Illinois Tollway overcharged drivers $152K last year by not giving change

By Brad Weisenstein

01/10/2020

The Illinois Tollway is spending $33 million on toll machines, some of which can’t make change. The state agency’s legacy is broken promises, political patronage and overcharging Illinoisans.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, corruption, George Ryan, I-Pass, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois State Toll Highway Commission, Illinois Tollway, Jim Edgar, Jim Thompson, Rod Blagojevich, Springfield, tollway

Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2019

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. Illinois, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, Bruce Rauner, capital plan, Chicago, craft beer, distillery, Hospitality Business Association of Chicago, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, JB Pritzker, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, Midwest, prohibition, Sara Feigenholtz, soda tax, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle, vape ban, vaping, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois

Pilot program for medical marijuana as alternative to opioids goes into effect

02/05/2019

The Opioid Alternative Pilot Program launched Jan. 31, giving more Illinoisans the option to treat pain with medical marijuana in place of opioids.

TAGS: Alternative to Opioids Act, Bruce Rauner, Kelly Cassidy, marijuana, opioid

Inauguration day: 5 pro-taxpayer reforms Pritzker should push in 2019

By Vincent Caruso

01/14/2019

The Land of Lincoln has a new governor, but the state’s deep-seated problems remain. Here are five reforms that newly inaugurated Gov. J.B. Pritzker could pursue to begin setting the state on the right fiscal path.

TAGS: balanced budget requirement, Bruce Rauner, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, school district consolidation, spending cap

Coalition kicks cronies in Springfield showdown over car-sharing

By Austin Berg

11/29/2018

The car-sharing victory is real business friendliness. And that means Illinoisans – whether or not they ever rent their car through an app – have cause for a little celebration.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, carsharing, Getaround, Pam Althoff, Turo, veto

House passes pension boost bill for one Chicago alderman

By Vincent Caruso

11/27/2018

Illinois House members voted to override Gov. Rauner’s veto of a bill that would allow a former firefighter serving as a Chicago aldermen to credit his political salary toward a more lucrative fire pension. While just one alderman now qualifies, the bill could extend the perk to more in the future.

TAGS: 401(k), Anthony Napolitano, Bruce Rauner, municipal pensions, Nicholas Sposato, pension guarantee, pensions, Rahm Emanuel, Robert Martwick

Bipartisan anti-corruption bill bottled up in Illinois Senate

By Austin Berg

11/27/2018

After unanimous approval from the Illinois House of Representatives, the Illinois Senate has remained conspicuously silent on a bill meant to address one man’s dominance of a little-known network of government authorities.

TAGS: Andrew Hamilton, Bruce Rauner, corruption, good government, Illinois Senate

Senate overrides Rauner veto on bill proposing new car-sharing taxes, regulations

By Vincent Caruso

11/15/2018

Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto of a lobbyist-backed bill aiming to sideswipe car-sharing startups with new taxes and regulations. The bill returns to the House.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, carsharing, Getaround, Illinois Senate, Pam Althoff, Turo

Senate narrowly overrides Rauner ‘Tobacco 21’ veto

By Vincent Caruso

11/15/2018

A bill that would raise the legal age to 21 for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products will return to the Illinois House of Representatives after Senate lawmakers overrode Gov. Rauner’s veto.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Illinois Senate, Julie Morrison, smoking ban, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Senate bill would strike car-sharing startups with new taxes, regulations

By Vincent Caruso

11/14/2018

With lobbyist backing, lawmakers passed a bill in May aimed at driving out competitors for rental car companies. Gov. Bruce Rauner rejected the bill, but lawmakers could revive it during veto session.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Getaround, Pam Althoff, regulations, Turo

A city charter could bring order to Chicago’s dysfunction. How can it get one?

Report Archive

Jim Murphy

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students