A state audit found the Illinois Department of Employment Security lost to fraud more than half of the $3.6 billion in federal COVID-19 dollars earmarked for out-of-work Illinoisans. The full scope of the unemployment fraud remains unknown.
Nearly 80,000 students have left Chicago Public Schools and student proficiency rates have declined since the current leaders took over the Chicago Teachers Union in 2010. All that, and 55% higher costs.
Illinois’ overall job numbers continue to rise, but the recovery is spotty. Over half of the metropolitan areas failed to add jobs in April.
Unrealistic assumptions and missed investment returns have meant Illinois taxpayers paid $13.7 billion more for public pensions than state leaders projected five years earlier. Unless the estimates improve, taxpayers will pay an extra $21.3 billion during the next decade.
A proposed change to the Illinois Constitution would effectively transfer power over taxpayer money to government worker unions. The trend of property tax hikes would likely grow even worse during the next four years.
One of the state’s biggest employers is relocating their headquarters to Irving, Texas. A decade ago Caterpillar’s CEO warned state leaders of business losses unless they balanced the budget, controlled workers’ comp costs and cut taxes. He was ignored.
Illinois’ employment recovery continued in April, but the state is still missing almost one in five jobs lost during the pandemic.
A trade group representing gas station owners is suing the Pritzker administration over the requirement to advertise a delayed gas tax hike starting July 1. Owners said they’re being forced to promote political rhetoric, violating their right to free speech.
Illinois has seen hundreds of thousands of residents move away in recent years. Maybe you’ve even wondered whether you should move, too. But nothing is permanent, and Illinois’ people problem is something we can fix. Matt Paprocki joins the Policy Shop to talk about how to turn the tide on Illinois’ challenges and who he’s...
A WalletHub report examining economic racial inequality ranked Illinois No. 50 for disproportionate rates of unemployment, income, poverty, homelessness and representation in business leadership between Black and white residents.
Illinois’ record-high fuel prices mean consumers pay more for everyday items. Pritzker’s 2019 doubling of gas, diesel, and natural gas taxes are partly to blame.
Since taking office, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has passed 24 tax and fee hikes worth $5.24 billion. Of that, $650 million directly targeted businesses as they fought through a pandemic economy.