2021 State of the State: Illinois economy weak before COVID-19

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

01/31/2021

Illinois’ weak economic foundations and fiscal mismanagement were preexisting conditions that caused it to suffer a deeper COVID-19 downturn. They will also hurt its recovery.

TAGS: budget, COVID-19, JB Pritzker, recession, State of the State

Madigan’s legacy of corruption will survive his downfall, unless …

By Joe Tabor

11/19/2020

After decades under Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s rule, Illinois is corroding from his concentration of power. Robust ethics laws, rules and norms could stop a new Madigan from rising.

TAGS: ComEd, corruption, house, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, madigan, Mike Madigan, Mike McClain, reform, speaker

Pension reform key to protecting Illinois services, taxpayers after ‘fair tax’ rejection

By Adam Schuster

11/12/2020

Asking Illinoisans to pay more in taxes to receive less in services has been the trend in state government for the past decade, driven by the ever-growing cost of Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, pensions

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

By Joe Tabor

07/20/2020

Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s power over Illinois politics is more precarious than ever. A steady stream of federal investigations, wiretaps and raids of people close to him, a deferred prosecution agreement with Commonwealth Edison wherein the utility giant admitted to bribing the speaker, and a grand jury subpoena served to Madigan’s office have led...

Pritzker signs budget out of balance by $6B

By Adam Schuster

06/11/2020

Lawmakers made no serious attempt to balance the new budget, instead counting on a federal bailout.

TAGS: budget, coronavirus, COVID-19, deficit, JB Pritzker

5 reasons why Illinois’ latest spending plan insults taxpayers

By Adam Schuster

05/29/2020

Lawmakers made no serious attempt to balance the new budget, instead counting on a federal bailout. They accepted an $1,800 raise for themselves, while only making significant cuts to education.

TAGS: budget, government spending, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, special session

Pritzker doubles down on progressive income tax, says Illinois needs $3.7B tax hike ‘now more than ever’

By Bryce Hill

04/20/2020

Despite a massive national economic contraction, Pritzker is resisting calls to pull a large tax hike from the November ballot.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, progressive income tax

Illinois Forward: A 5-year plan for balanced budgets, declining debt and tax relief

By Adam Schuster

02/15/2020

The years 2010 through 2019 will go down in Illinois history as a decade of public policy failure and economic decline. High fixed costs for pensions and government worker health care have prevented the state from balancing its budget in any year since 2001. Since the Great Recession in 2008, the state’s fiscal imbalance has...

Governor’s office uses Illinois economic report to push ‘fair tax’ falsehoods

By Vincent Caruso

11/04/2019

An annual financial report from Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office forecasts a gloomy fiscal future for Illinois and pushes his false choice between dire spending cuts or a flawed progressive tax plan.

TAGS: fair tax, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, graduated income tax, income tax, progressive income tax, taxes

Pritzker signs AFSCME deal costing taxpayers $3.6 billion more than it needed to

By Adam Schuster

08/29/2019

By continuing practices such as automatic raises and taxpayer-subsidized platinum health insurance, along with a new $2,500 bonus, the AFSCME contract will transfer more than $3.6 billion in extra compensation from taxpayers to state workers.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, contract, health insurance, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions

United States Office of Management and Budget

2021 State of the State: Illinois economy weak before COVID-19

Madigan’s legacy of corruption will survive his downfall, unless …

Pension reform key to protecting Illinois services, taxpayers after ‘fair tax’ rejection

To prevent political bribery in Illinois, change the House Rules

Pritzker signs budget out of balance by $6B

5 reasons why Illinois’ latest spending plan insults taxpayers

Pritzker doubles down on progressive income tax, says Illinois needs $3.7B tax hike ‘now more than ever’

Illinois Forward: A 5-year plan for balanced budgets, declining debt and tax relief

Governor’s office uses Illinois economic report to push ‘fair tax’ falsehoods

Pritzker signs AFSCME deal costing taxpayers $3.6 billion more than it needed to

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