Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Illinois

By Brad Weisenstein

01/08/2021

This page will be updated daily to reflect developments related to the spread of COVID-19 in Illinois.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDPH: Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Lori Lightfoot

Illinois retirees would pay $2,482 in state income taxes if “fair tax” targets them

By Bryce Hill

10/30/2020

Members of Pritzker’s administration, advisors and lawmakers have suggested a progressive income tax should tax retirement income in Illinois.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, retirement tax

If ‘fair tax’ passes, expect more seniors to leave Illinois looking to avoid retirement tax

By Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

10/09/2020

Illinois would have lost an additional 10,577 seniors from 2012 to 2018 if outmigration were as severe as in Connecticut, the last state to enact a progressive income tax.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, retirement tax

Progressive income tax would create 50.3% income tax rate for small businesses

By Bryce Hill

10/08/2020

Combined state and federal income taxes would have small businesses pay more than 50% of their top-end income in taxes.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, small business

Official Illinois progressive tax explainer ranges from misleading to wrong

By Adam Schuster

09/18/2020

Progressive income tax proponents put factually inaccurate and misleading claims into a constitutionally required pamphlet intended to inform voters about a proposed amendment.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions

By Adam Schuster

09/03/2020

Illinois’ pension crisis has been a growing problem for decades, and its negative effects on state residents are well documented.1 Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and related government shutdown orders threaten to bring that long-running crisis closer to its breaking point. The state’s five pension systems collectively held nearly $139 billion of debt at...

Progressive income tax study guide

By Orphe Divounguy, Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

08/27/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls it the “fair tax.” Opponents say it’s a “blank check” for irresponsible spending. Here’s what you need to know.

TAGS: ballot referendums, California, Connecticut, corporate income tax, fair tax, general election, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, income tax, JB Pritzker, middle class, outmigration, Springfield

Every state with a progressive tax also taxes retirement income

07/02/2020

Illinois could be the next state to tax retirement income if voters approve the progressive income tax in November.

TAGS: progressive tax, retirement tax

Illinois treasurer says ‘fair tax’ makes retirement tax more likely

By Adam Schuster

06/24/2020

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said a progressive state income tax will open the door to taxing retirement income.

TAGS: pensions, progressive income tax, retirement tax

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

06/18/2020

The contractor who revamped Illinois’ unemployment system to handle self-employed workers is being sued. One of the nearly 32,500 applicants who had private information exposed said it was used to access her bank account.

TAGS: identity theft, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, unemployment

Social Security

Everything you need to know about COVID-19 in Illinois

Illinois retirees would pay $2,482 in state income taxes if “fair tax” targets them

If ‘fair tax’ passes, expect more seniors to leave Illinois looking to avoid retirement tax

Progressive income tax would create 50.3% income tax rate for small businesses

Official Illinois progressive tax explainer ranges from misleading to wrong

Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions

Progressive income tax study guide

Every state with a progressive tax also taxes retirement income

Illinois treasurer says ‘fair tax’ makes retirement tax more likely

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

Solutions for vacant lots would reduce crime and poverty in Chicago

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