Pritzker proposes gas tax freeze after doubling gas tax
Pritzker proposes gas tax freeze after doubling gas tax
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker proposed a delay in the automatic state gas tax hikes he ushered in when he doubled the tax. The election-year temporary relief should become a permanent repeal.
By Patrick Andriesen
Delaware, New Jersey governors lift mask mandates
Delaware, New Jersey governors lift mask mandates
Gov. J.B. Pritzker said he is “hopeful” Illinois could soon drop statewide pandemic protocols after COVID-19 dropped by half. His peers in Delaware, New Jersey and earlier Iowa dropped their mask mandates.
By Patrick Andriesen
Iowa governor ends emergency powers
Iowa governor ends emergency powers
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said after two years of COVID-19 mitigations and a sharp decline in rates, she believes Iowans will make the safe choices without laws forcing them. Pritzker does not share that confidence in Illinoisans.
By Patrick Andriesen
Illinois jobs recovery worst in Midwest, 8th-worst in nation
Illinois jobs recovery worst in Midwest, 8th-worst in nation
With 251,900 jobs still missing since the pandemic began, Illinois’ job market is the least recovered among Midwestern states
By Bryce Hill
Chicago Teachers Union president quitting after 3rd strike in 27 months
Chicago Teachers Union president quitting after 3rd strike in 27 months
Chicago Teachers Union President Jesse Sharkey announced he’s returning to the classroom once his term expires in June. Sharkey has led CTU since 2014 through three work stoppages.
By Dylan Sharkey
Delia Lopez
Delia Lopez
“I hope that many Latinos come forward and ask a Catholic school, ‘What opportunities are there?’ And when they ask me, ‘Gosh, how do you do it?’ I respond, ‘Ask! Ask the school closest to your home. Go and ask.’"
Illinois can save $577M on pensions by adding a date to a law
Illinois can save $577M on pensions by adding a date to a law
Illinois’ pension debt is the highest of any state. An easy fix to state law would start the Tier 3 retirement program, saving $577 million while workers gain options.
By Dylan Sharkey
House bill would lower property taxes by trimming Illinois government waste
House bill would lower property taxes by trimming Illinois government waste
Illinois leads the nation in local government bloat, with over 6,000 taxing bodies. The Citizen’s Empowerment Act, sponsored by Illinois House Rep. Jonathan Carroll, would make it easier for Illinois taxpayers to dissolve unnecessary layers of government.
By Justin Carlson
Chicago property taxes nearly doubled in a decade
Chicago property taxes nearly doubled in a decade
Chicago property taxpayers face a nearly 5% hike this year after a decade in which their bills nearly doubled. The city failed to capitalize on the COVID-19 stimulus windfall like others did.
By Orphe Divounguy
Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings
Lightfoot vaccine deadline could trigger city worker firings
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot pledged unvaccinated city employees will soon be placed on “no-pay status” and face potential termination for failing to comply with her COVID-19 ultimatum. City lists 550 firefighters as unvaccinated.
By Patrick Andriesen
Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt
Chicagoans owe $43,100 each to settle city debt
A financial watchdog report estimated each taxpayer in Chicago would need to pay $43,100 to settle the city’s debt. It stands at No. 2 for big U.S. cities. Blame city leaders for repeatedly making pension debt worse.
By Patrick Andriesen
Pritzker claims $1.7B surplus while his budget shows $1.5B deficit
Pritzker claims $1.7B surplus while his budget shows $1.5B deficit
Despite claims during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s speech, his budget documents show a flood of federal COVID-19 aid temporarily shrank Illinois’ deficit but failed to balance its budget. His next budget will not end well.