Missing the boat on Right to Work
Missing the boat on Right to Work
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce seems to hold contradictory opinions when it comes to economic opportunity.
5 signs Illinois’ economy is failing, and 5 ways to fix it
5 signs Illinois’ economy is failing, and 5 ways to fix it
The people of Illinois – workers, entrepreneurs and business owners – have been held back by policy errors that have plagued the state for decades. But with the proper policy framework, the state can come back to life and lead the Midwest.
The 3 most powerful lessons learned from the 2011 tax hikes
The 3 most powerful lessons learned from the 2011 tax hikes
Since the January 2011 tax hikes, Illinois’ recovery slowed down, the rest of the Midwest sped up and the rest of the U.S. significantly accelerated. The Great Lakes states performed in lockstep with how well they fostered the free-enterprise system.
After 2 historic months of jobs growth, Illinois still lagging
After 2 historic months of jobs growth, Illinois still lagging
The two months since the election have been the Land of Lincoln’s best stretch of employment growth in the post-recession era. But the state’s sudden job-creation steam will run out without a healthy fuel of economic-reform policies.
Act locally: Right-to-Work zones can spark IL comeback
Act locally: Right-to-Work zones can spark IL comeback
For Illinois’ downstate communities that have felt the pain of out-migration and need to revitalize their industrial base, a local Right-to-Work ordinance can be their first step to a comeback.
Illinois’ best jobs month of the year, 2014 wrap up
Illinois’ best jobs month of the year, 2014 wrap up
An encouraging December helped pull the Land of Lincoln out of last place in the Midwest for 2014 jobs growth.
Amazon tax revenues provide opportunity to repeal the death tax
Amazon tax revenues provide opportunity to repeal the death tax
The Amazon tax is estimated to bring in more than $200 million in additional annual tax revenue to the state, an amount that is likely to grow. This provides a perfect opportunity to repeal Illinois’ death tax to offset the new revenue growth.
Out-migration is breaking Illinois budgets
Out-migration is breaking Illinois budgets
Twenty years of flight have wreaked havoc on state and local budgets, causing an estimated $7.6 billion in tax-revenue losses annually. Any long-term fix to Illinois’ budget crisis must address the state’s out-migration crisis.
State of desperation: Illinois food-stamp use spikes to new all-time high
State of desperation: Illinois food-stamp use spikes to new all-time high
Illinois’ decades-long experiments with progressive economic policies have thwarted human potential and forced dependency on a massive scale.
5 takeaways from Rauner’s inaugural speech
5 takeaways from Rauner’s inaugural speech
Five things to remember from Governor Bruce Rauner's Inaugural speech
U.S. shows healthy jobs gain, leaving Illinois behind
U.S. shows healthy jobs gain, leaving Illinois behind
There are now 1.06 million more Americans working than when the recession began. In comparison, there are 232,000 fewer Illinoisans working over the same time period, the second-largest employment gap in the U.S.
Illinois had record mass exodus in 2014
Illinois had record mass exodus in 2014
The stunning data underscore an important point as power shifts to Governor-elect Bruce Rauner: Illinois cannot raise taxes on a population that is shrinking due to massive numbers of people leaving.
Illinois’ economic crisis requires local solutions
Illinois’ economic crisis requires local solutions
Localities don’t need to wait for Springfield to make the state work again.
City profits from crackdown on New Year’s drink specials
City profits from crackdown on New Year’s drink specials
The intent of the law is to prevent binge drinking and drunk driving. But it’s not clear this is the best policy to address either of these problems.