Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper

By LyLena Estabine

02/04/2026

Illinois lawmakers propose a Tier 2 pension expansion that adds costly sweeteners, despite struggling to keep up with current obligations.

Watch out: Illinois lawmakers may still spike pensions this session

By LyLena Estabine

05/19/2025

Illinois lawmakers could still pass expensive changes to newer state worker pensions using a “gut and replace” maneuver. The proposal would cost taxpayers over $76 billion by 2050.

TAGS: pension spiking

Pritzker pushes $13B pension benefit hike in his budget

By Bryce Hill

03/06/2025

Newer state employees would get a $13 billion pension benefit boost if Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s fiscal year 2026 budget proposal passes. What should be a minor fix is being used to create an even bigger Illinois pension mess.

TAGS: budget, Illinois, JB Pritzker

State lawmakers want to spike Illinois’ public pension benefits by $60B

By LyLena Estabine

02/19/2025

Pension experts projected state lawmakers’ plans to drastically expand benefits for newer employees would add $60 billion to the state’s pension liability. Illinois is already $143.7 billion in the pension hole.

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.

Who is running for judge in Illinois in 2024?

By Joe Tabor

10/17/2024

On Nov. 5 Illinoisans will vote to elect two Illinois Supreme Court justices and nine appellate court justices, and whether to retain four sitting appellate court justices.

TAGS: Election Day

Pritzker boosts public school funding by $350 million but wants to cut low-income scholarship program

By Patrick Andriesen

05/07/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker wanted to renege on the promised $350 million increase in education spending until state lawmakers pushed back. He still wants to cut the scholarship program low-income and minority students use when public education doesn’t fit them.

TAGS: Invest in Kids, JB Pritzker, public schools, school choice, teachers union

Illinois House in limbo until speaker is elected

By Joe Tabor

01/12/2021

With Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan reportedly short of the 60 votes needed to hold on to the speakership, Illinois House members will have to line up behind a new candidate before they can get down to business.

TAGS: House Rules Committee, House Speaker, Mike Madigan, voting

51 House Democrats back Madigan for speaker in caucus vote

By Austin Berg

01/11/2021

See who your representative backed in a historic fight for the Illinois House speakership.

TAGS: corruption, House Speaker, lame duck session, Mike Madigan

Illinois House ends Madigan investigation

By Brad Weisenstein

12/16/2020

The Illinois House Special Investigating Committee did little that was special or investigative before ending their probe of Mike Madigan.

TAGS: bribery, ComEd, investigation, Mike Madigan

Stephanie Kifowit

Kifowit bill risks digging Illinois pension hole deeper

Watch out: Illinois lawmakers may still spike pensions this session

Pritzker pushes $13B pension benefit hike in his budget

State lawmakers want to spike Illinois’ public pension benefits by $60B

Illinois needs responsible Tier 2 pension reform

Who is running for judge in Illinois in 2024?

Pritzker boosts public school funding by $350 million but wants to cut low-income scholarship program

Illinois House in limbo until speaker is elected

51 House Democrats back Madigan for speaker in caucus vote

Illinois House ends Madigan investigation

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