Austin Berg, Illinois Policy Institute News
Culture of harassment, bullying in Madigan’s office detailed in probe
Government employees under Madigan’s watch were made to feel accountable to lobbyists, political campaign staff and other outside interests. Not the public.
Judge rules in Madigan's favor on 'sham candidate' lawsuit
Lawyers for Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan argued that even if he did recruit so-called “sham candidates” to siphon votes away from his 2016 primary opponent, such tactics aren’t against the law.
Illinois city aims to oust little girl's lemonade stand
Illinois has a reputation for making business harder than it needs to be for entrepreneurs across the state.
As corruption looms large in Illinois, Pritzker reforms are MIA
Tackling Illinois corruption isn’t just a moral imperative. It’s a financial necessity.
FBI raids home of Madigan confidant in third search surrounding the speaker
Do federal authorities have their sights set on the longest-serving state legislative leader in American history?
Illinois gas tax hike comes packed with pork
Illinoisans deserve a pothole-free future. But are they getting a bang for their gas tax buck? Or is Pritzker’s $45 billion “Rebuild Illinois” program just another vehicle to deliver special favors? A deep dive into the capital plan points toward the latter, showing at least $1.25 billion in pork-barrel projects.
Summer brings pay hike for Illinois state lawmakers, pay cut for you
Springfield politicians talking out of both sides of their mouths on tax “fairness” is one of many reasons they didn’t deserve a raise.
Wehrli: 'People make money off of this chaos we call state government'
Before noon on Friday, May 30, Illinoisans had not seen a single line of the state budget.
Southern Illinois voters oppose putting Pritzker's progressive income tax amendment on the ballot
Southern Illinoisans want their representative to vote “no” on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive tax constitutional amendment. This preference extends beyond GOP voters, with independents also showing strong opposition.
Illinois’ wealthiest bureaucrats want this bill dead
There should be no compromise with those who are looking out for their own bottom line above the good of the state.
Pritzker capital plan would double Illinois gas tax, hike vehicle registration fees, create new taxes on Uber and Netflix
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s office is using a major capital bill as a vehicle to grease lawmakers for a progressive income tax amendment. But the tax hikes to pay for it would make Illinoisans’ gas tax burden the second highest in the nation.
Madigan aides sought out, assisted alleged 'sham' candidates in primary election
Madigan aides sought out, assisted alleged ‘sham’ candidates in primary election
Madigan’s 2016 primary opponent filed a lawsuit alleging the House speaker recruited “sham” candidates in order to dilute opposition.
House cutting committee bloat is a victory for taxpayers
House Speaker Mike Madigan (D-Chicago) was in Springfield on Jan. 29 when his colleagues took a vote on House rules that give him more power than any other state speaker in the nation.
Another Illinois lawmaker hits the pension lottery
There’s a lot of talk about renewed bipartisanship and a new day in Springfield. Dozens of state lawmakers have already opted out of the pension system. The General Assembly should take the lead and phase out their own defined-benefit system and get to work on a constitutional fix for the rest of Illinois’ pension mess.
Holiday shopping and the sales tax scrooge
Illinois' current patchwork of sales tax exemptions, oftentimes carved out by special interests, makes for poor policy.
Happy Birthday: The solution that never was to Illinois' pension crisis
Illinoisans should know lawmakers in the past made big moves to fix the state's worst-in-the-nation pension crisis. It’s politically possible. They just need a little reminder of our history.
Gas tax hike may be around the corner for Gov.-elect JB Pritzker
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel is reportedly gunning for a transportation bill that could come with an increase in the gas tax.
Illinois’ richest governor, meet the nation’s most powerful state lawmaker
Pritzker’s money could offer Madigan’s House members cover should they dare to go against the speaker.
How to make an extra $3 billion, the Illinois way
AFSCME – the largest government worker union in the state – may pull off one of the most insulting waiting games in state history. The payoff? More than $3 billion, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.
Six former library employees have taken home more than $1 million in pension benefits
Large pension payouts in the face of flat incomes for taxpayers raise questions of fairness.