Poll: bipartisan supermajorities of Illinois voters support constitutional pension reform

By Patrick Andriesen

06/09/2022

Polling showed 61% of Illinois voters would approve an amendment to the state constitution changing future pension benefits while guaranteeing those already earned by public employees. Taxes remain Illinoisans’ top concern.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, pension reform, pensions

Vermont is the latest state to reform pensions with union support

By Justin Carlson

05/13/2022

Vermont and other blue states have recent pension reforms including reductions in cost of living adjustments. What makes Illinois different?

TAGS: government unions, pension reform, Vermont

Illinois voter suppression rampant thanks to few ballot choices

By Patrick Andriesen

05/11/2022

Progressive voices decry voter suppression in states such as Texas, but the very blue state of Illinois is guilty of rampant voter suppression using a system of maps and rules that defeat many challengers before they ever get on the ballot. A new effort is working to change that.

TAGS: ballot, gerrymandering, Illinois, legislative map, voter suppression

Pritzker defends forcing gas station owners to put his propaganda on pumps

By Patrick Andriesen

04/28/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said making filling stations advertise his temporary gas tax suspension or pay $500 a day in fines was not forced political speech. But an association of 500 small petroleum businesses is suing because they believe otherwise.

TAGS: gas prices, JB Pritzker

Illinois House passes plan to partially refill unemployment fund

By Dylan Sharkey

03/24/2022

The Illinois House voted to use $2.7 billion in federal relief to partially refill the state’s depleted unemployment trust fund. Some lawmakers said it’s not enough.

TAGS: ARPA: American Rescue Plan Act, Illinois, unemployment

Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog

By Patrick Andriesen

02/17/2022

Illinois state senators approved a new legislative inspector general over complaints by the Legislative Ethics Commission chair that the process and vetting were ignored for the new watchdog. House members vote next.

TAGS: Illinois Senate, Legislative Inspector General, watchdog

Crime surge, police exodus put Illinois criminal justice reforms in crosshairs

By Dylan Sharkey

01/24/2022

Eliminating cash bail and regulating police officers were parts of Illinois’ SAFE-T Act that some lawmakers blame for a rise in crime and loss of police officers. Republican state lawmakers want it repealed, while Democrats say it just needs tweaks.

TAGS: Chicago, crime, police, SAFE-T Act

Illinois lawmakers fail to replace their ethics watchdog

By Hannah Schmid

01/21/2022

The Illinois General Assembly is without a watchdog. The former legislative inspector general quit after saying she was just a paper tiger. Now lawmakers cannot agree on her replacement.

TAGS: ethics reform, Illinois, Legislative Inspector General, watchdog

Illinois child protection director gets 3rd contempt charge in 8 days

By Dylan Sharkey

01/14/2022

The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services director was held in contempt of court for allegedly violating the right to proper housing of a 17-year-old boy. It’s the director’s third contempt charge in eight days, highlighting DCFS’ struggle to place kids.

TAGS: DCFS: Department of Children and Family Services, Marc Smith

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

By Mailee Smith, Jon Josko

12/22/2021

Government unions in Illinois have tremendous power. Most are allowed to go on strike and can bargain over virtually anything.1 It creates an uneven playing field, with unions able to demand costly provisions in their contracts and threaten to strike – denying Illinoisans needed services – to get what they want.2 Until recently, the potential...

Republican Party

Poll: bipartisan supermajorities of Illinois voters support constitutional pension reform

Vermont is the latest state to reform pensions with union support

Illinois voter suppression rampant thanks to few ballot choices

Pritzker defends forcing gas station owners to put his propaganda on pumps

Illinois House passes plan to partially refill unemployment fund

Illinois state senators defy law to pick their watchdog

Crime surge, police exodus put Illinois criminal justice reforms in crosshairs

Illinois lawmakers fail to replace their ethics watchdog

Illinois child protection director gets 3rd contempt charge in 8 days

Unions flood politicians with cash: How it buys clout in Illinois General Assembly

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