United States Senate

US Supreme Court ruling means Illinois could legalize sports betting

By Vincent Caruso

05/15/2018

A decisive opinion issued by the U.S. Supreme Court reversed a 1992 ban on sports gambling, putting the ball in Springfield’s court.

TAGS: gambling, gaming, Lou Lang, Napoleon Harris, Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, sports betting, sports gambling, Steve Stadelman, U.S. Supreme Court

Senate President John Cullerton says Illinois doesn’t need a revenue estimate

By Adam Schuster

05/09/2018

Agreeing on how much money one has to spend is a basic first step of budgeting.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, Illinois Constitution, John Cullerton

Senate bill would require regulators to jump more hurdles before imposing new licensing restrictions

By Vincent Caruso

05/07/2018

Regulatory regimes in Illinois often discourage workforce participation without enhancing public welfare. One Senate bill, however, would require regulators to demonstrate the necessity of new rules before imposing them on workers.

TAGS: Chicago, food trucks, licensing, Lisa Creason, occupational licensing, Pam Althoff, regulations, Scott Bennett, Tom Demmer

Senate votes to ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

By Vincent Caruso

05/04/2018

Pending the House’s vote and the governor’s signature, the bill would expand Chicago’s smoking age restriction statewide.

TAGS: cigarette tax, e-cigarettes, Julie Morrison, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Cap spending now: Illinois taxpayers need a responsible budget this year

By Adam Schuster

05/04/2018

Lawmakers should voluntarily adopt a spending cap to give taxpayers the certainty they deserve.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, bonds, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, credit rating, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, spending, spending cap, taxes

How to mislead Illinoisans into accepting higher taxes

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill, Joe Tabor

05/03/2018

A new report would have Illinoisans believe that a progressive income tax means tax cuts and economic growth. Illinois lawmakers’ tax-and-spend tendencies and evidence from all 50 states say otherwise.

TAGS: CTBA: Center for Budget and Tax Accountability, deficit, GDP: gross domestic product, graduated income tax, income tax, jobs, progressive income tax, Ralph Martire, spending, spending cap, taxes

Senate passes bill restricting ‘golden parachutes’ for government officials

By Vincent Caruso

05/03/2018

The Government Severance Pay Act would spare taxpayers the burden of providing excessive severance payouts to outgoing public officials.

TAGS: College of DuPage, golden parachute, NIU: Northern Illinois University, salaries, Tom Cullerton

Bill to rein in state health care costs killed in the Senate

By Mailee Smith

04/27/2018

Senate Democrats killed a chance this week to rein in government spending, instead siding with government unions that prioritize their own power over the fiscal health of the state. Illinois taxpayers pay nearly $15,000 per state worker in health care costs alone under the most recent contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bill Brady, collective bargaining, health care, state worker pay

Senate bill would give voters authority to cut property taxes by referendum

By Vincent Caruso

04/27/2018

Since 1991, some Illinois counties have traded voters’ ability to influence reductions in property taxes for a statutory limit on their growth. A recent Senate bill, however, would restore voters’ ability to reduce property tax levies through referendums.

TAGS: ballot referendums, Dan McConchie, property taxes, PTELL: Property Tax Extension Limitation Law, taxes

Lawmakers stand for spending cap in Springfield

By Joe Tabor

04/27/2018

A constitutional amendment to impose fiscal discipline on state lawmakers is gaining bipartisan support.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, Michael Connelly, spending, spending cap, taxes, Tom Cullerton

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

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United States Senate

US Supreme Court ruling means Illinois could legalize sports betting

Senate President John Cullerton says Illinois doesn’t need a revenue estimate

Senate bill would require regulators to jump more hurdles before imposing new licensing restrictions

Senate votes to ban tobacco products, e-cigarettes for Illinoisans under 21

Cap spending now: Illinois taxpayers need a responsible budget this year

How to mislead Illinoisans into accepting higher taxes

Senate passes bill restricting ‘golden parachutes’ for government officials

Bill to rein in state health care costs killed in the Senate

Senate bill would give voters authority to cut property taxes by referendum

Lawmakers stand for spending cap in Springfield

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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