Almost 40% of lawmakers who passed Pritzker’s automatic gas tax hikes no longer in office

By Rich Witzel

08/04/2026

Of the 131 who voted for the increases in 2019, 51 aren’t in the General Assembly today.

Chicago is only big city where mayor gets to fill city council vacancies

By Austin Berg, Gerrin Alexander

03/26/2025

Of the 15 largest cities, only Chicago lets its mayor fill vacancies on the city council. Mayor Brandon Johnson is about to exercise that long Chicago tradition by filling a vacancy he created.

Flashback: What Illinois lawmaker’s progressive tax plan looked like 5 years ago

By Bryce Hill

01/19/2023

Here's what the progressive tax looked like nearly five years ago when state lawmakers were pushing a plan to tax Illinoisans $3.6 billion more, starting with those making $17,300.

TAGS: fair tax, progressive income tax, taxes

Feds targeted these Illinois politicians for corruption in 2022

By Dylan Sharkey

12/26/2022

Illinois saw more than its fair share of corruption and misconduct again in 2022, but some politicians stood out in a crowded field.

TAGS: corruption, Illinois

Union boss receives 19-month prison sentence for extorting $325K from film studio

By Patrick Andriesen

10/28/2022

A former Teamsters secretary-treasurer was sentenced to 19 months in prison for extorting $325,000 from a Chicago film studio. The judge refused to give probation, saying “there is a price we all pay for public corruption.”

5 ways Amendment 1 is a property tax hike

By Bryce Hill

09/07/2022

Amendment 1 would likely result in a $2,100 tax hike for the typical Illinois homeowner, thanks to increased government union power to demand more.

TAGS: Amendment 1, workers rights

Government unions pour $4 million into ads for Amendment 1

By Dylan Sharkey

07/30/2022

Government worker unions are funding advertisements for a constitutional amendment that would guarantee $2,100 average property tax hikes statewide.

TAGS: Amendment 1, government unions

Amendment 1 sponsor sentenced to prison for union ghost payroll scheme

By Dylan Sharkey

06/22/2022

Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton was sentenced to one year in federal prison for embezzlement from a no-work union job. He sponsored the Amendment 1 proposal to make government unions nearly untouchable in Illinois.

Politicians convicted of corruption can run for re-election under Illinois law

By Dylan Sharkey

02/28/2022

After a corrupt politician gets caught in Illinois, they can again run for office. State Rep. Curtis Tarver II has introduced a bill to stop that.

TAGS: corruption, election, Illinois

Democrats’ legislative maps slam GOP after Pritzker breaks veto promise

By Brad Weisenstein

05/24/2021

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker gave fellow Democrats a very clear signal to gerrymander state legislative maps when he backed off his veto threat and said he trusted them to be fair. Mike Madigan-style maps place 23 Republicans into races against other incumbents.

TAGS: Democratic Party, gerrymandering, JB Pritzker, legislative map

Tom Cullerton

Almost 40% of lawmakers who passed Pritzker’s automatic gas tax hikes no longer in office

Chicago is only big city where mayor gets to fill city council vacancies

Flashback: What Illinois lawmaker’s progressive tax plan looked like 5 years ago

Feds targeted these Illinois politicians for corruption in 2022

Union boss receives 19-month prison sentence for extorting $325K from film studio

5 ways Amendment 1 is a property tax hike

Government unions pour $4 million into ads for Amendment 1

Amendment 1 sponsor sentenced to prison for union ghost payroll scheme

Politicians convicted of corruption can run for re-election under Illinois law

Democrats’ legislative maps slam GOP after Pritzker breaks veto promise

What is the Education Freedom Tax Credit and how can it benefit 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