Best new laws of 2015
Best new laws of 2015
From a ban on creating new units of local government to the end of Chicago’s happy-hour prohibition, here are five laws passed in 2015 worth celebrating.
Déjà vu: Illinois faces $8.5 billion in unpaid bills and calls for a tax hike
Déjà vu: Illinois faces $8.5 billion in unpaid bills and calls for a tax hike
The 2011 income-tax hike was supposed to address the state’s unpaid bills and ailing government-worker pensions; but five years and $31 billion in additional revenues later, Illinois’ unpaid bills are back up to 2011 levels, and the state’s government-worker pension debt has soared to $111 billion.
Star Wars: Jabba the Crony
Star Wars: Jabba the Crony
DAILY LINKS / 12.2.2022
Daily Herald: 25% of suburban Cook homeowners saw lower property taxes: See the median tax bill town by town Belleville News-Democrat: Illinois Supreme Court suspends law license of former St. Clair County judge The Center Square: Some warn of higher taxes with plan to pay down Illinois' unemployment debt Capitol News Illinois: Pretrial detention changes to SAFE-T Act will head to governor Chicago Tribune: Edward Burke, Chicago’s longest-serving alderman, is leaving City Council with a federal trial pending Chicago Sun-Times: Despite ban on lobbyists’ campaign money, Lightfoot took $53K from lobbyist’s companies WTTW: As Chicago Property Tax Bills Arrive, Study Examines Biggest IncreasesRe-entry reform must be a policy priority in 2016
Re-entry reform must be a policy priority in 2016
Criminal-justice reform can only be successful if policymakers work to remove barriers to employment and work.
Top 5 corruption stories of 2015
Top 5 corruption stories of 2015
From taxpayer- and donor-funded spending sprees by the president of an Illinois public college, to Chicago’s red-light-camera ticketing and kick-back schemes, 2015 has been rife with instances of public corruption and lack of government transparency.
Lincolnshire voters overwhelmingly support Right to Work
Lincolnshire voters overwhelmingly support Right to Work
In the face of strident union opposition, Lincolnshire’s Village Board voted 5-1 to pass a worker-freedom ordinance.
Workers’ compensation in Illinois: Identifying the pain points
Workers’ compensation in Illinois: Identifying the pain points
Breaking down the overall high cost and regulatory burden borne by businesses.
Lisa Madigan outlaws fantasy sports for Illinois
Lisa Madigan outlaws fantasy sports for Illinois
Shortly before bowl season kicks off for college football and just over two weeks before the NFL playoffs begin, Illinois’ Attorney General has ruled that fantasy sports are illegal. A bill to regulate the industry was introduced in October.
City of Chicago to Netflix subscribers: Bah, humbug!
City of Chicago to Netflix subscribers: Bah, humbug!
The Liberty Justice Center sued the city of Chicago in September to compel the city to stop collecting a 9 percent amusement tax on Internet-based streaming video, audio and gaming services.
“Home Alone”: How one extreme Illinois case led to overbroad laws about child supervision
“Home Alone”: How one extreme Illinois case led to overbroad laws about child supervision
Illinois’ real-life “Home Alone” story inspired legislation that gives the state too much power to intrude into parents’ reasonable decisions about their children.
Illinois losing 1 resident every 5 minutes to out-migration
Illinois losing 1 resident every 5 minutes to out-migration
Illinois has a stunning loss of 105,000 people to other states, causing population to shrink by 22,000.
Hear them ring: Illinois wireless taxes jack up the price of Christmas gifts
Hear them ring: Illinois wireless taxes jack up the price of Christmas gifts
Illinoisans pay more in wireless taxes than residents of any neighboring state.
Illinois lost more population than any other state last year
Illinois lost more population than any other state last year
Of the 50 states, Illinois was the top population loser.