Independent research, commentary and news aggregation. We connect the dots between Illinois government, economy and people. #twill
Chicago, IL
Joined November 2012
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Wirepoints retweeted
As today is the Mayor’s budget rollout, I thought I’d chime in on Chicago’s fiscal performance and outlook with a piece in the Tribune (below).
Also, some accompanying charts. First, Chicago’s main operating budget has grown 64% since 2019 vs inflation of 30%… Not ideal!
1/10
Stuart Loren: Chicago’s budget math no longer works. A corporate head tax will make it worse. chicagotribune.com/2026/10/2…
Wirepoints retweeted
You can draw a straight line from unrest in France to policy decisions in Illinois, arguing that both reflect the direct consequences of voters’ choices rather than circumstances imposed on them. @DanProft welcomed @GlennonMarkE, founder of @Wirepoints, for their weekly discussion of Illinois policy issues.
Wirepoints retweeted
Pritzker is lying about his property-tax record.
He signed 21 bills extending 173 TIF districts across 104 cities and villages in 50 counties—an estimated $10.33 BILLION in property-tax revenue extended.
He can’t wash his hands of laws he signed.
Wirepoints retweeted
Abdul El-Sayed’s sister on the October 7th massacre:
“It was the most beautiful day of my life.”
Wirepoints retweeted
SCAM ALERT! This is just gross gaslighting of Illinois' working-class families.
Since 2019, he's raised state taxes and fees on working families 71 times, totaling over $90B in new taxes.
10 tax hikes this year and next. pritzker-tax-meter.bmcosti.c…
While Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans drive up everyday costs and give big corporations more tax breaks, Illinois is delivering more than $600 million in tax cuts to nearly 950,000 Illinois working families. newschannel20.com/news/local…
Wirepoints retweeted
After watching Gov. Pritzker and Mayor Johnson drive up taxes and drive out the Bears, I expect that there are many who might find this a tempting alternative. fox32chicago.com/news/right-… After all, they are simply offering to do for citizens what they have already done to the state.
Wirepoints retweeted
.@DanProft welcomed @GlennonMarkE, founder of @Wirepoints, for their weekly discussion on Illinois policy issues.
Wirepoints retweeted
This thread on the lousy STSC debt offering and the longer blog post was excellent. Highly recommend. Per Bloomberg’s pricing, Chicago’s interest rates have had a bit of relief over the last week, but borrowing costs are still high to the point of being punitive for taxpayers.
With Chicago facing a projected $85.1 million budget shortfall this year, harder decisions will likely be necessary to balance the budget by December, even with the city’s risky decision to refinance bonds last week.
citythatworks.substack.com/p…
Wirepoints retweeted
.@DanProft highlighted roughly 55 school-related referenda on the November 3rd ballot across Illinois, representing nearly $4 billion in proposed bonds and tax increases. He pointed to a new project from Ted Dabrowski called @Fight4Illinois, which compiles ballot information on these referenda, and said he cross-referenced that data with school performance figures from Wirepoints.org. Proft was joined by @GlennonMarkE, founder of @Wirepoints, who praised Dabrowski’s effort to bring scrutiny to a process he said has historically favored a well-organized coalition of developers, construction interests, and teachers' unions who routinely outmaneuver more loosely organized opposition.
Wirepoints retweeted
Yes - @ChiPubSchools has different grading “scales” based on ZIP codes
Wirepoints retweeted
Wirepoints founder @GlennonMarkE criticized Gov. JB Pritzker’s claims about Illinois’ improved credit ratings during an interview with @DanProft, arguing that taxpayers have paid far more in additional revenue than the state will save on borrowing costs.
Wirepoints retweeted
This is obscene! No wonder transit needed a bailout and taxes needed to be hiked.
NEW: Interim @NITA_Chicago Executive Director Jamie Rhee will collect an annual city taxpayer-funded pension of more than $213K while earning $350K, making her total compensation $563K, according to records obtained by me and @jaredrutecki for @wttw news news.wttw.com/2026/09/29/int…
Wirepoints retweeted
I said this 13 years ago! Barron's financial magazine had a chart showing Chicago had more debt to revenue than Detroit at the time of Detroit's bankruptcy. You and your Democrat colleagues said NOTHING. Now, you act like this is new news.
Chicago's pensions are doing worse than Detroit when they filed for bankruptcy in 2013.
Let that sink in.
Detroit's pensions were between 60 and 80% funded when they filed for bankruptcy in 2013. Chicago’s pension funds are at 28% and a law passed in 2025 is projected to drop Chicago's fire and police pension funds to under 18%.
As mayor, I'll work to save our workers’ pensions before it’s too late.
#chicago
Wirepoints retweeted
The front pages of the Sun-Times and the Tribune today.
Immigration all day, every day.
This is why both newspapers are groveling for subscribers.
Wirepoints retweeted
BREAKING:
This makes me physically ILL.
This also why the left is losing it over Elon Musk auditing their grift.
Aaron Heitke, the U.S. Border Chief with experience spanning five administrations, has unequivocally confirmed that the Biden-Harris administration directed him to suppress, hide, and alter data related to the border crisis.
He claims he was instructed to intentionally reduce detention capacity across the country while simultaneously issuing new Social Security numbers to undocumented immigrants.
According to Heitke, this enabled them to access full Social Security benefits and Medicaid, facilitated their voter registration, and ultimately PERMITTED them to CAST VOTES in U.S. ELECTIONS.
And there it is.
Wirepoints retweeted
0f course, Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights were at the Trump protest. The group gets $40million from Illinois taxpayers. – at Wheaton, IL
Wirepoints retweeted
Unbelievable.
This hyperactive cheerleader is the Illinois Democrat Party's nominee for the world's greatest deliberative body.
40 days until November 3rd, and you can vote TODAY, Illinois! Go to ildems.com/vote or your local election authority to check your registration, find your polling location, and make your plan to vote!
Wirepoints retweeted
Weitzel: “If you value facts, good data, and straightforward information, Fight for Illinois is a great resource - & they compile facts on crime, police, & public safety. Give them a look.” @GlennonMarkE @TedForIllinois @Wirepoints @Awake_IL @MorningAnswer
fightforillinois.org/
Wirepoints retweeted
Here is another dumb idea from the dumbest member of Congress.
Today, Rep. Delia Ramirez introduced the Reimagining Safety Act to dismantle DHS, ICE, and CBP. She wants to take the $150 billion from DHS and create a Dept. of Public Safety and fund social programs.
Ramirez’s bill would open our borders.
Wirepoints retweeted
What a joke. Transit reform was a lie.
Johnson and Pritzker have now reappointed the same CTA board members who oversaw its collapse.
The CTA bailout cost:
• $1B/yr stolen from the Road Fund
• A 25%-33% NITA sales tax hike
• Passenger tolls +57%
• Commercial tolls +30%
Same board members. More money. No consequences. No reform.
chicagotribune.com/2026/09/2…