“The energy is being purchased up in the Chicago area. However, our folks got to build the project. The energy center exists in our community, so we get the property taxes from it and the ongoing economic benefit of it. The people in Chicago are able to achieve their renewable energy goals that they need. I think it’s an example of how we don’t have to compete with Chicago to do things that are good for our state’s economy,” said Ryan McCrady, president of the Springfield Sangamon Growth Alliance.

“After Trump’s decisive victory, some Democratic pundits have urged moderation, bipartisan collaboration, and renewed appeals to working-class voters through targeted spending. But Pritzker and some other governors don’t appear ready to shift course. Entrapped by policy failures and constrained by the progressives in their political coalition, they’re more likely to stick with the cultural politics that continue to alienate them—and their states—from middle America.”

The policy briefing claims the $6 billion in proposed new taxes will support immigrant communities, schools, public transit, healthcare access for all, senior home care, child tax credit and direct cash assistance, re-entry employment programs, violence prevention and affordable housing.

Illinois currently requires treatment hospitals to provide vouchers to pay for ambulance, forensic, lab, and follow-up healthcare services for survivors. However, this legislation could allow people to use the voucher to help get transportation to and from hospitals or other treatment centers.

In April, Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition with 20 other attorneys general to sue the administration to stop the implementation of an executive order that would dismantle the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), the Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) and the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS).

Among the new taxes being proposed include $1.7 billion excise tax on capital gains, an $840 million billionaire wealth tax, and $830 million to raise the corporate income tax in Illinois. At 9.5 percent, Illinois already has the third-highest corporate income tax rate in the country.

Once a cornerstone of Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s green agenda, Lion Electric’s Joliet plant will auction its equipment on May 15 after declaring bankruptcy, despite a $50 million state incentive. Darrell Bruck, co-founder of the Kankakee-based group Outrage that opposes the Gotion development, calls it a “cautionary tale” for taxpayers.

HB 1368 is a solid move by Illinois’ leaders toward literacy reform by training teachers in “science of reading” methods that emphasize traditional reading skills such as phonics, language development and vocabulary.

Border czar Tom Homan slammed Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker for the state’s sanctuary policies protecting illegal immigrants, arguing he has lied on the issue after Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem protested alongside Angel families demanding change.

“When state support withers, tuition rises. That is exactly what has happened in Illinois, which now has the unwelcome distinction of being one of the least affordable places in the country to attend college.”

The Illinois Senate Executive Committee advanced legislation Wednesday which would place kiosks that exchange cryptocurrency and cash under supervision of the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. “As with all acts, there will be expenses in implementing and administering it. Those cost expenses will be borne by industry and not the taxpayers in Illinois,” IDFPR attorney David Berland said.

“We strive to help our local entry-level Rivian and Ferrero assembly-line workers, school teachers, and first-responders with limited income to have a fighting chance to become homeowners,” said Mark Adams with the Bloomington-Normal Community Land Trust. “We really need ongoing grants for capital and operation funds from the State of Illinois to enhance our impact.”

Jim Dey: “The bottom line is that the state’s overall revenue increases from FY 2024-25 to FY 2025-26 — so far less than 2 percent — are cramping efforts by Gov. JB Pritzker and state legislators to pass a new state budget that will take effect on July 1. … Last week, a coalition of lobby groups proposed a series of tax hikes that added up to $6.1 billion.”

As Joliet races to meet state requirements to be eligible to tap into Lake Michigan water before the region​’s groundwater​ is depleted, a handful of neighboring towns are holding off on making plans to identify alternative sources. In 2023, then-Joliet Mayor Bob O’Dekirk signed a landmark 100-year, $1 billion deal with Chicago’s then-mayor Lori Lightfoot to buy Lake Michigan water through Chicago.

The Illinois governor is subtly embracing his online persona as Genghis Khan.

“In his speech, Pritzker went on to say that ‘there’s a way out of this mess,’ and I wholeheartedly agree. But it’s not through contempt. Contempt is a bad strategy because it doesn’t solve problems. It stokes a desire for revenge. It backfires. … Contempt could never get us out of this mess because it’s what got us into this mess.”