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1 week ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Illinois ranked No. 1 for what it spent per student on higher education in 2024, paying more than double the national average. Declining enrollment, poorly structured finances, growing pension costs and bloated administration have driven up costs.
Illinois spends double the U.S. average per full-time higher ed student, yet 106,375 fewer students want to attend its state colleges and universities than 15 years ago.
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2 weeks ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Former Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan’s sentencing to 7.5 years for bribery, conspiracy and wire fraud ends his active role in Illinois politics. But his legacy of gerrymandering will continue to shape Illinois politics long after he’s behind bars.
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2 weeks ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Illinois companies announced 1,477 mass layoffs during May. The highest concentration of cuts impacted Champaign after one of the state’s largest health insurers, Health Alliance, announced it would end coverage and halt operations.
Illinois companies announced 1,477 mass layoffs during May, with 612 in Champaign after Health Alliance Medical Plans announced it would cease operations by 2026.
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2 weeks ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Chicago’s speed cameras issued $90.9 million in tickets and fees to drivers in 2024, down $11.3 million from 2023. Mayor Brandon Johnson’s is adding 50 new speed cameras to recover those fines, with 11 issuing tickets by the end of June.
Chicago speed cameras issued $90.9 million worth of tickets and fees to drivers in 2024, handing motorists a fine every 24 seconds for a total of 1.84 million violations.
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3 weeks ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s record $55.2 billion budget relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco, short-term rentals and more. At the same time, he’s set to take away a property tax break.
Illinois lawmakers approved a record $55.2 billion state budget for fiscal year 2026 on June 1 that relies on Illinoisans paying over $394 million in new or higher taxes on sports bets, tobacco and other activities.
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4 weeks ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Springfield lawmakers are close to hiking road tolls, taxing rideshare services as well as real estate sales for everyone in Cook and the collar counties.
Springfield politicians are trying to reach deeper into taxpayers’ pockets who already shoulder some of the heaviest tax burdens in the nation.
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4 weeks ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Gov. J.B. Pritzker increased Illinois’ state spending more during his first six state budgets than any other state leader in terms of raw dollars since Gov. George Ryan, who took office more than 25 years ago.
Illinois’ state spending has grown more under Gov. J.B. Pritzker than any other state leader since former Gov. George Ryan, outpacing growth in inflation as expenditures ballooned by more than $12.9 billion.
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1 month ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Adding sales taxes to services is limited in the U.S., with 46 states not generally taxing services. Illinois may break from the pack and start adding sales taxes to haircuts, lawn care, car repair and a long list of other service expected to cost $2.7 billion.
Sales taxes are usually applied to goods, not services, but Illinois state lawmakers are currently considering joining the four states that do tax services – a move that could cost Illinoisans $2.7 billion.
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1 month ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Outcomes for Illinoisans have dropped since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office. The nation’s Democrats need to see where he’s taken Illinois before following his lead on the national stage.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker has appeared on CNN, The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live, made what sounded like a stump speech in New Hampshire and been the subject of a Newsweek article speculating about a run for president.
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1 month ago | 
illinoispolicy.org | Patrick Andriesen
Illinois state lawmakers must be super speed readers, because who would vote on something they hadn’t read? They were given an average of 67 seconds per page to read the past nine state budgets, but last year received only 26 seconds per page.
Lawmakers in the Illinois General Assembly must read fast when they get final state budgets, because thousands of pages are dropped on them at the last minute before they must vote.
