Red-light camera backlash gains bipartisan momentum in Springfield

By Vincent Caruso

10/15/2019

Driver headaches and corruption flow from red-light cameras. Two bills with bipartisan support would ban the traffic devices in Illinois.

TAGS: corruption, David McSweeney, Grant Wehrli, Jonathan Carroll, Margo McDermed, Mark Batinick, Martin Sandoval, red light cameras, Rita Mayfield, SafeSpeed, Sam Yingling

50 Illinois leaders unite in opposition to progressive income tax

By Vincent Caruso

05/09/2019

Civic leaders across the state have signed onto an open letter declaring their opposition to a progressive income tax, as momentum continues to build against Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s signature proposal.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, Jonathan Carroll, progressive income tax, Sam Yingling, taxes

Yingling stands with Illinois taxpayers against progressive income tax hike

By Vincent Caruso

05/08/2019

State lawmakers should follow state Rep. Sam Yingling’s example, and muster the courage to reject the $3.4 billion tax hike proposal.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, property taxes, Sam Yingling

Illinois taxpayers could cut back local governments under bipartisan bill

By Vincent Caruso

03/06/2019

The Citizens Empowerment Act would let taxpayers cut local government at the ballot box. Illinois lawmakers from both parties are backing it.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, property taxes, Sam Yingling, taxes

Illinois House bill would bar governments from using taxes to fight consolidation

By Vincent Caruso

02/26/2019

A proposal in the Illinois House would stop local government leaders from using public resources to fight efforts to consolidate any government unit.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, Mark Batinick, Sam Yingling

Bipartisan township consolidation bill reintroduced in Springfield

02/05/2019

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed the bill before leaving office, but bipartisan support in the General Assembly may send it back to the governor’s desk.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, Jonathan Carroll, local government consolidation, Mark Batinick, Sam Yingling, townships

Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to governor’s desk

By Vincent Caruso

11/30/2018

The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find tax relief through cost savings.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, McHenry County, Sam Yingling, townships

McHenry County township consolidation bill advances to Senate floor

By Vincent Caruso

11/17/2018

The bill would make it easier for McHenry County residents to dissolve the county’s 17 townships at the ballot box – and find relief through tax savings.

TAGS: Allen Skillicorn, consolidation, David McSweeney, local government consolidation, McHenry County, Sam Yingling

Did your state representative take Madigan money?

By Chris Lentino, Austin Berg

09/05/2018

Campaign finance records reveal more than 60 sitting state representatives have received nearly $15 million from the state’s most powerful politician over the course of their careers. In turn, they often give him one of the most important votes he needs to maintain power: the vote for speaker of the House.

TAGS: Carol Sente, Deb Conroy, Fred Crespo, Kathleen Willis, Katie Stuart, Marty Moylan, Michelle Mussman, Mike Madigan, Sam Yingling, Stephanie Kifowit, Sue Scherer

Top 10 recipients of Madigan money

By Austin Berg

08/23/2018

More than 60 sitting state representatives have received money from Madigan over the course of their careers, totaling around $15 million.

TAGS: Carol Sente, Deb Conroy, Fred Crespo, Kathleen Willis, Katie Stuart, Marty Moylan, Michelle Mussman, Mike Madigan, Natalie Manley, Sam Yingling, Stephanie Kifowit, Sue Scherer

Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and last among Midwest states...

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Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

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Martin Sahagun

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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