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Will Pritzker's 2nd term bring more tax hikes, emergency orders?

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois has reached the four-year mark with Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration. What do the past four years tell Illinoisans about what to expect in his second term?
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Feds targeted these Illinois politicians for corruption in 2022

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois saw more than its fair share of corruption and misconduct again in 2022, but some politicians stood out in a crowded field.
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Bipartisan plan to pay off $1B deficit spares Illinois businesses from tax hike

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
More taxes on businesses and reductions in unemployment benefits were looming as a recession approached, but no longer. Lawmakers agreed to replenish Illinois’ unemployment insurance trust fund and avoid those pitfalls.

Report: Illinois government ethics complaints hit new record in 2022

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois’ Executive Inspector General reported a record number of complaints, some alleging financial mismanagement and conflicts of interest.
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Bipartisan group of lawmakers objects to Pritzker's endless COVID rules

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Members of the Illinois General Assembly’s bipartisan Joint Committee on Administrative Rules are questioning the prolonged state of emergency regarding COVID-19. Gov. J.B. Pritzker has declared a state of emergency 35 times.
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Pritzker signs 34th consecutive emergency order as Biden declares COVID 'over'

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued his 34th disaster proclamation regarding COVID-19, extending his emergency powers to nearly 70% of his term. President Joe Biden said the pandemic is done.
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Pritzker blind trust companies hold $20 billion in state contracts

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s blind trust of investments includes 12 different companies with $20 billion in state contracts since he took office.
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38 challengers give Illinois voters first choices in decades

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Alper Turan fled Iran 24 years ago to seek a better life for himself and his family. He wants to help his new home by being one of 38 candidates recruited by Illinois Policy to run for the Illinois General Assembly. He wants voters to have a choice.
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State workers enforcing Pritzker tax sign compliance at Illinois gas pumps

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
State workers are out enforcing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate that all gas pumps carry a sign noting his delay in the next automatic gas tax hike. The Illinois Fuel and Retail Association is in state court fighting the mandate and $500-a-day fines.
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Supermarkets, gas stations forced to advertise Pritzker tax 'relief' July 1

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
July 1 marks the start of the suspended state grocery tax and delay in the automatic gas tax hike. Both industries are required by law to display signs reminding customers of the suspensions, but only gas stations face $500-a-day fines if they fail to comply.
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Illinois gas stations display Pritzker gas tax hikes to counter election propaganda

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois gas station owners lost their legal fight over the requirement to advertise the delay in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s annual gas tax hike. Stations now will post the mandated signs July 1, but are also telling drivers how much state leaders raised the gas taxes.
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Biden may suspend federal gas tax as Pritzker sets up double hike for 2023

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
President Biden will call on Congress to suspend the federal gasoline and diesel tax for three months. Instead of suspending it, Gov J.B. Pritzker delayed the next motor fuel tax hike until after the election, hitting Illinois drivers with two hikes in 2023.
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Amendment 1 sponsor sentenced to prison for union ghost payroll scheme

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Former state Sen. Thomas Cullerton was sentenced to one year in federal prison for embezzlement from a no-work union job. He sponsored the Amendment 1 proposal to make government unions nearly untouchable in Illinois.
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Illinois gas prices surpass $5 a gallon

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Rising gas prices show no sign of stopping. Average gas prices in Illinois are more than $5 a gallon, thanks in part to the nation’s second-highest motor fuel tax.
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Madigan joked about ComEd bribes while in office

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
FBI recordings revealed new details about indicted former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan and his scheme to exchange political favors for patronage appointments. He made a joke out of it.
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Illinois is no.1 in government units, keeping property taxes sky high

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois has 6,032 local governments, the most in the nation by a wide margin – and that excludes 859 school districts. It’s the main reason Illinoisans pay the nation’s second-highest property taxes.
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Pritzker has governed using emergency powers for more than 65% of his term

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois has no mask mandate or requirements for showing proof of COVID-19 vaccination. So why is Gov. J.B. Pritzker still declaring a state of emergency and holding onto those powers?
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Fact check: Pritzker's gas tax delay doesn't 'lower prices'

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
In his latest re-election ad, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted his election-year tax relief as lowering prices for families. He failed to mention his plan expires shortly after the election and that he imposed thousands in new taxes as his term began.
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Pritzker ranks 4th-worst governor for economic freedom

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
In a new report on America’s 50 governors, Gov. J.B Pritzker was ranked 47th because of the harm he’s done to the state economy. Voters saved him from a lower rank by rejecting his ‘fair tax.’
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Illinois House passes plan to partially refill unemployment fund

By Dylan Sharkey, Illinois Policy Institute |
The Illinois House voted to use $2.7 billion in federal relief to partially refill the state’s depleted unemployment trust fund. Some lawmakers said it’s not enough.

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