Illinois’ flat income tax puts taxpayers exactly in middle, encourages wealthy to stay

By Patrick Andriesen

02/26/2025

A new report from the Tax Foundation shows the typical Illinois taxpayer will save big thanks to the constitutional protections of Illinois’ flat tax. Some state lawmakers want to take that protection away.

Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform

By LyLena Estabine

11/14/2024

Illinois is at risk of getting in costly trouble with the federal government over its Tier 2 public employee retirement benefits. Here’s a solution that doesn’t make the state’s monstrous public pension debt even worse.

Flashback: What Illinois lawmaker’s progressive tax plan looked like 5 years ago

By Bryce Hill

01/19/2023

Here's what the progressive tax looked like nearly five years ago when state lawmakers were pushing a plan to tax Illinoisans $3.6 billion more, starting with those making $17,300.

TAGS: fair tax, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois state senator pushing progressive tax voters rejected

By Dylan Sharkey

01/18/2023

An Illinois state senator is reviving an effort to change Illinois’ income tax structure from a flat tax, even though voters soundly defeated the change in 2020. Expect higher taxes, retirement taxes if he gets his way.

TAGS: Illinois, progressive income tax

Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike

01/19/2021

Lame duck session was busy even when House Democrats weren’t focused on replacing Mike Madigan as speaker. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s small business tax hike died as 23 bills were passed, including one making Chicago’s pension woes worse.

TAGS: firefighter pensions, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, lame duck session, police misconduct, unions

Christmas wish list: 12 gifts for Illinois taxpayers in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

12/19/2018

In 2018, Springfield handed Illinoisans more of the same repackaged policy failures. Lawmakers in the coming year should tape to their desks this wish list of taxpayer-friendly reforms.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, criminal justice reform, education, graduated income tax, income tax, pensions, prison reform, progressive income tax, property taxes, school choice, school district consolidation, sentencing reform, spending cap, U.S. Census Bureau

Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman

By Vincent Caruso

11/28/2018

State lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that allows one former firefighter serving as a Chicago alderman to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. The pension boost will also apply to future aldermen with a history of fire department work.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago City Council, municipal pensions, Nicholas Sposato, pension guarantee, pensions, Robert Martwick

Madigan’s money: AFSCME spending trail reveals extensive and hidden political activity

By Mailee Smith, Joe Tabor

11/01/2018

AFSCME Council 31, its PAC and AFSCME headquarters are major political players, funneling millions of dollars every year to Democrats or self-proclaimed progressive organizations.

States with a progressive income tax more vulnerable to fiscal shocks

By Vincent Caruso

09/25/2018

Despite finding favor among some politicians and political candidates in Illinois, states with a progressive income tax are more vulnerable during recessions than flat-tax states.

TAGS: income tax, Moody's Investor Service, progressive income tax, Robert Martwick, Standard & Poor's, taxes

Illinois’ economy shed 5,200 jobs in August, the first drop in 2018

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Suman Chattopadhyay

09/23/2018

Illinois experienced net job losses in August, while the rest of the nation saw continued growth on average.

TAGS: BLS: Bureau of Labor Statistics, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, jobs, unemployment

Robert Martwick

Illinois’ flat income tax puts taxpayers exactly in middle, encourages wealthy to stay

Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform

Flashback: What Illinois lawmaker’s progressive tax plan looked like 5 years ago

Illinois state senator pushing progressive tax voters rejected

Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike

Christmas wish list: 12 gifts for Illinois taxpayers in 2019

Illinois passes state law giving pension boost to one Chicago alderman

Madigan’s money: AFSCME spending trail reveals extensive and hidden political activity

States with a progressive income tax more vulnerable to fiscal shocks

Illinois’ economy shed 5,200 jobs in August, the first drop in 2018

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