The Illinois Policy

The Illinois Policy Institute serves as a strong advocate for taxpayers across the state. We champion the rights of everyday Illinois residents who have often been overlooked in favor of special interests. Our mission is to educate and involve people from all backgrounds to create a state where everyone can succeed. Illinois should be a state we all take pride in calling home. The Illinois Policy Institute operates as a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research organization. Its partner organization, Illinois Policy, functions as an independent, nonpartisan 501(c)(4) advocacy group. The Illinois Policy Institute upholds several key beliefs: - Civil and personal freedoms must be safeguarded. - Illinois should be an environment where individuals of diverse talents, interests, and cultures can thrive through hard work and creativity. - We advocate for a government that is effective, efficient, honest, and transparent, accountable to taxpayers and residents rather than political interests. - Policies should empower individuals and limit governmental power. - We view the current public pension system, which poses a risk to our state's finances and threatens retirements for public workers, as unjust; however, we believe that reasonable reforms can address this issue. - Property taxes need to be managed to prevent residents from losing their homes. - Workers should have the freedom to decide if a labor union aligns with their values and needs. - Economic policies should prioritize job creation and opportunities for everyone. - Voters should have real choices at the polls, and no politician should feel guaranteed a “safe” seat. - Every child deserves access to educational opportunities that equip them for the future.

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Illinois tops U.S. in college spending, but loses over 100K students

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.
Gerrymandering: Madigan’s legacy of letting politicians choose their voters

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.
Health Alliance closing costs Champaign 612 jobs; Illinois layoffs hit 1,477

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.
Chicago speed cameras take $90.9 million from drivers in 2024

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.
Think Illinois spends millions on migrants? Wrong. It spends billions.

2 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra

Illinois will have spent over $2.5 billion on migrant care by the end of 2025. Costs have shattered projections and left taxpayers poorer. The Gov. J.B. Pritzker administration’s spending on migrant care has seen massive cost overruns and a troubling lack of transparency, drawing criticism for prioritizing migrants over the needs of taxpayers. Here’s how Pritzker is spending over $2.5 billion in taxes. Health careHealth care has been the primary cost.
Inside Illinois’ 2026 budget: spend now, squeeze more, solve later

3 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra |Lauren Zuar

State lawmakers built Illinois’ record $55.2 billion budget for 2026 on gimmicks, one-time fixes and piecemeal tax hikes. They left pension debt, transit cliffs and real reform for another day. Illinois state lawmakers eked out a budget for 2026 at the last minute, upholding Springfield’s fiscal maxim: when restraint is too tough, sweep funds and squeeze taxpayers a little harder.
Illinois adds $394M in taxes on Airbnb, Velo, DraftKings as it yanks property tax break

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.
Illinois passes $55B budget, with over $800 million in revenue changes

3 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Bryce Hill |Ravi Mishra |Lauren Zuar

Illinois state lawmakers’ spending plan surpasses last year’s budget by $2 billion, requiring taxpayers to pay over $800 million in additional costs for yet another year of record spending. With just over 24 hours to conduct a full review, the Illinois General Assembly approved a record-setting $55.2 billion budget for 2026, after a 75-41 House vote sent the 3,000-plus page plan to Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
Illinois must stop budgeting in fantasyland

4 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra

State leaders rely on budget gimmicks and short-term fixes and they assume speculative proposals will become law and operate exactly as planned just to balance the books, if only on paper. Transparent, laws-on-the-books-based modeling is the only path to long-term stability. Illinois has relied on flawed modeling practices for its budgeting for years.
Group pushes tax on Amazon deliveries, digital ads in final budget talks

4 weeks ago | illinoispolicy.org | Ravi Mishra

With the budget facing a potential $1.2 billion deficit, some ideas on the table include taxing deliveries from companies such as Amazon and digital ads. With a potential $1.2 billion budget deficit, some ideas for from taxpayers includes a tax on digital ad revenue and . Both taxes are likely to add further strain on already overburdened taxpayers and businesses.