Illinois quick hits: Former governor proposes millionaire's surcharge; digital state ID launched

Illinois quick hits: Former governor proposes millionaire’s surcharge; digital state ID launched

November 18, 2025/
Spread the love

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

Former governor proposes millionaire’s surcharge

Former Gov. Pat Quinn is pushing for a state constitutional amendment requiring Illinois millionaires to pay a 3% surcharge on their income tax returns.

The former governor said the millionaire’s tax would go to support a $4.5 billion property tax relief fund.

Quinn launched the campaign Tuesday outside the Cook County Treasurer’s Office in Chicago.

Digital state ID launched

Starting Wednesday, Illinois residents can add their Illinois-issued driver’s license or state ID to Apple Wallet and present their ID using their iPhone and Apple Watch.

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said, for now, Illinois residents must continue to carry their physical ID.

Illinois joins 12 other states and the territory of Puerto Rico by offering driver’s licenses and state IDs in Apple Wallet.

Money laundering charges

The founder of a Chicago cryptocurrency company has been indicted in an alleged $10 million money laundering conspiracy.

Prosecutors say Crypto Dispensers CEO Firas Isa, 36, of Frankfort, Illinois and his company, Virtual Assets, have both pleaded not guilty.

According to the indictment, Isa’s company operated a cash-to-cryptocurrency exchange business with crypto ATMs at various locations throughout the United States.

Leave a Comment





Latest News Stories

Bill to tax global profits from Illinois meets opposition protesting 'double tax'

Bill to tax global profits from Illinois meets opposition protesting ‘double tax’

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Multinational corporations that do business in Illinois would be taxed more to fund public education under a...
Analysis finds short-term stability, lack of long-term growth in state budget

Analysis finds short-term stability, lack of long-term growth in state budget

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – New analysis of the proposed Illinois budget for the coming year revealed the spending plan to be...

WATCH: Let’s Go Washington launching initiative to repeal income tax

By Carleen JohnsonThe Center Square Let’s Go Washington on Friday announced they have received their initiative ballot titles from the office of Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown, as the...
Ferguson first WA governor found in violation of ethics laws in over 30 years, state website shows

Ferguson first WA governor found in violation of ethics laws in over 30 years, state website shows

By Tim ClouserThe Center Square Gov. Bob Ferguson is the first Washington governor in more than 30 years to be found in violation of the state's executive ethics law, according...
Court strikes tariff, Trump moves ahead with replacement

Court strikes tariff, Trump moves ahead with replacement

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square President Donald Trump's administration signaled Friday it intends to appeal a federal trade court's ruling striking down his 10% global tariff as unlawful, while simultaneously...
North Dakota Supreme Court sides with Energy Transfer in Greenpeace fight over Dutch lawsuit

North Dakota Supreme Court sides with Energy Transfer in Greenpeace fight over Dutch lawsuit

By Tom JoyceThe Center Square The North Dakota Supreme Court ruled this week that Greenpeace International cannot keep pursuing most of its lawsuit against Energy Transfer in the Netherlands as...
SNAP cuts, Illinois payment errors spark fierce debate

SNAP cuts, Illinois payment errors spark fierce debate

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – A Democratic state senator says the federal government is to blame for 150,000 Illinoisans losing Supplemental Nutrition...
Op-Ed: Keeping local leaders happy isn’t worth the housing cost

Op-Ed: Keeping local leaders happy isn’t worth the housing cost

By Christina Sandefur and LyLena D. EstabineThe Center Square Chicago rents have soared to historic highs, but in Phoenix they’re falling. The reason? A greater housing supply. In 2024, Arizona...
Apollo, Gemini sightings revealed in first UAP file drop

Apollo, Gemini sightings revealed in first UAP file drop

By Sarah Roderick-FitchThe Center Square The long-anticipated Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP) or Unidentified Flying Object (UFO) files have been released by the federal government, showing images and descriptions of unexplained...
Beecher Softball ladycats

Norkus Shines in Pitcher’s Duel as Beecher Edges Ottawa 1-0

In a defensive masterclass on Thursday, the Beecher varsity softball team secured a narrow 1-0 victory over Ottawa in a non-conference matchup. Beecher pitcher Taylor Norkus was the story of...
BREAKING: GOP turns to Congress after Minnesota Dems block Omar subpoena

BREAKING: GOP turns to Congress after Minnesota Dems block Omar subpoena

By Elyse ApelThe Center Square Minnesota House Republicans want help from U.S. congressional oversight leaders after Democrats on a state committee blocked an effort to subpoena U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar...
U.S. economy adds 115,000 jobs in April

U.S. economy adds 115,000 jobs in April

By Brett RowlandThe Center Square The U.S. economy added 115,000 jobs in April, about double what economists had forecast, while the unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, the Bureau of...
Illinois weighing a ban on sale of some smoke detectors over safety concerns

Illinois weighing a ban on sale of some smoke detectors over safety concerns

By Sean Reed | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – With long-living smoke detectors on the market and required to be installed in Illinois, public safety officials...
Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

Illinois Quick Hits: General Assembly leaders promise budget transparency

By Jim Talamonti | The Center SquareThe Center Square (The Center Square) – Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, D-Hillside, and Senate President Don Harmon, D-Oak Park, say more than...
Justice Department agrees to appearance waiver for Comey

Justice Department agrees to appearance waiver for Comey

By Alan WootenThe Center Square Former FBI Director James Comey on Thursday requested his appearance in a North Carolina federal court be canceled, and the U.S. Department of Justice gave...