Rauner signs bill regulating catfish sales
Rauner signs bill regulating catfish sales
Gov. Bruce Rauner signed a bill into law Aug. 25 imposing fines for the sale of mislabeled catfish.
Rauner vetoes bill imposing new trampoline regulations
Rauner vetoes bill imposing new trampoline regulations
A bill Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed Aug. 25 would have imposed new regulations and fees upon businesses to enforce trampoline safety measures.
Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom
Illinois schools are top heavy, and it’s crushing the classroom
Illinois school districts spent $1 billion on district-level administration in fiscal year 2014 – more than any other state.
Rahm’s TIF treasure
Rahm’s TIF treasure
Rauner signs bills to expand criminal record sealing and juvenile record expungement
Rauner signs bills to expand criminal record sealing and juvenile record expungement
The new laws will make it easier for ex-offenders re-enter their communities.
Rauner signs bill to end arrests for being seen with alleged gang members
Rauner signs bill to end arrests for being seen with alleged gang members
House Bill 3803 changes Illinois’ criminal code so that people on parole and probation no longer have to fear arrest for merely having contact with gang members.
Burke to the future: Chicago alderman wants to ban self-driving cars
Burke to the future: Chicago alderman wants to ban self-driving cars
Alderman Ed Burke argued in favor of a ban on driverless cars with a movie clip from “Back to the Future.”
Harvey pension crisis shows why local governments need a 401(k) option
Harvey pension crisis shows why local governments need a 401(k) option
The Harvey, Illinois, firefighters’ nearly bankrupt pension fund makes up just one part of Illinois’ combined $267 billion in state and local pension liabilities.
Rauner vetoes proposal for state-owned workers’ compensation insurance provider
Rauner vetoes proposal for state-owned workers’ compensation insurance provider
House Bill 2622 would create a state-run workers’ compensation insurance company, while failing to address the real problems with Illinois’ workers’ compensation system – the most expensive in the region.
Reverse Robin Hood
Reverse Robin Hood
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
Chicago TIFs take nearly $500M in yearly tax revenues away from other local governments
Since 2006, Chicago Public Schools has been deprived of $2.5 billion in property tax revenue that has been diverted to Chicago TIF districts.
After soda tax, Preckwinkle doles out premium perks and bonuses
After soda tax, Preckwinkle doles out premium perks and bonuses
After threatening thousands of job cuts, President Preckwinkle agrees to a lucrative contract with one of Cook County’s unions.
AFSCME stall tactics are all political – and they’re costing Illinoisans millions
AFSCME stall tactics are all political – and they’re costing Illinoisans millions
Illinois’ largest government worker union is likely stalling contract negotiations in hopes of dealing with a new governor in 2019.
Chicago aldermen fail to attend committee meetings nearly half the time
Chicago aldermen fail to attend committee meetings nearly half the time
Committee meetings are a critical step in the legislative process, yet aldermen skip them almost half the time.