Chicago ranks No. 2 in the nation for combined state and local sales tax

By Patrick Andriesen

08/31/2021

The Windy City tied with four other major cities as imposing the nation’s second highest sales tax on residents among 124 considered. The report warns the city’s new status could be costing Chicago businesses their competitive edge.

TAGS: Chicago, taxes

COVID-19 tests, masks required to see some of Illinois State Fair

By Noah Shaar

08/10/2021

2021’s Illinois State Fair will require all visitors to wear masks indoors and prove vaccination or a negative test to enter certain venues.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, executive order, Illinois, JB Pritzker, masks, Springfield, State Fair, vaccine

How to file a Freedom of Information Act request in Illinois

07/29/2021

Watching government and how taxes are spent isn’t always a simple process, but a useful tool helps obtain records to see the inner workings of schools, cities and state agencies: the Illinois Freedom of Information Act

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act

Illinois unemployment fund faces potential $8 billion deficit

By Patrick Andriesen

06/21/2021

Historic unemployment payouts related to the COVID-19 shutdowns left Illinois’ fund billions in the hole. State leaders did nothing to fix it, meaning there could be reduced benefits for the unemployed or higher taxes on employers trying to recover.

TAGS: deficit, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security

Exelon lobbyist pushes $14.4 million payday for Springfield lawmakers

By Patrick Andriesen

06/15/2021

The Illinois General Assembly voted for a decade to eliminate annual cost-of-living adjustments for lawmaker salaries after the Great Recession. Now, former state lawmakers are suing the state to put that money right back into politicians’ pockets.

TAGS: Exelon, lawmaker pay, lobbying

Madigan’s former chief indicted for lying about boss, bribery suspect

By Brad Weisenstein

05/26/2021

A federal probe again hit close to former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan. The indictment of his former chief of staff is the latest indication questions are still being asked about Madigan, bribery and corruption.

TAGS: corruption, federal investigation, Mike Madigan, Tim Mapes

79,000 more Illinoisans are in poverty because state can’t fix its culture of corruption

By Orphe Divounguy

05/12/2021

If Illinois could have reduced corruption to the national average, an estimated 79,000 fewer people would be living in poverty, according to an analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute. State lawmakers can help by passing ethics reforms.

TAGS: corruption, economy, ethics reform, Illinois, income inequality, poverty

Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities

By Mailee Smith

04/21/2021

Both police reform advocates and law enforcement supporters face the same serious obstacle in Illinois: police union contracts include provisions protecting officers from discipline. Those contracts carry more weight than state law.

Three myths about district consolidation under the Classrooms First Act

By Adam Schuster

03/24/2021

A bill that could reduce property taxes and improve education quality faces a misinformation campaign from school district administrators seeking to preserve wasteful bureaucracy. Here are the facts about the Classrooms First Act.

TAGS: administrative bloat, consolidation, Rita Mayfield, school district efficiency

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans

By Adam Schuster

03/17/2021

Illinois has a chance to fix its state finances, thanks to federal relief. But unless pension growth is brought under control, both retirees and taxpayers will be at risk as debt continues to consume state services.

Springfield

Chicago ranks No. 2 in the nation for combined state and local sales tax

COVID-19 tests, masks required to see some of Illinois State Fair

How to file a Freedom of Information Act request in Illinois

Illinois unemployment fund faces potential $8 billion deficit

Exelon lobbyist pushes $14.4 million payday for Springfield lawmakers

Madigan’s former chief indicted for lying about boss, bribery suspect

79,000 more Illinoisans are in poverty because state can’t fix its culture of corruption

Police union contracts hinder discipline in Illinois’ biggest cities

Three myths about district consolidation under the Classrooms First Act

Illinois Forward 2022: COVID-19 makes pension reform imperative to protecting taxpayers, services for vulnerable Illinoisans

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