Vincent Caruso, Illinois Policy Institute News
Sandoval resigns Senate seat amid federal corruption probe, effective Jan. 1
The once-powerful state officeholder previously resigned as chairman of the influential Illinois Senate Transportation Committee in October.
Red-light camera backlash gains bipartisan momentum in Springfield
Driver headaches and corruption flow from red-light cameras. Two bills with bipartisan support would ban the traffic devices in Illinois.
Report: Justice Anne Burke ruled on 10 Supreme Court cases involving clients of her indicted husband
Illinois Supreme Court Justice Anne Burke declined to recuse herself from at least 10 cases involving clients of Klafter & Burke, the private law firm co-owned by her husband, Ald. Ed Burke, a report states.
Illinois House bill would let state lawmakers ‘opt out’ of receiving annual raises
A proposal in the Illinois House would allow lawmakers to forgo their annual cost-of-living increase in base salary. The move comes after former lawmakers sued for back pay.
Cook County judge rules Illinois lawmakers cannot reject their own pay raises
A circuit court judge sided with two former Illinois state lawmakers suing the state for back pay on past cost-of-living increases the Illinois General Assembly voted to freeze.
Pritzker signs bill doubling gas tax
Illinoisans will shoulder one of the nation’s heaviest tax burdens at the pump – and the DMV.
Pritzker budget lifts cap on pension spiking
A provision included in Illinois’ previous budget aimed to protect state taxpayers from end-of-career salary spiking in local school districts. The budget proposal en route to Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s desk would repeal that protection.
Pritzker approves $1,600 pay raises for state lawmakers
Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed into law a budget that includes pay raises for state lawmakers, as Illinoisans brace for a number of new tax hikes.
Gas tax and vehicle fee hikes erase Pritzker's promise of progressive income tax relief
The numerous tax and fee hikes in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s capital spending more than offset the promised savings of the governor’s “fair tax” plan.
Illinois state lawmakers pass $1,600 pay raise for themselves
The Illinois General Assembly sent $85 billion in proposed spending to Gov J.B. Pritzker’s desk in a matter of days. That package included tax hikes on ordinary Illinoisans and pay raises for all state lawmakers.
Illinois House votes to put Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment on 2020 ballot
An amendment that would allow lawmakers to scrap Illinois’ constitutionally protected flat income tax and replace it with graduated tax rates will appear as a referendum question on voters’ 2020 ballots.
House committee approves Pritzker progressive tax amendment
The Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would scrap taxpayers’ sole protection against endless income tax hikes.
‘Fair tax’ backers’ own data show progressive income tax hikes harm middle class the most
An advocacy group backing Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” plan has argued a progressive income tax hike won’t affect middle-class Illinoisans. But its most recent report shows a middle-class tax hit is likely.
Illinois House amendment would require supermajority to hike taxes
Illinoisans are among the nation’s most heavily taxed residents. A proposed Illinois constitutional amendment would make it harder for lawmakers to add to that burden.
Forget doubling gas taxes, Illinois lawmakers want to rev it even higher
Two new proposals in the Illinois General Assembly would give state drivers the highest gas tax burden in the nation.
Illinois becomes only state in Midwest to prohibit adults under 21 from buying tobacco
“Tobacco 21” was vetoed by the former governor as a burden on stores, but the new governor just made Illinois the 11th state to tell young adults they may not buy tobacco products until they are 21.
Pritzker ad walks back promise of tax relief for Illinoisans
Gov. J.B. Pritzker promised tax relief for 97 percent of Illinoisans as a selling point for his proposed “fair tax.” But a new ad campaign abandons that claim.
Pritzker, Madigan pledge progressive income tax hike by May
Pritzker’s first budget address exalted the graduated income tax as a solution to the state’s fiscal problems. Despite evidence to the contrary, the governor is urging state lawmakers to speedily advance the measure.
Pritzker signs statewide $15 minimum wage into law
Estimates from the governor’s office suggest the minimum wage increase will add $1.1 billion to the state payroll, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.
Parked in the left lane? Illinois State Police want to give you a $120 'surprise'
Illinois State Police announced plans to aggressively crack down on misuse of the left lane on interstate highways, deploying “covert vehicles” to boost enforcement.