Moody’s report: Illinois one of two states unprepared for next recession

By Adam Schuster

05/21/2019

Financial stress testing shows Illinois and New Jersey are the most unprepared for the next recession. Both states lack sufficient rainy day funds and struggle with large pension debt.

TAGS: debt, Moody's Investor Service, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, recession, revenue

Illinois can spend another $10B on infrastructure without tax hikes

By Adam Schuster

05/15/2019

Illinois can do it the old way and raise taxes to deliver pork projects. Or Illinois can be smart and make each tax dollar work hard to deliver projects that help residents and the economy.

Energy company shelves $500M Illinois expansion, cites ‘anti-business’ climate

By Vincent Caruso

05/02/2019

An Illinois-based energy company will halt construction on a planned $500 million plant, a casualty of the Land of Lincoln’s hostile business environment.

TAGS: corporate income tax, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, progressive income tax, taxes, unemployment

Springfield area residents pay some of the nation’s highest property tax rates

04/29/2019

A progressive tax won’t stop constant property tax hikes. Pension reform will.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, property taxes, Springfield, taxes

Pritzker’s tax plan would worsen Illinois’ people problem

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

04/13/2019

With Illinoisans increasingly likely to move, Pritzker’s tax plan would send more moving vans toward the state line, and hit the gas.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, outmigration, progressive income tax, taxes

Poll: Illinois voters in key House districts oppose Pritzker’s income tax plan

By Austin Berg

04/11/2019

Polling of likely voters shows why some Democratic Illinois House members could regret voting for the governor’s graduated income tax.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, Jonathan Carroll, Karina Villa, Katie Stuart, Mary Edly-Allen, Monica Bristow, progressive income tax, Sue Scherer, taxes, Terra Costa Howard

Senate bill would double Illinois state gas tax

By Vincent Caruso

03/22/2019

A bill that would double the gas tax imposed at the state level would drive up Illinoisans’ overall gas burden to second-highest in the nation – while hiking a truckload of other vehicle costs including higher license plate fees.

TAGS: gas tax, taxes, transportation

Cullerton spending cap would avert future Illinois tax hikes

By Vincent Caruso

02/20/2019

State spending has grown nearly 50 percent faster than Illinoisans’ incomes during the past decade. State Sen. Tom Cullerton, D-Villa Park, has proposed a constitutional spending cap that offers a long-term solution to the state’s budgetary problems.

TAGS: income tax, spending, spending cap, taxes, Tom Cullerton

Another Illinois lawmaker hits the pension lottery

By Austin Berg

01/17/2019

There’s a lot of talk about renewed bipartisanship and a new day in Springfield. Dozens of state lawmakers have already opted out of the pension system. The General Assembly should take the lead and phase out their own defined-benefit system and get to work on a constitutional fix for the rest of Illinois’ pension mess.

TAGS: lawmaker pay, Lou Lang, pension guarantee, pensions

If Illinois hikes gas tax, expect more drivers to buy across state lines

By Brad Weisenstein

01/14/2019

Illinois already taxes 20 cents more per gallon of gasoline than Missouri. If state lawmakers add another 30 cents per gallon, expect an exodus of southwestern Illinois drivers buying gas and more in St. Louis.

TAGS: gas tax, property taxes, St. Clair County

Springfield

Moody’s report: Illinois one of two states unprepared for next recession

Illinois can spend another $10B on infrastructure without tax hikes

Energy company shelves $500M Illinois expansion, cites ‘anti-business’ climate

Springfield area residents pay some of the nation’s highest property tax rates

Pritzker’s tax plan would worsen Illinois’ people problem

Poll: Illinois voters in key House districts oppose Pritzker’s income tax plan

Senate bill would double Illinois state gas tax

Cullerton spending cap would avert future Illinois tax hikes

Another Illinois lawmaker hits the pension lottery

If Illinois hikes gas tax, expect more drivers to buy across state lines

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