Nearly two years after Rahm barreled into office, aldermen are still rubber-stamping everything he wants. Here's why the trend is so troubling for Chicago's citizens. Read more
The wealthy Chicago businessman moves further towards an official candidacy, forming an exploratory committee and announcing a listening tour of the state. Read more
The state's pulled together something like a balanced budget—but the end of the tax increase and increasing pension pressures will make that an extreme challenge to maintain. Read more
A poll on how the state should fix its fiscal problems finds substantial support for cutting spending and gutting some retirement benefits, but divided answers on more complex issues. Read more
Barack Obama owes longtime friend and fundraiser Penny Pritzker a great deal, going back to his days as an obscure state senator. 2008 wasn't the right time to include her in his cabinet, for a host of reasons, but he's got a lot more political capital in 2012, and much less to lose. Read more
The state's flat tax, its dependence on property taxes, and relatively high sales taxes (both state and local) combine for a tax structure that, compared to other states, hits the poor hard—and the middle class as well. Read more
New York City, scared off the plan by Chicago's experience, just decided to hold on to its parking meters. There's been a bit of a backlash against public-private partnerships in the past few months, as both governments and operators struggle with the financing of infrastructure in a down economy. Read more
