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Archive for the ‘Immigration’ Category

Illinois lawmakers again push disguised ‘retirement tax’

Posted in Commodius Maximus, Cost of Living, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, Unions on November 25, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Illinois voters soundly rejected a progressive state income tax because it was a path to tax retirees. That isn’t stopping state lawmakers from trying again.

By Ravi Mishra | Illinois Policy Institute

Lawmakers introduced a new bill to end Illinois’ long-standing flat income tax and replace it with a progressive structure – a move that could impose taxes on retirees and others.

The move comes as Illinois tax revenues have reached record highs. Illinoisans face some of the nation’s biggest tax burdens.

This isn’t even the legislature’s first progressive tax attempt this year. And for a second time, former Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing the idea.

Voters statewide rejected a progressive tax because it hands state lawmakers power to set tax rates at whatever they want on whomever they want, including on retirees who are not taxed by the state on their retirement income. Calls for taxing “millionaires” are deceptive bids to go after the income brackets of family farms and small businesses – not penthouse residents.

Plus, after state lawmakers have the power to tax one income group, nothing stops them from adding another, and another, and another. Dividing and conquering avoids the political backlash of raising everyone’s flat tax.

Record revenues driven by tax hikes, not growth

Illinois has collected $54 billion in 2025, marking an 35% increase since 2020. The surge didn’t come from economic growth, but rather from at least 50 tax hikes imposed during Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s administration.

Despite record revenues, Illinois has had among the slowest economic growth in the nation. Since Pritzker’s first term, the state has ranked 45th nationally in economic growth and dead last in the Midwest. High taxes have been a primary driver of stagnation, through discouragement of investment, loss of population and lack of entrepreneurship.

Despite this, lawmakers keep looking towards progressive tax schemes to give themselves more to spend.

Read on here.

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Illinois House Democrats push first-in-the-world wealth tax, streaming, concert taxes

Posted in BOHICA, Cook, County, Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, Unions on October 29, 2025| 1 Comment »

State lawmakers are rushing a first-in-the-world wealth tax on billionaires. They also want taxes on streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify and steep surcharges on concerts and ticketed events.

By Dylan Sharkey | Illinois Policy Institute

Illinois House Democrats introduced a $1.5 billion transit funding plan with a wealth tax on hypothetical income that doesn’t exist anywhere in the world. Taxes on streaming services and ticketed events are also a part of the plan.

  • A 4.95% tax on unrealized capital gains for individuals with more than $1 billion in assets.
  • A 7% amusement tax on streaming services such as Netflix and Spotify.
  • Increasing the sales tax in Cook County on certain food items by 0.25 percentage points.
  • A $5 surcharge on tickets for large concerts and performances.
  • Expanded speed camera enforcement in suburban areas to generate additional transit funding.

Illinois would be the first in the world to tax wealth based on unrealized capital gains. Billionaires can leave the state far more easily than others can. When they leave, Illinois loses out on their income, property and sales tax dollars. As the tax base shrinks, the state would need to make up for that lost revenue, and less wealthy Illinoisans will be the only ones left to tax.

There’s no stopping lawmakers from lowering the threshold at which it kicks in in the future. What starts with billionaires opens the door to taxing others next. Even Gov. J.B. Pritzker doesn’t support the proposal (Of course).

More here.

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Raging Democrats make extraordinary ‘Civil War’ claim during divisive ‘No Kings’ speeches

Posted in Cook, County, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Dumb and Dumber, Elections, Immigration, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Taxes, Unions on October 20, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson ignited the crowd on Saturday by telling liberals to be ‘ready to defend this democracy’ and to be ‘ready to fight fascism’ | Photo courtesy Reuters

By SOPHIE GABLE and ALYSSA GUZMAN | Daily Mail

The Chicago mayor accused President Donald Trump of wanting a ‘Civil War’ rematch during a No Kings protest.

Mayor Brandon Johnson ignited the crowd on Saturday by telling liberals to be ‘ready to defend this democracy’ and to be ‘ready to fight fascism.’

‘Are you prepared to destroy authoritarianism once and for all? We’ll let the world hear you, no kings!’ he said in an impassioned speech.

He warned Chicago residents to be prepared for a ‘rematch of the Civil War.’

‘The attempt to divide and conquer this nation will not prevail because when the people are united, justice always prevails,’ he said.

‘If my ancestors, as slaves, can lead the greatest general strike in the history of this country, taking it to the ultra-rich and big corporations, we can do the same today.’

The 49-year-old politician promised the crowd that the liberal hotspot would remain at the forefront of the resistance against the Trump Administration.

Read more here.

Editorial note: Lori Lightfoot’s looking pretty good in hindsight lately…

Related: “Mayor Johnson’s 6% Approval Shows: Race-Baiting Can’t Cover up Epic Public Safety Failure”

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It’s not your Mother’s League of Women Voters anymore (And it hasn’t been for some time)

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Ethics, Fat Bastard, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Illinois State Board of Elections, Immigration, League of Women Voters, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Unions on October 13, 2025| 4 Comments »

What follows is from the League of Women Voters of Palatine, Barrington and Schaumburg Area’s website:

“No Kings 2 Rally — Unite and Rise for Democracy

The League of Women Voters is an official, national partner of the No Kings II rally. We are marching on October 18 to support the Bill of Rights, oppose federal overreach, and reject cuts to essential services. Join us!

We are calling on friends, neighbors and the community at large to unite at a nearby protest and rise up for our democracy.

This is our time. It’s our time to be present, brave, and loud, working together as a concerned community to speak out for our neighbors and the Constitution.

The League has made simple signage that you can print and take along.

And if you can’t attend, we hope you’ll raise your voice with a window sign, or by helping us promote the event and encourage others to attend via social media or a good old fashioned phone call!

There are three nearby locations:

  • Palatine — Volunteer Plaza at the Clocktower — 11:30 am – 1:00 pm
  • Arlington Heights — Recreation Park (NOTE new location!) — 3:00 pm – 5:00 p
  • Schaumburg — North Roselle and Schaumburg Roads — 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Look for a member of LWVPA holding an LWV sign at the Palatine and Arlington Heights locations to meet up. In Schaumburg, look for an LWV member holding purple and gold balloons. If you are able, try to attend more than one event. For example, Palatine at 11:00 am and then Arlington Heights at 3:00 pm. Help us make these rallies the largest yet!”

Note: The LWV website states: “The League of Women Voters of the Palatine, Barrington, and Schaumburg Areas is a nonpartisan political organization and does not support any political party or candidate.” Really? This may have been true at one time, but we’ll leave it up to readers to decide if it is today.

And it should be noted there is no disclosure statement revealing who or what is funding this political campaign, and that is what it is. The staggering of the rally hours provides partisan candidates the opportunity to appear and speak at all three rallies.

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Things to do Oct. 10-16: Raptor Sunday, Oddities Night, A Conversation with Kamala Harris and more

Posted in Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Elections, Entertainment, Fools and their money, Immigration, Politics on October 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Walk a path lined with hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns during Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns Wednesdays through Sundays through Oct. 26 at the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. | Courtesy of Chicago Botanic Garden

By Luke Zurawski | Daily Herald

Friday, Oct. 10

Night of 1,000 Jack-o’-Lanterns: 6-10:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 10-12, 15-19 and 22-26, at the Chicago Botanic Garden, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. See hand-carved, LED-lit jack-o’-lanterns, characters and live pumpkin carving along a festive paved pathway. $22-$27 for adults, $15-$18 for kids 3-12, and free for kids younger than 3. chicagobotanic.org/halloween.

Glass Pumpkin Patch: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Oct. 10-12, at Morton Arboretum, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. Shop one-of-a-kind glass creations and watch glassblowing demonstrations by artists every 30 minutes from noon to 5 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Flameworking demonstrations will be held at 12:15, 1:15, 2:15 and 3:15 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Rain or shine. Presale viewing from 10-11 a.m. Friday. Included with arboretum admission. Tickets: mortonarb.org

See handcrafted scarecrows Friday through Sunday, Oct. 10-12, during St. Charles’ Scarecrow Fest. | Daily Herald file photo

Scarecrow Fest: Noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11; and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in downtown St. Charles. 40th annual fest features over 110 handcrafted scarecrows on display around town for visitors to view and vote on their favorites. Family Zone with live entertainment in Lincoln Park. Activity Zone with photo ops, Scarecrow-to-Go and family activities on Riverside Avenue. Autumn on the Fox Arts & Crafts Show at Pottawatomie Park. Free. scarecrowfest.com.

Downtown Elgin Market: 3-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, on South Riverside Drive, Elgin. Farmers, makers, live music, Sip N’ Shop and kids’ activities. Dog-friendly. LINK Matching program. Free. downtownelgin.com/market.

Oktoberfest: 5-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Bridges Beer Garden, 1400 Poplar Creek Drive, Hoffman Estates. German dancers, live music, and food and beverages for purchase. Free. heparks.org.

Autumn Hayrides: 5:30, 6:30 and 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, at Primrose Farm, 5N726 Crane Road, St. Charles. Ticket includes a 30-minute tractor-drawn wagon ride and the supplies to make s’mores over an open fire. Kids 15 and younger must be accompanied by a paid adult. $16. Register: stcparks.org/events.

Hayrides at Hoffman Park: 6, 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, and 5:15, 6, 6:45 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the dog park at Hoffman Park, West Main Street, Cary. Hayride and campfire under the stars. $10. Register: carypark.com

Spooky Scavenger Hunt: 6-8 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at Heritage Farm at Spring Valley, 201 S. Plum Grove Road, Schaumburg. Family scavenger hunt around the farm. Free. parkfun.com/event/spooky-scavenger-hunt

Oddities Night: 7-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, at the Arlington Heights Historical Museum, 110 W. Fremont St., Arlington Heights. A Victorian Halloween gathering with drinks, bites, oddities, a tarot card reader, a magician and more. 21-and-older event. $40, $30 for Arlington Heights Historical Society members. ahpd.org.

Saturday, Oct. 11

Collect-A-Con: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at the Donald E. Stephenson Convention Center, 5555 N. River Road, Rosemont. Trading card, anime and pop culture convention. Tickets start at $49.29 for Saturday, $44.04 for Sunday, $65.04 for both days, and free for kids 7 and younger. collectaconusa.com/chicago-2.

The Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale comes to the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12. | Daily Herald file photo

Illinois Orchid Society Fall Show & Sale: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, at the Chicago Botanic Garden Burnstein Hall, 1000 Lake-Cook Road, Glencoe. Featuring artistically arranged tabletop displays from the rarest of species to cultivated hybrids. Orchid plants for sale, as well as repotting services. Photographers’ Hour from 9-10 a.m. Sunday. $17.95-$23.95. chicagobotanic.org

Autumn Harvest: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at North School Park, 307 N. Evergreen Ave., Arlington Heights. Crafts, games, hayrides, a scarecrow-building contest, live music, entertainment and more. Food for purchase, including Garibaldi’s Pizza, Kori’s Koop and AJz Kettlecorn. Free. ahpd.org.

DIY Scarecrow Day: Noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, behind Fred Astaire Dance Studio, 342 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove. Reserve a time to build a custom scarecrow using a variety of clothing and accessories. Register in advance. $10 per scarecrow. longgrove.org/festival/october-days.

A Conversation with Kamala Harris: 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive, Chicago. Former Vice President Kamala Harris tells the story of her presidential campaign. Tickets start at $115. auditoriumtheatre.org

“Farewell, Mr. Poe”: 4-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11-12, starting at Morton Arboretum’s Thornhill Shelter, 4100 Route 53, Lisle. In the last four days of his life, Edgar Allan Poe drifted in and out of consciousness before he died. Where did his mind wander? Find out for yourself, as the paths wind through Poe’s life and poetry, until he confronts his earthly departure. Recommended for ages 12 and older. Bring water, portable chairs or blankets for seating, and bug spray. $17-$27. Register: mortonarb.org

Take a ride on the Ghost Story Train Saturdays, Oct. 11, 18 and 25, at the Fox River Trolley Museum in South Elgin. | Daily Herald File Photo, 2023

Ghost Story Train: 5, 6:15 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays, Oct. 11, 18 and 25, at the Fox River Trolley Museum, off Route 31, South Elgin. Ride a spooky trolley to the haunted forest preserve for family-friendly frights, including stories around the campfire with treats from Margie’s Girls’ Kitchen. A ghostly musician will lead campfire songs. Costumes welcome. $20. Register at foxtrolley.org/Ghost-Story-Train.

School of Haunt — Haunted House: 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at School of Rock, 105 N. Maple Ave., Elmhurst. Themed rooms, scare actors and a night of fright for ages 13 and older. Hosted by School of Rock Elmhurst. Free. schoolofrock.com.

“Disenchanted!”: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, in Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. A musical that gives a new spin to Disney princess classics. Contains adult language and themes and is not appropriate for kids. $50. eccartscenter.org

Elgin Symphony season opener: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Hemmens, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin. Conductor Chad Goodman leads the ESO guest pianist Orion Weiss and the symphony in Carlos Simon’s “Motherboxx Connection,” H. Hanson’s Symphony No. 2 “Romantic” and Gershwin’s Concerto in F. $20-$68; $10 for students. elginsymphony.org

Jeremy Kahn Quartet: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 11, at Baker Community Center, 101 S. Second St., St. Charles. Chicago-based jazz pianist Jeremy Kahn returns to “Saturday Night Lights” with a quartet featuring vocalist Petra Van Nuis in her St. Charles debut. $30. norrisculturalarts.com

Sunday, Oct. 12

Buffalo Grove Farmers Market: 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, in Mike Rylko Park, 951 McHenry Road, Buffalo Grove. Meat, cheese, bakery, coffee, knife sharpening and more from 42 vendors, with weekly entertainment, a kids’ craft tent and Business of the Week vendors and nonprofits. Free. vbg.org/165/Farmers-Market.

Walneck’s Motorcycle Swap Meet: 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at McHenry County Fairgrounds, 11900 Country Club Road, Woodstock. New and used motorcycle parts of all types and brands, leathers, sewing, jewelry, toys and more. Rain or shine. $10 for ages 15 and older. walneckswap.com.

Crystal Lake Farmers Market+ At The Dole: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, on the front lawn of the Dole Mansion, 401 Country Club Road, Crystal Lake. Live music, kids’ activities, beverages, food trucks and more. Free. farmersmarketatthedole.org.

Pumpkin Splash: 1-2:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at The Club, 5050 Sedge Blvd., Hoffman Estates. Swim in the pumpkin patch pool to find a pumpkin. Includes pumpkin decorations and a treat for kids. $10-$12. heparks.org.

See owls, hawks and other birds of prey at Raptor Sunday at Stillman Nature Center in South Barrington. | Courtesy of Stillman Nature Center

Raptor Sunday: 1-3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Stillman Nature Center, 33 W. Penny Road, South Barrington. Meet the snowy, great horned, barred, barn and screech owls, along with a peregrine falcon, turkey vulture, broad-winged and red-shouldered hawks. $20 per car. stillmannc.org.

Tuesday, Oct. 14

“Hey There: The Music of Rosemary Clooney”: 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, in Elgin Community College’s Blizzard Theatre, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin. Kaity Paschetto, backed by a trio, breathes new life into classics like “Mambo Italiano,” “Hey There,” “Tenderly” and “Come On-a My House.” $35. eccartscenter.org

All You Need Is Jazz: 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 14, at Gail Borden Public Library Meadows Community Rooms AB, 270 N. Grove Ave., Elgin. Favorite Beatles tunes reimagined by a Chicago-area jazz trio on piano, drums and electric bass. Free. Register: gailborden.info

Wednesday, Oct. 15

Midweek Matinee: 1 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at Woodstock Opera House, 121 Van Buren St., Woodstock. See “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” (1971). $8. woodstockoperahouse.com.

Rosaway, consisting of flutist and vocalist Rachel Ombredane and drummer Stéphane “SteF” Avellaneda, will perform Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Raue Center for the Arts in Crystal Lake. | Courtesy of the Raue Center for the Arts

Rosaway: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 15, at the Raue Center for the Arts, 26 N. Williams St., Crystal Lake. Paris-based disco-jazz duo. Tickets start at $19. rauecenter.org.

Ongoing

Goebbert’s Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily through Oct. 30 at Goebbert’s Farm & Garden Center, 40 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington. Animals, corn stalk mazes, wagon rides, pig races, fall food, produce and more. Some attractions are only available on the weekends. $19 weekdays; $23 in advance online and $26 at the door on weekends; free for kids 2 and younger. Extra fees for animal rides ($8) and gem mining ($10-$25). goebbertspumpkinfarm.com/fall-festival.

Randall Oaks Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily through Nov. 2 at Randall Oaks Zoo, 1180 N. Randall Road, West Dundee. Pedal tractors, pumpkins and fall treats for sale, and on weekends, hayrides for $3 and animal shows at 1:30 p.m. $6; free for kids 1 and younger and U.S. military with ID. dtpd.org/fall-festival.

Alex Ross — Heroes & Villains: 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Fridays through Sundays and Wednesdays and 2-8 p.m. Thursdays, through Feb. 16, 2026, at the Bess Bower Dunn Museum of Lake County, 1899 W. Winchester Road, Libertyville. A larger-than-life presentation of the work of legendary comic book artist Alex Ross featuring heroes and villains from the Marvel and DC universes. Museum admission $3-$10, exhibit tickets $5-$10, free for kids 3 and younger. LCFPD.org/planyourvisit.

Boo at the Zoo: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through Oct. 31 at Brookfield Zoo Chicago, 8400 31st St., Brookfield. Brookfield Zoo Chicago’s family-friendly Halloween celebration with not-so-scary thrills, festive decorations and more. On weekends, there’s trick-or-treating, a magician and other activities. Included with zoo admission. brookfieldzoo.org/BooAtTheZoo.

Happy Times Pumpkinfest at Didier Farms: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily, except Tuesdays, through Sunday, Oct. 26, at Didier Farms, 16678 Aptakisic Road, Lincolnshire. Amusement rides, shows, fall merchandise, pumpkin sales, fall treats and more. Free entry; fees for rides and attractions. happytimespumpkinfest.com

Six Flags Great America Fright Fest: 5-11 p.m. Fridays, 11 a.m. to midnight Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays, through Nov. 1, at Six Flags Great America, Six Flags Drive, Gurnee. Thrills by day and frights by night with haunted houses, scare zones, spine-chilling shows and rides. Plus, kids’ Boo Fest and Oktoberfest. Tickets start at $45. sixflags.com/greatamerica/events.

Richardson Adventure Farm: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays, noon to 9 p.m. Sundays, and 3-9 p.m. Thursdays, through Oct. 26, at Richardson Farm, 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove. Corn maze, pumpkin patch, observation tower, zip line, zorbing, pig races and more. $24, $20 for kids 3-12, and free for kids 2 and younger; $30/$24 Saturdays and Sundays. richardsonadventurefarm.com.

Jack O’Lantern World: Time slots start around 6 p.m. Thursdays through Sundays through Nov. 1 at Paulus Park, 215 S. Rand Road, Lake Zurich, and The Forge, 227 Heritage Quarries Drive, Lemont. See and explore thousands of pumpkins arranged in displays and more, plus a pumpkin patch, 30-foot inflatables, food trucks, a beer garden, mini golf and more. Tickets range from $17.99-$27.99. thejackolanternworld.com.

Visitors enter “Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience” in Ingleside during a sneak preview Thursday. | John Starks/jstarks@dailyherald.com

“Harry Potter: A Forbidden Forest Experience”: Various times through Nov. 2 (except Oct. 14, 20-21 and 27-28), at the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago’s Camp Duncan, 32405 N. U.S. Hwy. 12, Ingleside. Lights transform the landscape into a magical outdoor trail featuring creatures from the “Harry Potter” and “Fantastic Beasts” films. A themed village at the end of the trail will offer food and drink (Butterbeer) and a gift shop. Tickets start at $31 for kids 3-12, $46 for adults. HPForbiddenForestExperience.com.

Find more here.

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Chicago ranks near bottom in survey of best and worst run cities

Posted in Clown Car, Deception, Economy, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Preckwinkle's Rules of Order, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Resident Spotlights, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, The Chicago Way, Unions on September 5, 2025| Leave a Comment »

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch | The Center Square

By Glenn Minnis | The Center Square contributor

The city of Chicago ranks near the bottom in the new Best & Worst-run cities in America survey of 148 different locations.

With researchers comparing the operating efficiency of each city, Chicago lands at No. 136 in the WalletHub survey after finishing 102nd in quality of city services and 140th in total budget per capita.

State Rep. Martin McLaughlin, R-Barrington Hills, isn’t shy about voicing his displeasure with Chicago’s dismal showing.

“Chicago has been known as The Second City, but we have dropped quite precipitously down to 136, and that is based on one thing and one thing alone, and that is progressive policies from people who are producing painful results for the residents and for those like my community who are living adjacent to the city,” McLaughlin told The Center Square. “It is no longer the place it was 30 years ago. It is no longer the financial capital of commodities in the world and no longer a place that you will go to and feel safe.”

Researchers weighed “quality of services” metrics that included health, safety and economy rank, measuring each category against the city’s per-capita budget.

As bad as things have gotten, McLaughlin still sees a way out for the city.

“I think Chicago has an opportunity, particularly with those who have recognized that the governor and the mayor have put illegal migrants ahead of citizens and the neighborhoods who have been underserved now recognize that they have been overlooked,” he said. “They just have to change who they’re voting for and they have a chance to do that every two years.”

Read more here.

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Parents blast blue state governor for extending student financial aid to illegal immigrants

Posted in 220, 300, Barrington Education Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Fox News, Illinois Federation of Teachers, Immigration, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Topics Of Interest on August 28, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Parents’ rights activists told Fox News Digital that Illinois parents are enraged about a new law signed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker extending student financial aid eligibility to illegal aliens. | Mark Wilson/Getty Images; Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images

By Peter Pinedo | Fox News

Parents in Illinois are enraged about a new law signed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker extending student financial aid eligibility to illegal aliens.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Michelle Cunney, an Illinois mother and local Parents’ Rights in Education chapter leader, called the new law a “nightmare.”

“To be honest, it’s terrifying that not only are we having to pay for this, as you know, tax-paying citizens … But also, as parents, not knowing how it will really truly end up affecting our children and their education,” explained Cunney.

Parents in Illinois are enraged about a new law signed by Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker extending student financial aid eligibility to illegal aliens.

In an interview with Fox News Digital, Michelle Cunney, an Illinois mother and local Parents’ Rights in Education chapter leader, called the new law a “nightmare.”

“To be honest, it’s terrifying that not only are we having to pay for this, as you know, tax-paying citizens … But also, as parents, not knowing how it will really truly end up affecting our children and their education,” explained Cunney.

Read more here.

Related: “New Illinois law guarantees immigrant students access to public education”

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Public education budgets balloon while enrollment, proficiency, standards drop

Posted in Barrington Education Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Education, Immigration, Overhead, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions on August 21, 2025| 1 Comment »

Illinois Superintendent of Schools Tony Sanders | Greg Bishop / The Center Square

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

In return for soaring state spending on education, Illinois taxpayers are getting chronic absenteeism, poor academic proficiency and declining enrollment from the state’s public schools.

The Illinois Policy Institute found that Illinois’ education budget increased by nearly $4 billion over the last decade, while the number of students enrolled in public schools decreased by about 177,000 during the same period.

Illinois Policy Institute Policy Analyst Hannah Schmid said poor academic proficiency and chronic absenteeism are coming at a higher cost.

“So the state spending has grown over two times faster than student achievement has grown. We’ve actually seen achievement in math decline over the past few years,” Schmid told The Center Square.

The state’s education budget for the 2025-26 school year is a record-high $11.2 billion.

“Spending is up 24%, reading is just up 9% and math has actually dropped by 11%, so we’re seeing poor outcomes for students,” Schmid said.

According to the Illinois State Board of Education’s Illinois Report Card, the state’s public school students had a chronic absenteeism rate of 26.3% last year.

More here.

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New Illinois law guarantees immigrant students access to public education

Posted in 220, 300, Barrington Education Association, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Illinois Federation of Teachers, Immigration, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, School Districts, Taxes, Unions, WBEZ Chicago on August 20, 2025| 6 Comments »

Immigrants, advocates and elected officials gather in the Belmont Cragin neighborhood on the Northwest Side to celebrate the signing of the Safe Schools for All law protecting the right of undocumented children to attend public schools. | Candace Dane Chambers/Sun-Times

The law prohibits public schools from denying access to a free education based on immigration status. It also requires schools to have procedures for law enforcement requests to enter a building.

By Emmanuel Camarillo | WBEZ Chicago

When immigration enforcement operations in Chicago ramped up in January, a woman named Maria saw the chilling effect it had on the Belmont Cragin community firsthand.

As a parent-mentor at Lloyd Elementary in the Northwest Side neighborhood, she said some students expressed fears that they or their family members would be detained and deported by federal agents, perhaps on their way to school. Families considered leaving, she said.

The thought crossed her mind, too. Maria, whose last name isn’t being published to protect her identity, is undocumented, though her three children, including a third grader at Lloyd, are American citizens.

“I had a lot of fear,” she said.

That’s why she joined immigrant rights groups and elected officials Tuesday to celebrate Gov. JB Pritzker signing the “Safe Schools for All Act” into law, which advocates say will help protect families. The law prohibits public schools from denying any student access to a free education based on their immigration status or that of their parents.

“Now many families across the state can feel safer in their children’s public school,” Maria said. “Thanks to this new law we have more peace of mind that ICE is not welcome in our schools.”

The law also prohibits schools from disclosing or threatening to disclose information related to the immigration status of the student or an “associated person.” And it requires schools to develop procedures for reviewing and authorizing requests from law enforcement trying to enter a school.

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New poll: 50.2% of Illinois voters view Pritzker unfavorably

Posted in Clown Car, Commodius Maximus, Deception, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI), Economy, Ethics, Fat Bastard, Fat Man Walking, Girlie man, Illinois Policy Institute, Immigration, Look For The Union Label, Politics, Pritzker’s Rules of Order, Property Taxes, Springfield, Taxes, The Center Square, Unions on August 8, 2025| 2 Comments »

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker | BlueRoomStream

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square

A new poll shows that Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s approval rating has flipped negative for the first time.

The Illinois Policy Institute’s newest Lincoln Poll conducted by M3 Strategies July 15-18 found that 50.2% of likely voters in 2026 view the governor unfavorably and 47.2% view Pritzker favorably.

M3 surveyed 752 individuals and reported a +/- 3.57 percentage point margin of error.

The previous Lincoln Poll in late January showed a slim majority of Illinois voters approving of Pritzker’s job performance.

Illinois Policy Institute Senior Fellow and former Illinois state Rep. Mark Batinick, R-Plainfield, said he would have advised Pritzker not to run for a third term.

“Third terms are often called the third-term curse, number one. Number two, running a general election for governor doesn’t match with running in a far-left Democratic primary for president,” Batinick told The Center Square.

Batinick said he predicted months ago that the governor’s poll numbers would drop.

“The stuff that he’s trying to do to go to the far left to be relevant in the Democratic primary for president is costing him with rank-and-file voters here in Illinois. They’re like, ‘You know what? I’ve got a high property tax bill. I don’t care about Texas legislators. I want you back in Illinois doing the things that matter to us.’ When you look at that poll, taxes was the number one issue,” Batinick said.

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