Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay

By Lilly Rossi

01/19/2026

Taxpayers usually get told what raise they will receive. They also get told what raises they will give: to state lawmakers, and by those same lawmakers.

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

By Ravi Mishra

08/11/2025

A $1.12 billion budget gap spurs Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson to circulate a menu of 26 tax hikes. Instead of making Chicago even more hostile to taxpayers, he should be looking at budget reforms and ways to stop spending so much.

Who in Springfield still owes Mike Madigan for getting elected?

By Joe Tabor, Jon Josko

06/12/2025

Think former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s influence ended when he resigned or was convicted of bribery? Maybe not. Fifty-seven Illinois General Assembly members who received funds from Madigan’s political committees are still in office.

TAGS: Mike Madigan

Lawmakers should look outside of Springfield when choosing a fiscal watchdog

By Joe Tabor

05/29/2025

Illinois Auditor General Frank Mautino is retiring after a 10-year term of monitoring public spending. The scrutiny his own campaign spending drew should have lawmakers rethink how they choose his replacement.

Illinois’ corporate tax already too high, but Springfield pushes for more

By Ravi Mishra

05/28/2025

If Illinois state lawmakers follow the Chicago Teachers Union’s push for a 7.92% base corporate tax rate, it can severely hurt Illinois’ competitiveness. Job creators do not need another reason to abandon Illinois.

TAGS: ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, jobs, taxes

Bill targets homeschool study groups with big school rules

By Dylan Sharkey

04/16/2025

Homeschool co-ops in Illinois would face several new rules meant for larger schools, according to the Illinois State Board of Education. The ‘Homeschool Act’ sponsor says her bill isn’t quite dead yet.

TAGS: homeschool

Teaching Illinois students to be smart with money can cut poverty

By Chris Coffey

04/07/2025

Minnesota and Utah have taken practical approaches to financial literacy education that have measurably improved students’ understanding in both states. Illinois should do more to teach students how to manage their money.

Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates

By Dylan Sharkey

04/02/2025

Illinois townships are sounding the alarm on the state’s biggest issues. Eight townships voted in support of state lawmakers fixing the state’s pensions crisis, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates.

5 bills to push back against Illinois’ culture of political corruption

By Joe Tabor

03/13/2025

Legislation in the Illinois House would empower inspectors general, restrict lobbying by elected leaders, add protections against conflicts of interest and end last-minute amendments to legislation.

TAGS: corruption, Mike Madigan

How government unions work against interests of private-sector unions, taxpayers

By Mailee Smith

01/08/2025

Government unions posed threats to public welfare that were recognized by founders of the labor movement and by progressive icon Franklin D. Roosevelt. Those threats have become reality, with government union power dominating – especially in Illinois.

Springfield

Illinois state lawmakers boost their own pay

26 tax ideas Chicago’s mayor is thinking about imposing

Who in Springfield still owes Mike Madigan for getting elected?

Lawmakers should look outside of Springfield when choosing a fiscal watchdog

Illinois’ corporate tax already too high, but Springfield pushes for more

Bill targets homeschool study groups with big school rules

Teaching Illinois students to be smart with money can cut poverty

Illinois townships vote to fix pensions, gerrymandering and unfunded mandates

5 bills to push back against Illinois’ culture of political corruption

How government unions work against interests of private-sector unions, taxpayers

4 ways to break out of Illinois’ pension trap

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