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2/3/2012
Suggested reading for the week of Jan. 30.
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2/2/2012
Dan Proft's thoughts on Gov. Quinn's State of the State Address.
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2/2/2012
If you just learned that your Medicaid program is going to be $21 billion in debt to doctors and hospitals within 5 years, what do you do?
If you're Gov. Quinn, you rush to expand Medicaid even more.
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2/1/2012
Gov. Quinn's State of the State Address will be on Feb. 1, 2012 at noon.
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2/1/2012
Learn more about Digital Learning Day, a day to celebrate and promote new and innovative forms of learning.
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2/1/2012
We need government to protect us from government.
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1/31/2012
Last year, the Institute warned about the dangers of unpaid Medicaid bills piling up after lawmakers enacted a budget pushing $2.4 billion of this year's bills into next year. Now, it's coming true.
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1/31/2012
What Illinois can learn from Indiana, Oklahoma and Missouri about painting in bold colors.
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1/31/2012
More revenue isn't the answer to Illinois' overspending problem.
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1/31/2012
It's time for honest answers about Illinois' record income tax hike.
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1/27/2012
Suggested reading for the week of Jan. 23.
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1/27/2012
Juan Williams discusses the next battle gearing up in Wisconsin between Gov. Scott Walker and the public employee unions: a recall election. The reforms have saved taxpayers millions while allowing the legislature to expand school choice to students.
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1/27/2012
On Feb. 2, join the Institute and K12 CEO Ron Packard for breakfast and a discussion of online learning programs.
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1/26/2012
The program has been seriously abused over the years by “lawmakers who bestowed full-ride scholarships on the children of their staffers, campaign donors, business associates, political cronies, even their own kids. It's been going on for decades.”
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1/26/2012
Michael Medved discusses the federal role in education and highlights his favorite reform slogan: "Let the money stay home!"
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1/25/2012
In this video clip, Juan Williams lays out the biggest problem facing the American education system and the best solution to ensure its reform: school choice.
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1/25/2012
As the economy struggles, governments should be doing everything they can to get out of entrepreneurs’ way so they can start new businesses and create jobs. Unfortunately, many Illinois politicians are doing just the opposite.
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1/24/2012
Online and digital learning programs reach millions of students who were at one time trapped in schools unable to serve their needs. Watch a video from the Pacific Research Institute
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1/23/2012
Conference call discussing National School Choice Week, an annual event where activists, communities and citizens from across the country get involved to promote the message of school choice.
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1/23/2012
In a music video, children of all shapes and sizes march into a machine. The other end spews out masked robots, without any sense of individuality. Today, young voters face a similar future - “Another Cog in the Machine.”
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1/23/2012
National School Choice Week, a week of educating people and sponsoring events to encourage parental choice in education, began on Saturday in New Orleans. Learn more about what one activist called "the most important civil rights issue of our time."
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1/23/2012
A new pension calculator allows individuals to see just how generous government employee pensions really are.
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1/20/2012
Suggested reading for the week of Jan. 16.
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1/19/2012
Noble Street Rauner College Prep is one of ten campuses of the Noble Street Network, a system of successful charter schools started in Chicago in 1999. Today, Institute staff visited the campus to learn about the school's culture and best practices.
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1/18/2012
Why does Lisa Madigan think the federal government can force individuals to buy health insurance? Ironically, she argues that it’s necessary to fix the perverse incentives and unintended consequences of the rest of ObamaCare.
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1/17/2012
On Friday, a judge in Indiana upheld the most expansive school choice program in the nation. This decision is a victory for all parents and students.
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1/17/2012
This was originally sent to supporters on our email list that designated an interest in health care policy. To get updates like this as soon as they are available, click here.
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1/13/2012
Suggested reading for the week of January 13.
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1/13/2012
Sen. Christine Radogno, Rep. Tom Cross and John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, held a press conference on the one year anniversary of Illinois' largest income tax hike.
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1/11/2012
Enough is enough! If you want to join the battle to turn around the State of Illinois then here's 7 ways to help repeal the 2011 income tax hike in Illinois.
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1/10/2012
The expense of retirement benefits is overwhelming many areas of the state budget.
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1/6/2012
Suggested reading for the week of January 2.
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1/5/2012
Tell us what one week of pay per year in additional taxes means to you and your family. What have you been forced to give up?
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1/5/2012
Despite ObamaCare’s promise of affordable health insurance, new regulations from the Department of Health and Human Services will negatively impact the availability and affordability of high deductible health plans.
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1/5/2012
A fresh start with the right priorities.
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1/3/2012
Gov. Quinn and the unions are still bickering over money for state raises, but the contract had called for two raises at the start of 2012.
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1/3/2012
I want to speak to you today about the rebirth of a nation: our nation.
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12/26/2011
Good things await liberty-inspired public policy in 2012!
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12/23/2011
Suggested readings for the week of December 19.
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12/22/2011
To help turn around the State of Illinois here are some things to do in the coming year.
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12/22/2011
Billions in unfunded pension liabilities? Skyrocketing unemployment? No problem. Let's focus on the real issues of the day -- like road kill and liquor on golf courses.
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12/21/2011
Do you want lower or higher taxes on the middle class?
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12/21/2011
Earlier this week, U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., released Wastebook 2011, a report on wasteful government spending.
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12/21/2011
Elgin has chosen to close its deficit by hitting its residents with more taxes. The Council may want to reconsider when they see the effect of bad policies on where people choose to live.
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12/20/2011
Illinois is bleeding people to almost every state in the nation. People are packing up and voting with their feet. Gone – goodbye. When people leave, they don’t just take their belongings. They take their earnings and purchasing power.
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12/19/2011
By throwing a big tax increase out and then later dealing out tax relief, legislators could eventually be seen as the good guys.
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12/19/2011
Time to pull the plug on the FutureGen earmark.
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12/16/2011
Suggested readings for the week of December 12.
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12/16/2011
A blogger & Liberty Leader conference call on the Illinois Policy Institute's upcoming policy paper "Still leaving Illinois: An exodus of people and money".
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12/14/2011
What if the public servants in Springfield really are interested in correcting the error of their ways and undoing the economic damage done to Illinois by their tax increases?
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12/12/2011
Let’s hope that the majority of legislators can have the backbone not only to stand behind their original legislation but also to pass comprehensive pension reform when they return to Springfield in the new year.
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12/11/2011
That means lawmakers are considering a more complex, more expensive solution than simply getting rid of the corporate tax increase that got Illinois into this crisis in the first place.
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12/9/2011
Suggested reading for the week of December 5.
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12/8/2011
$10 isn't much to write home about, especially when they're taking $1,500 away from you to begin with.
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12/6/2011
Between 2000 and 2010, Illinois lost 434,100 jobs - more than almost any other state.
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12/2/2011
Suggested reading for the week of November 28.
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11/28/2011
A tax relief giveaway was approved by a House committee today. The bill lacks relief for the average Illinois family, however.
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11/23/2011
Suggested readings for the week of November 21.
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11/22/2011
As we move toward Thanksgiving, Illinoisans may be hard pressed to find government actions that they are grateful for. Cook County just passed a budget that increased taxes and expanded taxable definitions on many products and tolls are set to spike.
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11/18/2011
Suggested reading for the week of November 14th
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11/17/2011
Without detailed goals and good metrics, budgeting for results is difficult.
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11/17/2011
You give the government $760 in higher taxes. They give you $1.25 back in "tax relief." Is that a fair deal?
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11/16/2011
Despite rhetoric, budget reforms are saving Wisconsin taxpayers millions of dollars while keeping services in tact for students, parents, and teachers.
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11/16/2011
WSJ has opened a public opinion poll asking if businesses should be required to collect sales tax in states where they don’t have a physical presence. Respondents polled in favor of retaining current law by 46.2 percent.
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11/14/2011
The Supreme Court announced today that it would hear the constitutional challenges to ObamaCare brought by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business.
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11/11/2011
Suggested reading for the week of November 7th
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11/11/2011
On Wednesday, Illinois House Democrats blocked a resolution seeking greater flexibility from the federal government in administering Illinois' Medicaid program.
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11/10/2011
Tax hikes are no game for Yasmin Curtis, a hard-working Chicago entrepreneur.
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11/10/2011
Chicagoans already pay the highest spirits tax in the nation. In fact, taxes on spirits have been increased four times since 2005. Now Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle wants to pile on yet another job-killing tax hike on distilled spirits.
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11/10/2011
Helpful links to help you find out who your Cook County Board member is.
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11/10/2011
Sound like a fair deal for government pensions?
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11/8/2011
Nov. 8, 2011 – Today, John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute was honored to accept a 2011 Templeton Freedom Award for Excellence in Promoting Liberty.
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11/8/2011
Joel Kotkin, an author and futurist, recently spoke at the Institute on what Illinois might look like in 2050. One area he mentions is education policy, nothing that Chicago should look to the reforms of New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina.
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11/7/2011
Join our friends at American Majority for Activist Training events in Schaumburg Nov. 10 and Frankfort Nov. 12.
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11/7/2011
The next few years will be key for Illinois’ economic future. To spur job creation, Illinois needs to empower its private sector to encourage a vibrant job community that breeds opportunity and growth.
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11/4/2011
Suggested reading for the week of October 31st
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11/4/2011
Listen in as Kristina speaks with David Ozgo of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States about how this plan could cost jobs in the hospitality industry.
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11/3/2011
Noted futurist and author Joel Kotkin visited the Illinois Policy Institute Wednesday to discuss how Illinois can brighten its economic and social outlook.
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11/3/2011
There is only one way out of the worldwide debt crisis, but so far Illinois’ political leaders do not seem to understand what that path is.
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11/1/2011
With the 2012 elections just around the corner, we have asked every member of the General Assembly to sign the Repeal Pledge and commit to honest, sustainable, and accountable government.
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11/1/2011
U.S. Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona speaks at a luncheon hosted by the Illinois Policy Institute on Oct. 19, 2011.
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11/1/2011
Earlier today, Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives filed a resolution in the General Assembly urging the federal Super Committee to recommend granting the state greater flexibility in administering its Medicaid program.
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10/31/2011
This letter was featured in the Fall 2011 edition of Compass, which arrived in mailboxes last week.
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10/31/2011
Professor Richard Epstein dispels misconceptions about the free market, equality and taxes in an interview on PBS.
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10/31/2011
A guest post from Village Trustee Peter Breen detailing his work for transparency in Lombard, Illinois.
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10/31/2011
New polling data from the Kaiser Family Foundation shows that support for ObamaCare is at all-time low.
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10/28/2011
When Occupy Wall Street does whither away, there are bound to be some activists looking for a political home who are against crony capitalism, who are against the out-of-control spending and debt – the same things the tea party rails against.
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10/28/2011
Suggested reading for the week of October 24th
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10/27/2011
Feature story from the Fall 2011 edition of Compass
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10/27/2011
Since becoming effective in July 2011, the affiliate nexus law has reduced the revenue stream of thousands of Illinois-based online marketing affiliates and sent good jobs across state lines.
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10/27/2011
An interactive tool in Wisconsin shows how much money local governments are saving because of the reforms passed earlier this year.
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10/26/2011
Does your legislator's votes match their rhetoric? Join the Illinois Policy Institute for a Blogger and Liberty Leader Conference Call next Wednesday, October 26, to discuss our new 2011 Legislative Vote Card.
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10/21/2011
Suggested reading for the week of October 17th
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10/21/2011
We know ObamaCare is going to bust the budget and hurt the most vulnerable.
But did you know it's going to make it harder for them to find work, too?
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10/21/2011
In September, the unemployment rate increased to 10 percent as 10,500 more Illinoisans were added to the unemployment rolls. The month’s anemic job creation of 1,600 jobs amounts to 1 job for every 415 unemployed persons living in the state.
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10/20/2011
ObamaCare greatly expands Medicaid eligibility and increases participation. Medicaid enrollment in Illinois is expected to increase by 75.6 percent, to 4.5 million people, between 2011 to 2019.
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10/20/2011
Get to know Joel Kotkin before his November 2nd Cocktail hour event where he will answer what's in store for Illinois, and what policies will best help us capitalize on our future?
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10/20/2011
In September, 1,600 jobs were added to the Illinois economy. Unfortunately for the 663,300 unemployed Illinoisans, this barely makes a dent in the state’s joblessness. In fact, Illinois created one job for every 415 unemployed Illinoisans.
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10/18/2011
Listen in as Kristina speaks with Adam Andrzejewski, founder and CEO of For the Good of Illinois, about OpenTheBooks.com – a new transparency database.
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10/17/2011
U.S. Representatives caution the Illinois legislature to solve the state's pension crisis without relying on a federal bailout.
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10/14/2011
Suggested reading for the week of October 10th
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10/14/2011
After years of scrutiny, implementation of the controversial long-term care program has been halted.
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10/13/2011
Highlights from Mayor Emanuel's budget proposal for the City of Chicago.
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10/12/2011
Chasing away jobs, people, and income is not a winning strategy. Lawmakers must be bold. They can no longer enact failed public policies that leave quality jobs and quality people fleeing the state. Instead, they must repeal the tax hike.
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10/11/2011
Is it time to cut up that government credit card? Listen in as Kristina speaks with Demian Brady of the National Taxpayers Union Foundation about the spending agendas of Illinois's congressmen and women.
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10/10/2011
Who is Quinn calling the naysayers and the complainers? The companies that are forced to relocate so they can compete, grow, and produce jobs? Or is he mocking the citizens that are terrified that their job is the next to get cut?
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10/7/2011
Suggested reading for week of October 3rd
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10/7/2011
Time to tell teachers the truth about pension reform.
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10/5/2011
But we'll have a spiffy state capitol building!
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10/4/2011
Listen in as Kristina speaks with Terry Anderson of the Property and Environment Research Center about uniting the two movements through a "green" tea party.
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9/30/2011
Suggested reading for the week of September 26
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9/29/2011
Entrepreneurs – a new generation of heroes – are overtaking men’s imagination. Crain’s Chicago Business recently reported that the newest role model men most readily identify with is the entrepreneur.
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9/29/2011
If Illinois members of congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease?
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9/28/2011
The results from a local transparency audit in the Bloomington area.
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9/28/2011
Hybrid cars for state employees, green roofs for landscaping companies, and solar panels for churches. Funded by you.
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9/28/2011
With unemployment spiking 0.7
percentage points from a year
earlier, Chicago-Joliet-Naperville
experienced the largest
unemployment rate increase in the
country. Now the unemployment rate
for this division stands at 10.4
percent.
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9/28/2011
Earlier this week, Chicago's Inspector General released a "Budget Options" report with 63 ways for the city to cuts costs or raise revenue.
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9/27/2011
The Institute's recent poll asked for your thoughts on the tax hike.
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9/23/2011
Suggested reading for the week of September 19th.
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9/22/2011
As of last Friday, teachers at nine public schools in Chicago have voted to lengthen the school day by 90 minutes. Students will now receive more instruction time in the classroom. Teachers at these institutions are leading the charge for more reform.
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9/20/2011
Instead of driving businesses out of Illinois, politicians should be embracing the pro-business policies of the survey’s top finishers. There’s no sense in re-inventing the wheel – let’s take a page from their job-creation playbook.
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9/20/2011
Join Kristina as she speaks with David Williams of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance about the top five most ridiculous taxpayer tourist traps.
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9/19/2011
The U.S. Constitution is reinforced by America’s core principles. These principles - limited government and personal liberty - strengthen our democratic structure. Dedication to these principles has enabled the country to thrive for over two centuries.
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9/19/2011
Gov. Walker of Wisconsin and Gov. Daniels of Indiana will be speaking at this important conference hosted my the Manhattan Institute in New York.
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9/16/2011
Suggested reading for the week of September 12.
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9/15/2011
In 2009, the White House promised that unemployment wouldn’t rise above eight percent if Congress passed the “stimulus” package. Now, the White House wants an additional half trillion in spending. Illinoisans know better.
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9/14/2011
Kristina speaks with Professor Brad Rodu about tobacco harm reduction and how policy changes can help lower smoking-related cancer deaths.
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9/9/2011
The Village of Orland Park received a perfect score on a transparency audit the Institute conducted earlier this year.
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9/9/2011
Suggested reading for the week of September 6.
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9/9/2011
Is President Obama's latest jobs plan the right answer for what ails America? Or is it liable to suffer from the same flaws that sunk his previous efforts?
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9/9/2011
Do you think Obamacare should be
repealed? If you do, you're not
alone. Public opposition to
Obamacare remains as high as ever.
The good news is that Obamacare has
been challenged in federal court
and is headed to the Supreme Court.
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9/9/2011
It’s painfully obvious that last night’s speech means President Obama plans to keep America on the tax-now, cut-later path. Illinoisans know something about that. In response to exploding budget deficits, lawmakers spiked both taxes and spending.
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9/6/2011
It’s not for the government to
decide what you eat for lunch.
Reforming Chicago’s vending laws
will empower Illinoisans with
choice and allow an exciting new
industry to stimulate job growth.
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9/6/2011
Looks like Wisconsin got things
right...
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9/2/2011
Suggested reading for the week of August 29.
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9/2/2011
In her latest podcast, Kristina Rasmussen is
joined by the Competitive Enterprise Institute's
Vincent Vernuccio to discuss the outsized
political influence of "Big Labor" in Illinois.
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9/2/2011
"The liberty movement lost a great friend when Ralf Seiffe died unexpectedly yesterday morning." - John Tillman
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9/1/2011
The Obama administration’s regulatory policy has gotten out of control: “the Obama administration has turned rule-making into an assault on American businesses and the jobs they create.”
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9/1/2011
A new 50 state study shows Illinois ranks second worst in policies that benefit big labor at taxpayers’ expense.
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8/31/2011
In their eighth episode, Mark and Mike discuss a
new law changing rules for "recurrent" FOIA
requestors.
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8/30/2011
What you put in the hands of guests says a lot about you.
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8/29/2011
Obama drastically increased government spending, bailed out “too big to fail” companies like General Motors, and wasted countless dollars on so-called shovel ready jobs. Many reported that these actions were unprecedented. Not so fast...
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8/26/2011
Suggested reading for the week of August 22.
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8/26/2011
The Roe Award pays tribute to those in the state public policy movement whose achievements have greatly advanced the free market philosophy.
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8/26/2011
The Illinois Policy Institute’s CEO, John Tillman, received the prestigious Roe Award Thursday night at the State Policy Network’s annual meeting in Seattle.
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8/24/2011
Illinois lost more jobs during the month of July than any other state in the nation, according to the most recent Bureau of Labor Statistics report. After losing 7,200 jobs in June, Illinois lost an additional 24,900 non-farm payroll jobs in July.
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8/23/2011
Governor Quinn raised taxes on hard working Illinoisans and their small businesses, only to hand much of that revenue over to large corporations in special deals.
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8/22/2011
Is the tax hike costing Illinois its economic recovery?
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8/22/2011
The Institute is working for transparency in Lyons Township.
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8/22/2011
The city of Countryside and village of Riverside made the most dramatic improvements of 16 Lyons Township-area governments in the latest leg of the Illinois Policy Institute’s “Local Transparency Project."
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8/19/2011
Suggested reading for the week of August 15.
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8/17/2011
Last week Governor Quinn signed into law a bill that will allow you to get information on all the taxes you pay in one location.
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8/17/2011
Faring worse than the national average, Illinois has the 42nd latest “Cost of Government Day” in the country, with its workers handing over a total of 229 days of work to the government.
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8/17/2011
On the same day President Obama is visiting Illinois, tax watchdogs have marked today as “Cost of Government Day” to highlight the rising price tag of government spending and regulation.
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8/16/2011
The Mike, Mark and an Abundance of Liberty Podcast has a new format! And Mike would love to explain what it is if Mark would stop interrupting him during his intro…
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8/15/2011
In violation of university policy, Chicago State students continued to receive education assistance despite failing to achieve minimum standards.
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8/15/2011
"Special Comment" from Moody's affirms Institute's pension concerns highlighted in recent brief.
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8/12/2011
Want to arm yourself with information that
could help control your future property tax
bills? Listen in as Kristina speaks with Josh
Barro of the Manhattan Institute on how the
growing costs of public sector health care
benefits impact everyone.
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8/12/2011
Today, the Eleventh Circuit Court
of Appeals struck down Obamacare's
individual mandate as beyond the
scope of federal power, finding
that the law sought to expand
Congressional authority beyond any
judicially enforceable limitations.
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8/11/2011
Suggested reading for the week of August 8.
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8/11/2011
The village of Orland Park is the first government entity in the state to earn a perfect score in the Illinois Policy Institute’s “Local Transparency Project.”
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8/9/2011
If your family was in a financial crisis like this in which your household is drowning from thousands of dollars of red ink, would reducing spending by three dollars actually make a difference?
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8/5/2011
Suggested reading for the week of August 1.
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8/5/2011
The idea of raising taxes was a contentious roadblock during the debt ceiling negotiations. Even though taxes weren't raised, the prospect of increased taxes still exist. But all across Illinois, citizens are voicing their opinions against such a measure.
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8/4/2011
Traffic congestion in Chicago is the worst in the entire country. Not only is this a detriment to commuters, it mitigates economic growth. Fortunately, free market principles can address these congestion problems.
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8/3/2011
Brian Costin joins our fearless hosts in Episode 6 of “Mike, Mark and an Abundance of Liberty” to discuss what you can do to get state back on track by promoting free markets in your own community.
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8/3/2011
Rhode Island town files for bankruptcy.
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8/2/2011
The City of Chicago aims to save $2.3 million by downsizing its traffic control aide program.
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8/2/2011
In the last quarter of 2010, government employees eared $4.66/hour in health benefits, compared to just $2.08/hour in the private sector.
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8/2/2011
Kristina speaks with Joe Coletti of the State Policy Network about Illinois-based anti-fraud initiatives shot down by the Obama administration and the possibility of Medical Savings Accounts.
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8/1/2011
In a special video installment of "Daily Life," Kristina answers a hypothetical question during the Illinois Humanities Council's "UnCommon Good" event series: did a teacher who called in sick to protest Scott Walker do the right thing?
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7/29/2011
Overspending has brought America to the
brink of default, and how we dig ourselves out
of this mess will affect each of us. Kristina
speaks with Ryan Ellis of Americans for Tax
Reform about how we move forward.
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7/28/2011
Suggested reading for the week of July 25.
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7/28/2011
Employees for some local governments can receive payouts for unused sick days at retirement.
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7/28/2011
The Institute's John O'Hara commented on the debt ceiling negotiations for FOX Chicago.
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7/27/2011
Property tax administration matters, especially if you're appealing your tax bill.
read more... |
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7/26/2011
Confused on how to talk to your kids about the debt ceiling debate? Rapper/comedian Remy explains the situation via a rap video.
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7/26/2011
Governor Quinn signs the Health Savings Account bill into law.
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7/21/2011
State fair pays big bucks to pop stars before paying small business owners, even in the midst of economic uncertainty.
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7/20/2011
Senior Director of Government Affairs Collin Hitt calls Gov. Quinn's signature of the Charter School Quality Act "an important moment in the history of education reform" in our state.
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7/19/2011
Orland Park strives to become the first municipality to receive a perfect score in the Illinois Policy Institute's Local Transparency Project.
read more... |
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7/15/2011
Suggested reading for the week of July 11.
read more... |
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7/15/2011
How much are you paying in cell phone taxes?
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7/15/2011
Citizens in Bureau County ask for increased transparency and are using the Institute's ten point rubric as a guideline of what information should be made available.
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7/15/2011
As part of a mechanism designed to promote donations to charities in Illinois, taxpayers are given the option to “check off” charitable contributions on their tax returns. The problem: their money is directed to state coffers, not charities.
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7/13/2011
Are high prices at the pump getting you down? Kristina speaks with State Rep. Dwight Kay about how the government could take immediate action.
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7/13/2011
Those who are committed to keeping a limited
amount of government in their lives have rallied
behind the protection of an everyday household
item- the light bulb.
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7/12/2011
Letters to the editor show that the government should address skyrocketing spending problems. Particularly, Illinois serves as a case study of what the US federal government should not do as they figure out how to handle the debt ceiling.
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7/12/2011
Pension costs faced by local governments across the country will strangle taxpayers. Chicago residents should be extra alert to looming tax hikes needed to pay for unreformed pensions.
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7/12/2011
FatWallet moves its entire company from Illinois to Wisconsin in a matter of weeks as a result of a new Illinois Internet Tax law.
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7/11/2011
The average duration of unemployment is at an all-time high of 39.9 weeks. This is nearly double the 20.1 weeks rate when the stimulus was first passed.
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7/8/2011
Suggested reading for the week of July 8.
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7/8/2011
The minimum wage makes it harder for teenagers to find summer jobs.
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7/8/2011
No, but they cost the City of Chicago $10 million a year for simply "keeping the intersections clear."
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7/8/2011
In the long run, stimulus isn't so stimulating.
read more... |
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7/7/2011
Since coming into office, Mayor Rahm Emanuel has made Chicago more transparent with databases that show salaries of city officials and lobbyist information.
read more... |
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7/6/2011
An Illinois Policy Institute Liberty Leader, Drew Veeneman, has developed a series called Political Mechanics to help candidates running for political office.
read more... |
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7/5/2011
Kristina speaks with Christie Herrera of the
American Legislative Exchange Council to
discuss alternatives to ObamaCare's heavy-
handed approach to health care reform.
read more... |
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7/5/2011
The Illinois Policy Institute, is proud to join the Cut, Cap, Balance pledge coalition, which was organized to save America from fiscal ruin.
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7/5/2011
Unionized workers were set to receive three rounds of pay hikes this year before Gov. Quinn rescinded the last round due to lack of funds; public wonders why Illinois continues to be broke.
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7/1/2011
Are sky-high workers' comp costs costing
you a job? Join me as I speak with State
Senator Kyle McCarter about how a recent
reform package could make Illinois a more
attractive place to do business, and what
changes still need to be made.
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7/1/2011
The fiscal year 2012 budget has been widely – and wrongly – portrayed as making severe cuts compared to fiscal year 2011. In reality, this budget represents a spending increase over last year’s $33.5 billion budget.
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6/27/2011
In response to the verdicts in the Blagojevich trial, John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, called on government leaders to end the culture of corruption that has plagued Illinois for so many years.
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6/24/2011
Members of Congress are discussing another stimulus amidst deficit-reduction talks.
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6/24/2011
Critics are beginning to question the degree of pragmatism behind Governor Quinn's corporate handouts.
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6/24/2011
In order for Illinois state and local pensions to achieve solvency in the next 30 years, a new study estimates government contributions would need to increase nearly $10 billion annually - that's $1,907 per household each year.
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6/23/2011
Legislators came and went from Springfield yesterday without making significant changes to the budget.
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6/22/2011
Bringing transparency to Illinois's 8,500 government bodies
read more... |
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6/22/2011
Take part in a poll on whether the tax hike will be temporary.
read more... |
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6/22/2011
Before the Illinois General Assembly began its spring session extension on June 22, the Illinois Policy Institute held a press conference in Springfield to present our latest report, "Budget FAIL: Plan Awaiting Gov. Quinn’s Signature Grows Spending, Debt.
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6/21/2011
Illinois fell behind its five out of six neighbors in manufacturing ratings.
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6/21/2011
A new Institute report, "Budget FAIL: Plan awaiting Gov. Quinn's signature grows spending, debt," outlines how the budget approved last month by lawmakers is higher than it appears to be.
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6/21/2011
Should Governor Quinn be spending more tax dollars to study high-speed rail? Kristina talks with Cato Institute senior fellow and transportation expert Randal O'Toole.
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6/20/2011
The Institute will release a new report, "Budget FAIL: Plan Awaiting Gov. Quinn's Signature Grows Spending, Debt" at a statehouse press conference Tuesday.
read more... |
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6/20/2011
The United State Senate's decision to repeal ethanol subsidies is a step in the right direction.
read more... |
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6/17/2011
Suggested reading for the week of June 17.
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6/17/2011
A recent poll shows that a majority of likely voters do not want Congress to raise the debt ceiling.
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6/17/2011
The preliminary unemployment numbers released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics this morning reveal Illinois's unemployment rate increased in May.
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6/17/2011
Indiana has introduced a new program that rewards students for graduating from high school early.
read more... |
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6/17/2011
How about putting a corporate logo on your
license plate for a discount?
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6/16/2011
We caught up with Allen Skillicorn about what inspired him to run for office, what he plans to do in the future, and his advice to others who are looking to get involved and making a difference in their home community.
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6/16/2011
Two great cartoons from Scott Stantis of the Chicago Tribune
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6/16/2011
In Episode 5 of "Mike, Mark and an
Abundance of Liberty," our intrepid hosts talk
hockey (or not), unnecessary state spending,
and - as always - illuminate how an injection
of liberty into public policy can change our
lives for the better.
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6/15/2011
The city of Evanston has recorded the second highest transparency audit score ever, but Evanston Township scores the worst we’ve ever graded out of nearly 100 local government entities.
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6/15/2011
YCCS Virtual: A glimmer of hope for Chicago's high school dropouts.
read more... |
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6/15/2011
Will it take a "Berlin Wall" made up of government regulations to keep businesses from moving out of Illinois? Or would we be better served by making sure the "grass is greener on our side of the fence"?
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6/15/2011
The greatest word in the English language is “liberty”. But the two greatest words in the English language are “game seven”.
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6/15/2011
Taxpayer-funded state lobbying is on the rise in Illinois as local governments and organizations continue to spend at the expense of citizens across the state.
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6/14/2011
It's not every day that the Illinois Policy Institute and PETA see eye to eye -- or should I say, gill to gill?
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6/13/2011
Now that the national housing prices are gradually dropping to their historic level, the government should refrain from meddling in the housing market.
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6/13/2011
The state of school districts across Illinois has many citizens worried.
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6/10/2011
Worker's compensation reform is a step in the wrong direction.
read more... |
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6/10/2011
Illinois' tax hike continues to drive businesses out of Illinois.
read more... |
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6/10/2011
A new study out by the Mercatus Center of George Mason University shows that Illinois ranks poorly when it comes to Freedom amongst the states.
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6/7/2011
A little bit of hope for those looking to find work in Illinois
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6/7/2011
In this podcast, Kristina speaks with Fran Eaton of Illinois Review to discuss how government interacts with moms and babies.
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6/7/2011
Gery Chico will step into the job of Chairman of the State Board of Education, a system in need
of reform.
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6/7/2011
Join the Illinois Policy Institute’s Kristina Rasmussen and Collin Hitt for a special conference call this Thursday at 7pm to recap the 2011 legislative session and go over what lies ahead.
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6/7/2011
Over 363,100 jobs — an amount equivalent to Delaware's entire private work force — disappeared from Illinois between April 2001 and April 2011. Only Michigan and Ohio fared worse.
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6/6/2011
Legislators try and stuff the Capital bill with general operations spending
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6/6/2011
Step One: Vote for the tax hike.
Step Two: Get appointed.
Step Three: Get paid $94,000
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6/3/2011
Suggested reading for the week of May 31.
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6/3/2011
This isn't a vision. It's a boondoggle.
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6/3/2011
Comparative Effectiveness Research will cost trillions of dollars as well as lives.
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6/3/2011
Even with substantial progress being made from the part of legislators, transparency still remains a major issue for Liberty Leaders and elected officials.
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6/2/2011
Government intervention and attempts to equalize housing produces shortages and misallocation of resources.
read more... |
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6/1/2011
Illinois is ready to give regular citizens big cash prizes if they come up with some fruitful ideas to save the state some bucks.
read more... |
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6/1/2011
Here are the highlights of the spring 2011 legislative session in Illinois.
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5/31/2011
Good changes to Illinois's schools could be coming soon. Find out what those changes are in this podcast featuring Jessica Handy, policy director of the Illinois chapter of Stand for Children.
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5/31/2011
Pension reform is urgent or else the consequences could be dire.
read more... |
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5/29/2011
Incompetent fiscal decisions by the state government have forced taxpayers to make sacrifices as inaction on the state and local level continues.
read more... |
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5/27/2011
Will higher taxes on the rich fix our pension problem?
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5/27/2011
Pension reform is needed if Illinois wants to recruit and keep talented workers.
read more... |
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5/27/2011
Collin Hitt gives an update on S.B. 512 from just outside the Capitol Building on the afternoon of Friday, May 27.
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5/27/2011
The Wall Street Journal's Stephen Moore discusses the pension reforms needed to turn our state around. He spoke as part of a panel during the "How Capitalism Will Save Us" Job Summit sponsored by the Family Taxpayers Foundation.
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5/26/2011
Suggested reading for the week of May 23.
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5/26/2011
A vote for pension reform will brighten this state's future - a vote against it is an endorsement of our continued decline.
read more... |
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5/26/2011
Watch the Institute’s web-film on the issue.
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5/26/2011
Marc Levine, Senior Fellow at Illinois Policy Institute discusses the pension reforms needed to turn our state around. He spoke as part of a panel during the "How Capitalism Will Save Us" Job Summit sponsored by the Family Taxpayers Foundation.
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5/26/2011
Based on our state’s poor track record of managing its pension system, a healthy skepticism of the current pension reform discussion is warranted, but the bill currently under consideration in Springfield is a very good bill.
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5/25/2011
The state’s pension system demands more money than Illinois government can afford. Major tax hikes will be needed unless the benefit system for government employees is reformed.
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5/25/2011
The State of Illinois has spent $100,000 on two web-based kiosks that provide information to tourists. Was this taxpayer money spent responsibly?
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5/25/2011
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel needs to set the record straight for education reform. Chicago Public Schools cannot be reformed without making the process of firing tenured teachers easier and collecting more thorough teacher evaluations.
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5/24/2011
What if you got a $42,000 credit card bill in the mail? Would you be taken aback? What if you learned that the total government debt liability for Illinois household stands at $42,000?
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5/24/2011
In episode four of the "Mike, Mark and an Abundance of Liberty" podcast the always funny, rarely wrong hosts take on the most pressing issue of the day: pensions! They welcome in Diana Rickert.
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5/24/2011
The state agency in charge of processing workers' compensation claims, Central Management Services, has hired a law firm at taxpayer expense to appeal an order from the attorney general's office to complete a Freedom of Information Act request.
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5/21/2011
Join the Illinois Policy Institute for a blogger conference call with Illinois State Rep. Darlene Senger to discuss how pension reform is needed to create a more stable financial future for the State of Illinois
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5/20/2011
Suggested daily reading for the week of May 16.
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5/19/2011
Illinois citizens understand mayhem will come if the pension crisis is not addressed, that's why they are writing letters to the editor and contacting their legislators.
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5/18/2011
The required pension payment for Chicago city government and Chicago Public Schools will jump to $1.92 billion from $650 million between now and 2020. Current law will require local taxpayers to foot the bill. That’s a citywide per capita jump to $715 fro
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5/18/2011
New Schools for Chicago is working to provide every student in Chicago with an excellent education
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5/18/2011
The funding of Illinois’s Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) has become a major obstacle for future increases in state education spending.
read more... |
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5/18/2011
Dr. Mark G. Neerhof, a local physician and guest blogger, comments on RomneyCare.
read more... |
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5/18/2011
Poll results to be released the morning of May 25.
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5/17/2011
Many of us enjoy internet shopping for its convenience. Less convenient are rules about how we pay taxes on our purchases. Listen in as Kristina talks with Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union on some burdensome and unfair internet taxes.
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5/17/2011
Steve Stanek, Managing Editor of Budget and Tax News of The Heartland Institute interviews John Tillman, CEO of Illinois Policy Institute. John addresses solutions to Illinois's unsustainable borrowing and pension system.
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5/16/2011
Important articles related to the debate over pension reform in Spring 2011.
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5/16/2011
Charting the growth of Illinois's highest paid public employees.
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5/16/2011
Inauguration day carries a spirit of optimism. Changes are needed in Chicago, and we can all hope today is the day that those changes begin to take place.
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5/16/2011
The great recession has punished Illinois citizens. Unrelenting unemployment, stagnant wages, declining home values and sagging investment portfolios have ravaged net worth.
read more... |
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5/13/2011
Suggested Reading for the Week of May 9
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5/12/2011
Senate Bill 7 passes the House of Representatives!
read more... |
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5/12/2011
John O'Hara appeared on ABC-7 Chicago Wednesday to discuss the moral hazard of state bribes and some other failed “investments” the state of Illinois has made in the name of job creation.
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5/11/2011
John Tillman, CEO of Illinois Policy Institute shares the key points of HB149 during a teletownhall on May 10, 2011. The number one question people have: will it take away benefits already earned? The answer is no.
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5/11/2011
A January poll asked likely Illinois voters asked how the state should address its increasing pension payment. Sixty-four percent of respondents said that benefits for current public employees should be reformed to work within the state’s financial constr
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5/10/2011
Join us on a conference call today, May 10, at 7:00 p.m. about the ongoing debate over pension reform in Springfield.
read more... |
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5/10/2011
You may never ride it, but you sure will pay for it.
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5/10/2011
Citizens of Illinois to Springfield: "Balance your budget before you ban my donuts!"
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5/9/2011
CEO Magazine ranks Illinois 48th in business climate, down from 8th in 2006
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5/9/2011
Like we've been saying: Gov. Quinn’s budget shows a tacit intention of keeping tax rates high. His proposed spending levels are simply unsustainable unless lawmakers approve a permanent extension of the 2011 tax hikes.
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5/9/2011
Marc Levine, who has spent twenty years in the capital markets as an investment manager and also serves as the Institute’s senior fellow of pension and investment policy, spoke with me about how to fix Illinois’s pension problem.
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5/6/2011
Suggested Reading for the Week of May 1
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5/6/2011
The $130 billion difference consists of two pieces; approximately $70 billion for future service and about $60 billion due to the pension systems’ use of economically-invalid discount rates.
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5/5/2011
Collin Hitt, Senior Director of Government Affairs, discusses the latest news on pensions.
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5/4/2011
Governor Mitch Daniels released an agenda outlining legislative priorities for the past session; it's an impressive list that we should try and emulate
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5/4/2011
If Illinois continues on its current path, the amount of money that state government spends on the State University Retirement System, or SURS, will eclipse the amount of general funds given to public universities and community colleges.
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5/3/2011
In the Where Daily Life and Policy Meet series, Kristina Rasmussen will shine a light on how policy changes lives, and how good policy can change your life for the better.
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5/3/2011
The principal of Little Village Academy, a public school in Chicago, banned students from bringing lunches from home unless they have a medical excuse.
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5/2/2011
Check out the Taxpayers Protection Alliance.
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4/30/2011
This week, Rasmussen Reports released the results of a new poll showing heavy dissatisfaction with the public education system in the U.S. when it comes to taxpayers getting their money's worth.
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4/29/2011
Suggested Reading for the Week of April 25
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4/29/2011
Bucking the national trend and seeming end of President Obama's high speed rail plans, Illinois is still going forward with its costly and ineffective “high speed” rail plans.
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4/29/2011
"blaming speculators 'for the price of a commodity is like blaming a thermometer for the weather'"
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4/28/2011
A new poll from Rasmussen finds that most American voters think public schools are wasteful. Interestingly, Americans also understate the amount of tax money that schools receive.
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4/28/2011
An educational rap video about economics? John Papola and Economist Russ Roberts release the second round to the award-winning "Fear the Boom and Bust" YouTube sensation.
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4/28/2011
Be on the look out for “Help Wanted” signs starting to pop up in neighborhood store windows this spring. The national economy is slowly turning a corner, and so is Illinois.
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4/27/2011
In fiscal year 2009, Illinois ranked last in the portion of pension liabilities funded and things have only gotten worse since then
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4/27/2011
Are you ready for another Illinois tax hike -- this time to the tune of $8.5 billion?
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4/27/2011
Episode 3 of the Mike, Mark and an Abundance of Liberty podcast brings in the winds of film tax credits, and the duo welcomes guest Richard Lorenc to talk about it.
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4/26/2011
Over the course of the decade, the required payment to local pension funds will triple to $1.927 billion, from today’s already cumbersome $650 million. A fiscal disaster is brewing, barring a significant change to state pension laws.
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4/26/2011
Some politicians have an insatiable need to put their name on things at the expense of the taxpayers, a bill from Springfield would help end that practice.
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4/26/2011
A new poll shows the burning issues for a wide majority Tea partiers are the economy, budget deficits or taxes.
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4/26/2011
Sooner than later, Illinois will join the movement to use online learning as a integral tool for school reform.
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4/25/2011
The Tri-Count-Teas Tea Party group, that regularly meets in Bartlett, Illinois, has started its own version of the "Adopt-A-District" program.
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4/25/2011
Celebrate Speak Like Shakespeare Day with these catchy phrases!
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4/22/2011
Suggested reading for the Week of April 18.
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4/22/2011
With the recent downgrading of U.S. debt, budget reform is more urgent than ever.
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4/22/2011
Simple steps to bring down the cost of gas
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4/21/2011
Budget solutions are desperately needed on the federal level, as well as here in Illinois. That's why the Institute joined more than 45 organizations in signing a coalition letter in support of U.S. Representative Paul Ryan's budget roadmap.
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4/20/2011
Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel named his choice for CEO of the Chicago Public Schools on Monday
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4/20/2011
Video clips of Illinois Policy Institute speakers at Tax Day Tea Party rallies in Springfield and Chicago, with a clip from Congressman Joe Walsh.
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4/19/2011
If trans fat is dangerous enough to be banned, why is government giving itself a pass?
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4/16/2011
Purchasing health insurance through ObamaCare exchanges will be much more complicated than supporters suggest.
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4/15/2011
Suggested Reading for the week of April 11
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4/15/2011
Vouchers are overwhelmingly about helping children in failing schools
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4/15/2011
Significant school reform legislation is moving forward in Illinois
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4/14/2011
Legislators in Missouri join a host of other states in rejecting higher rail spending proposed by Washington
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4/14/2011
We've reached an important moment for education reform. Teacher tenure - the impregnable job protection held by teachers good and bad - could soon be replaced by a system that protects only high performance.
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4/13/2011
The time has come again to bring you the “Mike, Mark and an Abundance of Liberty” podcast. In this, the second episode, they bring in policy analyst Amanda Griffin-Johnson to tell us why Tax Freedom Day in Illinois is a lot later than it ought to be.
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4/12/2011
At the April 11th Village board meeting the Illinois Policy Institute will award a Certificate of Achievement to the Village of Willowbrook for its online transparency improvements.
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4/12/2011
In fiscal year 2009 the State imposed 1,394 fees on residence. Click below to discover some of the fees
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4/8/2011
Two of our volunteers in the Liberty Leader program have won election into office, David Pfeifer and Allen Skillicorn.
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4/7/2011
As talks heat up around the possibility of a government shut down one of the interesting side aspects is the furloughing of "nonessential" staff and their general role in government.
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4/5/2011
Investors are reacting negatively to the
Governor's budget approach.
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4/4/2011
Suggested Reading for the week of April 4
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4/4/2011
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that the plaintiffs lack standing to challenge Arizona's scholarship tax credit program.
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4/4/2011
In the inaugural episode of the Mike, Mark and an Abundance of Liberty Show, Mike and Mark try to figure out what's going on at the University of Illinois and why the tuition there keeps going up.
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4/1/2011
Suggested Reading for the Week of March 28
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4/1/2011
Podcasting about liberty will never be the same.
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4/1/2011
Check out the Institute's latest campaign to promote liberty across Illinois.
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