Full Text: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address
Full Text: Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s State of the State and Budget Address
Delivered virtually Feb. 17, 2021, from the Illinois State Fairgrounds
Majdi Razick
Majdi Razick
“Adding Illinois to the Nurse Licensure Compact could really help alleviate the heavy burden placed on nurses."
Expected $7.5 billion in federal aid won’t fix Illinois budget crisis without structural reforms
Expected $7.5 billion in federal aid won’t fix Illinois budget crisis without structural reforms
Illinois needed federal aid far more than other states because of pension crisis inaction, as well as an irresponsible pandemic budget. Bailouts won’t protect taxpayers or services for vulnerable Illinoisans, but reforms can.
DAILY LINKS / 2.8.2024
The Center Square: Illinois legislators pitch ideas for property tax relief, child tax credit Chicago Sun-Times: Oops? County property tax bills misstated Chicago’s pension debt by more than $37 billion: ‘S--- happens’ The Chicago Tribune: With tax credit scholarships expiring soon, schools and parents scramble to fund students’ tuition The Daily Herald: What to know about early voting in the primary electionMadalyn Mauro
Madalyn Mauro
"I couldn’t transfer my license, so I had to get a new license just to get a job back in Iowa, which cost hundreds of dollars.”
Megan Zentner
Megan Zentner
“If you try to go outside of your district here in the state of Illinois, you will pay tens of thousands of dollars per school year per student.”
Fix or sell? Illinois’ high property taxes make either tough
Fix or sell? Illinois’ high property taxes make either tough
The nation’s second-highest property taxes could come down if Illinois cut school bureaucracy and reformed public pensions. Until they do, fixing the housing stock is a tough sell.
Chicago had $41,100 in debt per taxpayer before COVID-19, second to New York
Chicago had $41,100 in debt per taxpayer before COVID-19, second to New York
A new report from government finance watchdog Truth in Accounting gave the Windy City an “F” for financial health. Chicago’s massive $36 billion net debt stems primarily from pensions.
Illinois’ U.S. Senators urge Biden to keep public corruption-fighting prosecutor
Illinois’ U.S. Senators urge Biden to keep public corruption-fighting prosecutor
Former Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan and Chicago Ald. Ed Burke are among the politicians curbed by Chicago’s current U.S. Attorney. A bipartisan group is trying to keep him in place to continue public corruption prosecutions.
Where are Chicago parents at the bargaining table?
Where are Chicago parents at the bargaining table?
With the Chicago Teachers Union finally deciding students can return to classrooms, parent groups are clamoring to be heard. Unfortunately, Illinois law prohibits them from having much say about schools reopening.
Illinois’ high corporate tax rate hurts jobs when businesses need COVID-19 help
Illinois’ high corporate tax rate hurts jobs when businesses need COVID-19 help
A new ranking puts Illinois’ corporate tax rates near the top. Still, Gov. J.B. Pritzker wants to extract $900 million more from corporations after failing to stop up to $1 billion in COVID-19 tax credits for small businesses.
Every metropolitan area in Illinois shed jobs in 2020
Every metropolitan area in Illinois shed jobs in 2020
The record year for job losses hit every corner of Illinois amid COVID-19 and state-mandated lockdowns.
With Madigan out, now is the time to reform the House Rules
With Madigan out, now is the time to reform the House Rules
The House Rules allowed Madigan to accumulate unprecedented power in the Illinois speaker’s office and helped enable a culture of corruption in Springfield. With Madigan out, reformers have a shot at changing the House Rules.
Chicago students falling behind as city, teachers’ union squabble
Chicago students falling behind as city, teachers’ union squabble
The Chicago Teachers Union has more demands before it will tell members to return to classrooms. Chicago’s mayor says the teachers’ union has a final offer.