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Gov. JB Pritzker called the hikes “arbitrary” and antithetical to the state’s economic environment and policies. “Over the past six years, our state economy has flourished based on transparent markets and fair competition. State Farm's actions are antithetical to the core principles that the Illinois business community is built on,” he said.
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Audio and summary Illinois bill would override local law to allow homeless living in all public parks – Wirepoints
April 14, 2026
29 Comments
If this bill passes, say goodbye to local control over all Illinois parks and expect to see open drug and alcohol use, needles, no sanitation and fire hazards, but no ordinary park users.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago Fiscal Crisis Worse Than Pre-Bankruptcy Detroit, HIV Surge and Public Health Threat From Open Borders Goes Unreported
April 10, 2026
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Summary and audio linked here.
Mark Glennon on AM560’s Morning Answer: Chicago pension buyout plan mostly shifts debt rather than eliminating it, property tax surge doubles inflation over three decades
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9 Comments
Chicago’s political leadership is floating a pension buyout program as evidence it is seriously addressing the city’s thirty-six-billion-dollar unfunded pension liability, but Mark Glennon, founder of the Illinois policy research organization Wirepoints, said that the proposal moves debt from one column to another rather than reducing it, and that the broader fiscal picture facing the city continues to deteriorate across every measurable dimension. Audio here.
WBEZ and Chicago Sun-Times falsely blame Texas Gov. Abbott for 2020 to 2024 surge in Chicago Latino HIV, AIDS infections – Wirepoints Quickpoint
March 31, 2026
11 Comments
Expect no retraction or apology. This what they do.
State Farm is a main source of funding keep ISU running. Illinois has not truly invested in the university in decades. Why is he trying to upset a major employer who actually contributes to the local economy, when he can barely bring new investment to the state as it is? It is rich his sanctuary state and dont-arrest-anyone policy is impacting insurance rates and he pretends to care. This childish rhetoric is probably why a lot of companies just leave instead of putting up with him. If he personally won’t make money from it, he is not going to advocate… Read more »
It’s funny that Pritzker doesn’t want to have premiums increase in Illinois because of costs from outside the state. Yet, Democrats in Illinois want safer zip codes in Illinois to subsidize car insurance costs for high crime zip codes.
Leftists just love price controls. In spite of them being a failure whenever enacted throughout history the Democrats will careen towards economic upheaval. They never seem to learn that they cannot ignore market forces and reality.
On the one hand liberals are saying that “global warming” is increasing the frequency and severity of storms, but on the other hand they are saying, this has no impacts on property, so insurance rates should not go up. I think the only “global warming” that is really going on is liberals pontificating on their personal beliefs, science and math be damned.
Gov. Slop Trough is not happy a corporation is trying to take funds out of taxpayers pockets he has already spent. The nerve of State Farm.
One wonders if Illinois extremely lawyer (ITLA) friendly state has anything to do with highly unregulated insurance rates?
per today’s excellent trib editorial:
(https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/07/11/editorial-state-farm-homeowners-insurance-premiums/)
What about contractors’ costs to repair storm damage? They have high liability and workmen’s compensation premiums that increase the cost of repairing storm damage. Higher premiums than adjoining states. Passed on to State Farm.
Governor Happy Meal Warrior is clueless. Let the free market work. If State Farm customers are unhappy with the premiums, service, etc. they are free to take their business elsewhere. And yes, I am a State Farm customer.
Where else would customers go? It seems obvious that collusion is prominent in major industries including insurance. After my rates went up by double digits, I looked around and found I still have the best deal. You could always switch to a fly-by-night company, but you usually get what you pay for.
Why do you assume collusion? Inflation has caused prices for construction materials to go up. It doesn’t just go up for State Farm, it goes up for all insurance materials. When a storm hits an area it affects all properties, not just one insurer. The same goes for auto insurance. All cars are more expensive as are the replacement parts and the labor, not just those insured by State Farm. The last thing you ever want is government price controls. This is why insurers are leaving Commiefornia. The Marxist politicians instituted price controls and the insurers can’t cover the rising… Read more »
The curse of Joe Biden and the money printing “Inflation Reduction Act” continues to poison the economy. Trump has brought inflation back under control but the four years of bidenflation is still there.
Since when has IL economy been transparent? The IL economy is tanking. IL taxpayers are leaving IL.
Is this just like when Hyatt Hotels arbitrarily raises hotel room rates?
Or raises the charges on a bottle of water in the mini fridge?
I think it definitely is.
JB should look into this.
JB the Hutt isn’t allowed in Hyatt board meetings. It takes too long for board members and other Hutt family to explain basic economics to him every five minutes.
Although not a fan of insurance companies, Butterworth is going to FAFO like Bass did in CA with insurance companies and no one is going to get paid anything the next time a natural disaster happens.
This might be the straw that broke the camels back, it’s a mystery why State Farm is still headquartered in Illinois anyway.