade state lawmakers to keep the Invest in Kids school choice program. Parents, educators and politicians made the case during a press conference hosted by Illinois Policy.

TAGS: education, Invest in Kids, school choice

Union control: 9 of 10 Illinois lawmakers have received money from unions

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

07/06/2023

Current lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly have received $60.2 million in contributions from unions since 2010. Most of that cash went to Democrats.

TAGS: unions

Pensions put Illinois’ 2024 budget in red by over $4B

By Bryce Hill

05/27/2023

Illinois state lawmakers shorted pensions by $4.1 billion and killed scholarships for low-income students, but gave themselves pay raises and a new office building. Their budget leaves no room for error as revenue projections drop.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, pensions

Nearly 70% of Chicago voters support property tax freeze

By Dylan Sharkey

02/23/2023

In an Illinois Policy Institute poll, 69% of surveyed Chicago voters supported freezing property taxes.

Republican Party

Regulatory reform can make housing more affordable for Illinois families

Chicago Teachers Union gives nearly $1.3M to sitting Illinois lawmakers

Editorial: State lawmakers in Springfield pass bill to cut off competition in 78 races

Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports

2 in 3 Chicagoans disapprove of Mayor Brandon Johnson on crime

Illinois lawmakers adjourn without saving school choice, but fight will continue

Invest in Kids press conference: Real students are impacted

Union control: 9 of 10 Illinois lawmakers have received money from unions

Pensions put Illinois’ 2024 budget in red by over $4B

Nearly 70% of Chicago voters support property tax freeze

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