Topic: Illinois

It must be a joke when anyone ranks Illinois as a good place to do business
It must be a joke when anyone ranks Illinois as a good place to do business July 29, 2023 Jack Hellner CNBC did, and got a whole lot wrong.
Arrest of Chicago 'Peacekeeper' police substitute demonstrates the folly of 'defund the police'
Arrest of Chicago 'Peacekeeper' police substitute demonstrates the folly of 'defund the police' May 29, 2023 Thomas Lifson Democrat politicians are desperate to deflect blame for their support of defund the police and anti-cop measures, and their embrace of hare-brained ideas about unarmed social workers preventing violence.
Does the WSJ really believe that residential real estate in Illinois is a great opportunity to get a high return on the investment?
Does the WSJ really believe that residential real estate in Illinois is a great opportunity to get a high return on the investment? May 13, 2023 Jack Hellner The numbers tell a very different story from the supposedly sophisticated business daily's take.
Illinois’s new SAFE-T Act is going lenient on criminals – and that’s bad news for our police officers
Illinois’s new SAFE-T Act is going lenient on criminals – and that’s bad news for our police officers January 23, 2023 Michael Letts We’ve already seen a number of lawsuits knock down some of the rules that Illinois was trying to pass with SAFE-T. But it’s concerning to see what more could come from it, especially as officers feel the strain from it
Democrats quietly send $35.8 billion bailout to cover their policy mistakes
Democrats quietly send $35.8 billion bailout to cover their policy mistakes December 15, 2022 Jack Hellner Would you leave your small business in the hands of Democrats?
Business as usual in the cesspool of Illinois politics
Business as usual in the cesspool of Illinois politics October 21, 2022 Thomas Lifson America's most corrupt state?
Illinois gas stations cleverly resisting being forced to propagandize for state's temporary suspension of tax hike
Illinois gas stations cleverly resisting being forced to propagandize for state's temporary suspension of tax hike June 22, 2022 Thomas Lifson The solution to compelled political speech is more speech.
Suggestions for Illinois gas station stickers
Suggestions for Illinois gas station stickers April 29, 2022 Jack Hellner Governor Jay Pritzker and the Illinois Democrats want a state-mandated campaign sticker at all gas stations bragging that they aren't raising the price of gas by 2 cents a gallon on July 1.
Illinois is a great example of why people are running from blue states
Illinois is a great example of why people are running from blue states January 7, 2022 Jack Hellner Kiplinger determined that Illinois is the least tax-friendly state of all, yet the greedy politicians want more.
Swirling corruption in Illinois, the state that brought us Obama
Swirling corruption in Illinois, the state that brought us Obama August 9, 2020 Jack Hellner Is Obama really separate from all the news of corruption now rolling out of Illinois?
Democratic candidate from Illinois can't stop 'laughing every single time' to loop of violent attack on police officer
Democratic candidate from Illinois can't stop 'laughing every single time' to loop of violent attack on police officer July 27, 2020 Monica Showalter Another lovely product of the Chicago Democratic political machine.
President Trump is trying to revive the economy while Illinois and other blue states are actively seeking to keep it in depression
President Trump is trying to revive the economy while Illinois and other blue states are actively seeking to keep it in depression May 27, 2020 Jack Hellner The solution? Need you ask? More taxes, silly.
In Illinois, dead people not only can vote, but can get free medical care
In Illinois, dead people not only can vote, but can get free medical care September 14, 2019 Thomas Lifson Four point six million dollars on Medicaid for dead people? Illinois clearly is the pioneer in the not yet existent deceased rights movement, which I hear is having trouble with turnout for its rallies.
The path to a fortune: Get fired from an Illinois public college
The path to a fortune: Get fired from an Illinois public college July 1, 2019 Thomas Lifson You wouldn't want those hiring decisions to come under scrutiny, now, would you? Pay 'em off, let them go away quietly. Everybody wins...except the chumps who pay taxes.
Waiting in the wings for SCOTUS: Ruling in Illinois case that invalidated state's Firearms Owner's Identity card requirement
Waiting in the wings for SCOTUS: Ruling in Illinois case that invalidated state's Firearms Owner's Identity card requirement June 24, 2019 Thomas Lifson So far, little to no national attention has been paid to a judge's ruling in White County, Illinois that invalidated the state's requirement that firearms owners obtain a state-issued Firearms Owner's Identity Card.
How would cutting taxes five to eighteen cents per day reduce income inequality?
How would cutting taxes five to eighteen cents per day reduce income inequality? April 6, 2019 Jack Hellner Making the rich poorer will never make the poor and middle class richer.
Fiscal fantasy and fraud in Illinois
Fiscal fantasy and fraud in Illinois March 22, 2019 Thomas Lifson Shenanigans that would get a private company prosecuted.
The Future of Gun Sanctuaries
The Future of Gun Sanctuaries September 22, 2018 Andrew Nickel Last April, two Illinois counties, Iroquois and Effingham, kicked off the movement to create gun sanctuary counties to oppose what many residents feel are oppressive laws that curtail Second Amendment rights. Now, they have 28 more counties for company.
Illinois Pioneers Election Manipulation at the State Legislative Level
Illinois Pioneers Election Manipulation at the State Legislative Level July 21, 2018 Michael Bargo, Jr. Chicago has long been nationally famous for manipulating election results. What is not so well known is how Illinois, along with other blue states, has established new methods of stealing votes.
State bureaucrats of Illinois find new way to stiff residents on health care
State bureaucrats of Illinois find new way to stiff residents on health care March 18, 2018 Jack Hellner The state's socialist central planners have some commands on how insurance must be priced, comrade. Residents have a new reason to flee.
The financial collapse of Illinois is accelerating
The financial collapse of Illinois is accelerating October 10, 2017 Thomas Lifson John O'Connor of the AP has just broken the news that the unpaid bills of the Great State of Illinois have reached the awe-inspiring sum of $16.5 billion.
The state line that best demonstrates 'red model' success and 'blue model' failure
The state line that best demonstrates 'red model' success and 'blue model' failure August 28, 2017 Thomas Lifson Two adjacent states, physically indistinguishable, yet one cuts taxes and thrives – and just across the state line, businesses wither and jobs disappear as taxes skyrocket.
Illinois financial collapse not postponed as State House of Representatives passes first budget in 2 years
Illinois financial collapse not postponed as State House of Representatives passes first budget in 2 years July 3, 2017 Thomas Lifson Bipartisan?  Check.  Massive tax hike?  Check.  The other half of the fiscal sanity equation, spending discipline, is entirely absent.
Illinois lawmaker proposes holiday honoring Barack Obama’s birthday
Illinois lawmaker proposes holiday honoring Barack Obama’s birthday March 25, 2017 Thomas Lifson Are you ready for Barack Obama’s Birthday as a holiday on which government employees get a day off and schools are closed?
A sure sign of a sick political economy appears in Illinois
A sure sign of a sick political economy appears in Illinois August 21, 2016 Thomas Lifson Let this sink in: people are fleeing from Illinois while they can
Property taxes and predatory government in Cook Country
Property taxes and predatory government in Cook Country October 23, 2015 Thomas Lifson Can someone explain to me the difference between the property tax system in Cook County and a shakedown?  
The Great Democrat Budget Con Game in Illinois
The Great Democrat Budget Con Game in Illinois October 9, 2015 Thomas Lifson Democrats have run the corrupt state of Illinois into the ground, and now in classic fashion they are prepared to demonize the Republicans for the consequences.
Connecticut's tax greed may cost it dearly
Connecticut's tax greed may cost it dearly June 6, 2015 Thomas Lifson Taxing the worldwide earnings of a company foolish enough to keep its headquarters in a state is an invitation for highly paid jobs to migrate to Texas or another state that sees wealth-generation as a better path than wealth-confiscation.
Democrats: The Party Of Fraud
Democrats: The Party Of Fraud May 22, 2015 Michael Bargo, Jr. Layers of fraud.
Yet another Illinois governor under investigation
Yet another Illinois governor under investigation July 10, 2014 Thomas Lifson Four of the last seven governors of Illinois have ended up in prison. Is the Land of Lincoln poised to smash its own record? 
Grand jury launches criminal probe of Illinois anti-crime program
Grand jury launches criminal probe of Illinois anti-crime program May 2, 2014 Thomas Lifson The environment chosen by Barack Obama to launch his political life
Hope for Illinois GOP
Hope for Illinois GOP March 6, 2014 Richard Baehr Illinois is one of the bluest states in the country, but disgust with the mismanagement and corrupt leadership by Democrats,has opened the door to a GOP victory in the Senate and governor's races.
When is a fee not a fee? When it is an ObamaCare tax
When is a fee not a fee? When it is an ObamaCare tax January 24, 2014 letter to the editor Beware the asterisk
A New Catholic Heresy
A New Catholic Heresy December 30, 2013 Robert Klein Engler The Babylonian Heresy helps explain the schizophrenic phenomenon of Catholic Democrats in Illinois.
Democratic Politics and Illinois Catholics
Democratic Politics and Illinois Catholics December 7, 2013 Robert Klein Engler There's an unsettling link for Catholics in Illinois between marriage redefinition and illegal immigration.
Pat Quinn vs. Catholicism
Pat Quinn vs. Catholicism November 29, 2013 Robert Klein Engler Sooner or later, someone in the Church must gather the courage to say, "Enough!"
Don't know much about history (updated with university response)
Don't know much about history (updated with university response) November 4, 2013 Thomas Lifson One has to worry about the fate of the young minds entrusted to the Center for Inner City Studies at Northeastern Illinois University.
'Hot dog seasoning emergencies' and other stupid Illinois political tricks
'Hot dog seasoning emergencies' and other stupid Illinois political tricks September 16, 2013 Thomas Lifson What's a "hot dog seasoning emergency"? An opporunity!
Petty tyranny in Illinois
Petty tyranny in Illinois August 8, 2013 Thomas Lifson It may not be the IRS, but it is equally abusive.
Common problem
Common problem June 28, 2013 Rosslyn Smith What does the Governor and Legislature of Illinois have in common with the Management of the New York Times Company- besides a liberal worldview, that is?
Think Washington's Bad? Try Illinois
Think Washington's Bad? Try Illinois April 28, 2013 Chad Stafko If you think the nation's economic and fiscal conditions are bad, and they are, then pull up a chair and consider it could be worse...you could live in Illinois.
State of Illinois, meet Reality
State of Illinois, meet Reality March 26, 2013 Michael Bargo, Jr. How Obama learned that insane government spending was the road to utopia -- the short course.
Bloomberg plays kingmaker
Bloomberg plays kingmaker February 27, 2013 Rick Moran Turf war!