Illinois lawmakers offer voters a tax hike, let deadline pass for constitutional reforms

05/05/2020

Only Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment will appear on the ballot in November. Voters were denied a chance to make critical reforms to state government.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, debt, fair maps, pensions, progressive income tax, spending cap, term limits

Bill would curb Illinois state budget gimmicks allowing deficits since 2001

02/27/2020

Illinois has not truly balanced its budget since 2001 despite a constitutional requirement to do so. A new bill would help change that.

TAGS: accounting, balanced budget requirement, constitutional amendment, Illinois Constitution, Jaime Andrade Jr., NASBO: National Association of State Budget Officers

Despite tax hikes, Illinois fails to balance budget for 19th year in a row

By Austin Berg

06/13/2019

Band-Aid fixes and spending-heavy compromises were rampant. And now it’s all coming home to roost.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Pritzker signs Illinois budget out of balance by up to $1.3 billion

06/11/2019

Contrary to claims from both Republicans and Democrats, and despite raising nearly $1.1 billion in new taxes and fees for operations, the fiscal year 2020 budget is out of balance by between $574 million and $1.3 billion.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, deficit, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois state lawmakers introduce, pass $85 billion in spending in 12 hours

By Austin Berg

06/01/2019

A new governor and Democratic supermajorities have retained the same chaotic budgeting process that has brought the state’s credit rating to near-junk status.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, capital project, gas tax, Greg Harris, JB Pritzker, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

False choice for Illinois: Pritzker’s budget ignores commonsense alternative

03/12/2019

Facing down a $3 billion deficit, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker offered an unbalanced budget including more tax hikes, borrowing and spending. He claimed severe cuts were the only alternative, but another option exists.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, deficit, economy, fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois House members address urgent need to balance state budget

By Brad Weisenstein

03/02/2019

Democrats in the Illinois House are leading the push for a constitutional amendment that would require the state to balance its budget – a feat state lawmakers haven’t achieved since 2001.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, debt, Jaime Andrade Jr., Jerry Costello, Mary Edly-Allen, Monica Bristow, Terra Costa Howard

Pritzker budget doubles down on failure

By Austin Berg

02/21/2019

Getting behind bipartisan budget reform is the kind of bravery Illinoisans deserve from the executive branch. Instead, they’re getting more of the same.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, borrowing, budget, debt, JB Pritzker, pensions

Pritzker’s first year deficit $440 million larger than expected because he plans to spend $440 million more

02/19/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has said his first year deficit is $3.2 billion, but he intends to spend hundreds of millions more than planned under previous baseline budgeting.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, deficit, GOMB: Governor's Office of Management and Budget, JB Pritzker, minimum wage, spending, spending cap

1,179 bills became law last session – just 5% had a price tag

02/19/2019

Fiscal notes serve as price tags on bills in the General Assembly. Lawmakers’ habit of omitting them limits their ability to make well-informed decisions.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, budget, COGFA: Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability, Dale Righter, Fiscal Notes, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, progressive income tax, taxes