Illinois Democrats again attack parents’ rights to choose best education for their children

By Hannah Schmid

02/18/2025

Democratic state lawmakers are making another attack on parents’ rights and educational choice in Illinois. A bill would require homeschooling parents to file annual reports to avoid truancy charges, be credentialed and have their curriculum reviewed.

Illinois Policy Institute sues over state law violating employers’ freedom of speech

By Patrick Andriesen

08/12/2024

Illinois law now forbids employers from discussing ‘religious or political matters’ with employees. The Illinois Policy Institute is suing because that restriction on its free speech threatens its ability to operate.

TAGS: free speech

Chicago Teachers Union membership drops under Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership

By Mailee Smith

10/10/2023

Nearly 500 education employees have stopped affiliating with CTU in the past year. But the number of members leaving the union could be even larger than currently reported.

TAGS: CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, Stacy Davis Gates

Report claims union support is increasing, but not for Illinois government unions

By Mailee Smith

09/15/2023

A recent report by a pro-union Illinois organization claims nationwide support for unions is increasing, including in Illinois. The Illinois part is wrong, at least for government unions. Here are three things you need to know about Illinois unions.

TAGS: unions

5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant

By Mailee Smith, Patrick Andriesen

06/26/2023

The U.S. Supreme Court ruling in favor of Illinois state worker Mark Janus in 2018 gave government workers the ability to stop funding government union politics. Chastened unions could have reformed. Instead, they got extreme.

U.S. Supreme Court rules government home equity theft unconstitutional

By Patrick Andriesen

05/27/2023

U.S. Supreme Court justices ruled for a widow from Minnesota whose home was seized and sold for a tax debt, but local government kept $25,000 more than she owed. The ruling should stop the practice in Illinois, where it is especially prevalent.

TAGS: U.S. Supreme Court

U.S. Supreme Court case aims to stop homes from being taken for small tax debts without compensation

By Joe Tabor

04/27/2023

Illinois homeowners have lost the full value of their homes over relatively small tax debts. But a case now before the U.S. Supreme Court could end that practice in Illinois and across the country.

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

02/15/2023

Here’s what Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker had to say about how Illinois is faring and what his priorities will be in the fiscal year 2024 budget.

TAGS: JB Pritzker

Illinois union membership shrinks by 17,000 in 2022

By Mailee Smith

01/23/2023

The drop in union membership for Illinois workers follows a 33-year downward trend, moving from more than 1-in-5 workers being in a union, to nearly 1-in-8.

TAGS: Illinois, unions

Fact check: Private sector workers excluded from Amendment 1

By Mailee Smith

10/06/2022

Despite proponents’ claims, the rights outlined in Amendment 1 cannot apply to non-government employees. U.S. Supreme Court precedent already makes that clear. So did the proposal’s Illinois Senate sponsor.

TAGS: Amendment 1

Supreme Court of the United States

Illinois Democrats again attack parents’ rights to choose best education for their children

Illinois Policy Institute sues over state law violating employers’ freedom of speech

Chicago Teachers Union membership drops under Stacy Davis Gates’ leadership

Report claims union support is increasing, but not for Illinois government unions

5 years after Janus v. AFSCME, unions are smaller but more militant

U.S. Supreme Court rules government home equity theft unconstitutional

U.S. Supreme Court case aims to stop homes from being taken for small tax debts without compensation

Full text of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State speech

Illinois union membership shrinks by 17,000 in 2022

Fact check: Private sector workers excluded from Amendment 1

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