House Dems OK $800 million in new spending after heated debate

By Greg Bishop

04/06/2017

Illinois has racked up $14 billion in unpaid bills.

TAGS: Bill Brady, Bruce Rauner, Greg Harris, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, Patti Bellock, Robert Pritchard, Tom Demmer

Illinois House passes bill to allow residents to dissolve townships

By Brendan Bakala

03/30/2017

On March 29, the Illinois House of Representatives voted almost unanimously in favor of allowing voters to decide on local government consolidation – a crucial component of shrinking local government spending, which drives up property taxes. State Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon, sponsored House Bill 496, which received bipartisan support – more than a dozen representatives...

TAGS: local government consolidation, townships

SB 1288 could chip away at Illinois’ crony liquor laws

03/29/2017

A bill in the Illinois Senate would provide certain alcohol producers some freedom within the state’s three-tier system – which has been maintained through measures limiting competition and benefiting the politically connected.

TAGS: Dan McConchie, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, regulations, three-tier system

‘Grand bargain’ would cut private sector pay and continue government worker perks

By Michael Lucci

03/28/2017

Illinois state government works to prioritize special interests over taxpayers – and the budget deal being negotiated in the Senate would continue that.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, Christine Radogno, grand bargain, manufacturing, outmigration, property taxes, taxes

Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid

03/23/2017

State Sen. Dan McConchie, R-Hawthorne Woods, filed legislation March 23 that would give the Illinois Comptroller’s office discretion to delay payments to lawmakers if insufficient funding exists to do so. This came just hours after a Cook County judge said lawmakers must be paid.

TAGS: budget, Chris Welch, Dan McConchie, Illinois Comptroller, John Cullerton, Kate Cloonen, lawmaker pay, Lisa Hernandez, Mary Flowers, Mike Madigan, Pat Quinn, Silvana Tabares, Susana Mendoza

Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately

By Brendan Bakala

03/21/2017

The Illinois Supreme Court refused to hear Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s request to stop state employees from getting paid until a budget is passed.

TAGS: Illinois Supreme Court, labor, Lisa Madigan, unions

Judge says lawmakers shouldn’t be paid ahead of everyone else

By Brendan Bakala

03/17/2017

Judge Garcia points to the lack of a budget as reason enough to delay payments to legislators.

TAGS: budget, lawmaker pay, Leslie Munger

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

03/09/2017

Springfield lawmakers passed a ceremonial resolution March 8 congratulating the Chicago Cubs on winning the 2016 World Series. But that pat on the back doesn’t make up for the adversarial relationship politicians have held with the Cubs and other professional sports franchises in Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, Chicago Cubs, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Mike Madigan, regulations

Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/08/2017

The Senate’s “grand bargain” contains a one-year spending “cap” that won’t improve fiscal responsibility. A real cap must come with structural spending reforms to return spending to a level that taxpayers can afford.

TAGS: budget, Christine Radogno, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, John Cullerton, spending

Illinois pitches sales tax for Netflix, Spotify, other streaming services

03/03/2017

A new proposal from state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, D-Chicago Heights, would tax internet streaming services in Illinois, much like the potentially illegal internet streaming tax implemented in Chicago.

TAGS: amusement tax, budget, grand bargain, Illinois Senate, Netflix, sales tax, taxes, Toi Hutchinson

United States Senate

House Dems OK $800 million in new spending after heated debate

Illinois House passes bill to allow residents to dissolve townships

SB 1288 could chip away at Illinois’ crony liquor laws

‘Grand bargain’ would cut private sector pay and continue government worker perks

Illinois lawmaker files legislation allowing delay of legislator pay after court ruling says politicians must be paid

Illinois Supreme Court won’t hear state employee pay case immediately

Judge says lawmakers shouldn’t be paid ahead of everyone else

Illinois politicians dub March 8 ‘Cubs Day’ despite contentious history

Illinois Senate’s spending “cap” doesn’t protect taxpayers, core services

Illinois pitches sales tax for Netflix, Spotify, other streaming services

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