A $55 million financial shell game linked to the administration of Mayor Rahm Emanuel vividly plays into a frequent complaint that the city often raids a tax piggy bank earmarked for disadvantaged neighborhoods to instead bankroll mayoral vanity projects.
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Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Emanuel Email Case Nets Five More Lobbying Violations
The total of those hit for lobbying the mayor without registering rises to eight in cases that emanate from a BGA lawsuit that led Mayor Emanuel to release thousands of pages of business related emails from his personal accounts.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Illinois Budget Post-Mortem: What Remains, What Made It, What Didn’t
While the income tax increase has dominated the news, there’s more in the budget that got done — and didn’t — that you need to know about.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
15 Good Government Reforms Illinois Lawmakers Approved This Session
The Illinois General Assembly approved several pieces of legislation this session that the Better Government Association backed as good government reforms, including streamlining, accountability and transparency.
Posted inFollow-Up, Investigation
Chris Kennedy Slams Same Property Tax System He Used To Get Big Break
Chris Kennedy, a top Democratic contender for governor, relied on a politically connected tax lawyer to dramatically reduce property tax bills on land he was prepping for development. It appears to mirror the sort of activity Kennedy has been condemning on the campaign trail.
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
How To Move From Impasse Illinois To Improving Illinois
Illinois has a budget after two years without one. How do we make sure it doesn’t happen again?
Posted inAnalysis, Perspective, Policy
City, County Residents To Get Louder Voice On Issues
Both Chicago and Cook County, reputably closed off from the public eye, are taking steps toward more public accessibility.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
Calculator: What An Illinois Income Tax Hike Means For You
Included in the budget Illinois lawmakers approved on July 6th was a 1.2 percentage point increase in Illinois’ income tax rate. Use our custom-made calculator to figure out how it impacts you and your family.
Posted inLegal
Ruling In BGA Suit Bars Towns From Writing Own Transparency Rules
The Illinois Appellate Court, in a case involving a Rosemont deal with country singer Garth Brooks, says municipalities can’t legislate the power to pick and choose what parts of state open records law they want to follow.
Posted inAnalysis, Policy
History Of Hurt: Timeline Of Illinois’ Painful Budget Impasse
A look at the history of the budget impasse and the damage caused by our elected officials’ inability to reach a compromise and approve a budget.