Illinois Is the New California
Illinois Is the New California
by Kristina Rasmussen The Manhattan Institute’s Josh Barro has an excellent column on RealClearMarkets today in which he explains how Illinois overtook California as America’s least creditworthy state and why our Pension Funding & Fairness Act is a good way back to fiscal sanity: If you go to Sacramento this week, don’t be surprised to hear champagne corks popping and...
Cartoon Blogging
Cartoon Blogging
by Kristina Rasmussen Another great cartoon from the Tribune’s Scott Stantis:
Taxpayers on the Hook for Coal Education
Taxpayers on the Hook for Coal Education
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) gave an $83,400 grant to
Hey, Big Spender!
Hey, Big Spender!
BillTally provides a window into the cumulative costs or savings present in bills sponsored by Members of Congress.
Illinois Pensions Invested in BP
Illinois Pensions Invested in BP
Illinois state pensions have millions invested in British Petroleum.
2018: Doomsday for Illinois Pensions?
2018: Doomsday for Illinois Pensions?
A study finds that the Illinois pension system will be out of money by 2018.
Letter to the Editor: Pension Borrowing Is a Terrible Choice
Letter to the Editor: Pension Borrowing Is a Terrible Choice
The lack of leadership from elected officials in our state reared its ugly head again this week. Illinois will likely be stuck with another unbalanced budget, thanks in large part to two retiring Republican legislators.
Are Illinois State Legislators Overpaid?
Are Illinois State Legislators Overpaid?
Illinois Legislators have the fifth highest salary in the nation.
By Chris Andriesen
Cartoon Blogging
Cartoon Blogging
About that budget proposal from Gov. Quinn...
Cook County Makes Move in Favor of Taxpayers?
Cook County Makes Move in Favor of Taxpayers?
Cook County health panel has the ability to bring full reform the the County's health system.
AEI: Government Workers Are Not Underpaid
AEI: Government Workers Are Not Underpaid
Andrew G. Biggs, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, disputes a recent study that claims state and local government workers are underpaid compared to similar private sector workers.
The Tipping Point
The Tipping Point
Is America nearing the fiscal tipping point?
Institute on ABC Southern Illinois: State Barbers Make Big Bucks
Institute on ABC Southern Illinois: State Barbers Make Big Bucks
A new study released by the Illinois Policy Institute shows how much money you make doesn't depend on what you do for a living--it depends on who you work for.
The Disparity Between Public Sector and Statewide Salaries
The Disparity Between Public Sector and Statewide Salaries
Historically, public employees have faced a trade-off: lower wages than the private sector in exchange for job security and generous benefits. That trade-off, however, has been disappearing.