Opinions
Illinois tax rates out-of-sync with those in neighboring states, most of the nation
There are many factors that motivate people to move out of Illinois, but taxes often rank highest on the list. For good reason.
Illinois’ new nuclear bill goes dark before it can spark
While technically ending Illinois’ nuclear power plant moratorium, a new law does not allow even one watt of nuclear energy to be generated for the public electrical grid.
Illinois is a moderate state: Its progressive leaders are out of touch
For its New Year’s resolution, Illinois should look in the mirror and acknowledge what it is.
Prenzler addresses Granite City School District taxpayers over $20 million in bonds
This letter is to the taxpayers of Granite City District 9, who probably didn't know that the district – on Nov. 22 – published a notice in the Belleville News-Democrat that the district intends to issue $20 million of “working cash” bonds.
As population woes continue, Illinois’ loss of congressional seats could accelerate
Illinois’ leaders can deny the state’s population problems all they want, but a collapse in the state’s number of congressional seats is proof enough of the state’s population woes.
Avoiding a conflict of interest: Nearly a third of Illinois lawmakers have rejected a taxpayer-funded pension
Illinois’ public pension crisis is coming to the fore after three years of being ignored during covid. Billions in federal aid to both the private and public sectors helped Illinois politicians paper over the state’s growing debts and worsening retiree security, but with pandemic aid finally drying up, they soon won’t be able to ignore the problems.
Illinois population drops for 10th year in a row during 2023
People moving out of Illinois led to the 10th consecutive year of population decline, new Census Bureau data shows.
It's A Wonderful County!
Hope born of the realization that despite all the negative publicity, (Madison County) really was a Wonderful County, and the power to change the current course of events comes from within–within him and all who think alike.
Property taxes on 'Home Alone' house jump 57% in 1 year
The current owners Kevin McCallister’s house from “Home Alone” will pay more than $50,000 in property taxes this year. Illinoisans pay the second-highest property taxes in the nation on average.
A holiday message from Illinois State Senator Erica Harriss
As we head into the final week of this year, I want to sincerely thank you for allowing me to serve as your State Senator for the 56th District. Nearly 12 months ago, I took an oath of office to represent our community and this experience has been an incredible honor.
Illinois still hasn't finalized contract with state workers
The contract negotiated between the state and AFSCME Council 31 was ratified by members in July. But the final contract has yet to be released, meaning taxpayers don’t yet know how much it will cost them.
The costs of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Illinois universities
Several Ivy League schools have been put under a national microscope recently for applying the right to free speech inconsistently. These universities are giving some groups unwavering protection to protest, while shutting down other groups altogether. These inconsistencies have one common denominator: Higher education’s unwavering devotion to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI).
Illinois’ long slide in manufacturing jobs continues
Short-term. Long-term. No matter how you slice it, Illinois’ manufacturing sector is in trouble.
Illinois again seeing one of the most-contested elections in two decades
Illinois politicians have worked hard to protect incumbent state lawmakers and discourage newcomers. But that is changing for the second election cycle in a row as more Illinoisans work to get into the Illinois General Assembly.
Why you should miss Squeezy the Pension Python
Illinois recently released its biggest, regular report on government pensions. Before getting to that, however, it’s fascinating to look back on what was widely agreed about pensions not long ago, and how all that was said is now forgotten.
Prenzler: PTELL would have prevented tax levy increases greater than 5%
The Illinois Truth in Taxation law requires that a notice be published in a newspaper and a public hearing must be held, if the proposed aggregate tax levy is more than 5 percent greater than the previous year's tax extension.
Universities better get ahead of surging anti-woke backlash. The University of Illinois should go first.
Most Americans of every political stripe gagged last week seeing three leading university presidents’ Congressional testimony on anti-semitism. After years of punishment and censorship of centrist and conservative viewpoints at their schools and others across America, none of the three could say that calls for genocide against Jews violated their schools’ codes of conduct.
New 2023 data: Inflation can’t save Illinois from its worst-in-nation pension crisis
COGFA, Illinois’ official number-crunching group, is out with its state pension reports for both FY 2022 and 2023 and its analysis shows that while record-high inflation has reduced the stress of pension costs on the budget in the short-term, those retirement debts continue to be a major threat to the state’s fiscal and economic stability.
Gov. Pritzker’s dishonest spin on Chicago crime, Illinois jobs
There’s no denying Gov. J.B. Pritzker should be one of the state’s biggest cheerleaders, consistently accentuating Illinois’ positives. It’s what any good governor should do.
Illinois mandated annual reports on Invest in Kids: 4 years, no reports
The Illinois State Board of Education failed to publish diagnostic reports required by the Invest in Kids Act to track scholarship recipients’ progress starting in 2019. State lawmakers are letting the program expire without seeing a single report.