Medicaid reform package breaks promises to taxpayers
Medicaid reform package breaks promises to taxpayers
Lawmakers pushed an overall Medicaid reform package that fails to live up to the promises made to taxpayers.
UPDATE: House concurs with early implementation of ObamaCare
UPDATE: House concurs with early implementation of ObamaCare
Earlier today, we reported that the Illinois Senate passed HB 5007, which will implement key portions of ObamaCare nearly two years early in Cook County. Moments ago, the House concurred, sending the bill to the Governor’s desk. Much like the Senate vote earlier today, it was clear that the outcome was certain before the bill ever came...
Illinois Senate moves to implement ObamaCare early
Illinois Senate moves to implement ObamaCare early
by Jonathan Ingram The Illinois Senate just passed HB 5007, which will implement key portions of ObamaCare nearly two years early. We’ve previously debunked the myths surrounding this plan, explaining how it fails taxpayers. From the Senate gallery, I watched as the vote was taken with virtually no debate or discussion. It was clear that the outcome was...
ObamaCare disaster: Why Cook County waiver fails taxpayers
ObamaCare disaster: Why Cook County waiver fails taxpayers
Lawmakers have been tasked with reducing Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion. Last year, lawmakers came together and decided – almost unanimously – that until the state could actually operate the program in a way that served the needs of the most vulnerable, it shouldn’t expand eligibility to overload the system. But earlier this year, Gov....
Spenders and Savers: A Look at Illinois’ Congressional Delegation
Spenders and Savers: A Look at Illinois’ Congressional Delegation
A National Taxpayers Union Foundation report looks at what Illinois' Members of Congress want to do with your tax dollars.
Medicaid reform bill fails to deliver
Medicaid reform bill fails to deliver
House Amendment 3 to Senate Bill 2840 fails to live up to the promises made to taxpayers. While this bill is an improvement over earlier drafts, there is still cause for alarm.
See what they’re saying about the Institute’s Medicaid plan
See what they’re saying about the Institute’s Medicaid plan
Since Monday morning, the Institute's plan has been in the news more than 30 times all across the state.
Medicaid 59: A detailed list of reforms
Medicaid 59: A detailed list of reforms
In February, Gov. Quinn told lawmakers that the rendezvous with reality had arrived. He informed them that they must “reduce expenditures” in the Medicaid program by $2.7 billion this year. Soon thereafter, lawmakers in the House committed to reducing “the accrual of Medicaid obligations” by $2.7 billion. The following proposal meets this goal without steep...
Where is the leadership?
Where is the leadership?
Every now and then you find out whether leaders and legislators are truly for reform or whether they simply use the concept to advance electoral imperatives. The upcoming votes on Medicaid, pensions and the state budget will be illuminating. Things are moving quickly in Springfield, and the most urgent issue on deck is Medicaid. Leadership...
From National Review: Does Illinois GOP support Obamacare?
From National Review: Does Illinois GOP support Obamacare?
National Review Online cites an Institute blog post.
Rescuing Medicaid: How Illinois can reform Medicaid without rate cuts and tax hikes
Rescuing Medicaid: How Illinois can reform Medicaid without rate cuts and tax hikes
In February, Gov. Pat Quinn told lawmakers that to rescue Illinois’ Medicaid program, the state would need to “reduce expenditures in the program by $2.7 billion” for fiscal year 2013. But so far, neither Quinn nor lawmakers have proposed a plan that does so. The Illinois Policy Institute has proposed reforming Medicaid into a premium assistance program,...
Orland Township, Tinley Park, Orland School District 135 and Orland Fire receive high marks in transparency audit
Orland Township, Tinley Park, Orland School District 135 and Orland Fire receive high marks in transparency audit
CHICAGO (May 18, 2012) – The village of Tinley Park, Orland Township, Orland School District 135 and the Orland Fire Protection District all received high marks in an online transparency audit conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute. These Orland Township-area governments join the Village of Orland Park, who maintained a score of 100 percent from...
Why Sen. Brady is wrong about local pension accountability
Why Sen. Brady is wrong about local pension accountability
Recently, Sen. Bill Brady suggested that local pension accountability would lead to property tax increases (Pension imbalance, May 13, 2012). Not true. The state already increased everyone’s income taxes to pay for pensions. Cutting state expenses will allow for lower taxes. If the state doesn’t reduce pension costs, then other education spending will face cuts....
Institute on FOX St. Louis: Legislative Pay
Institute on FOX St. Louis: Legislative Pay
The Institute's Kristina Rasmussen discussed whether state legislators should cut their pay on FOX St. Louis