Fly away home
Fly away home
Every five minutes, Illinois loses a resident to another state.
Illinois tax hikes harm family incomes and stunt economic growth
Illinois tax hikes harm family incomes and stunt economic growth
Politicians’ quick answer to the state’s problems is consistently to raise taxes, but evidence shows tax hikes are a negative for families struggling in a state already lacking opportunity.
Fixing Illinois’ outdated workers’ compensation system
Fixing Illinois’ outdated workers’ compensation system
Illinois’ workers’ compensation system has not evolved to meet the modern workplace, and is instead working more for special interests than employers and employees.
IRS: Illinois is losing millennials
IRS: Illinois is losing millennials
An increasing number of younger adults are making up the exodus of taxpayers from the state.
An Illinois workers’ compensation system for the 21st century
An Illinois workers’ compensation system for the 21st century
The state of Illinois has one of the oldest workers’ compensation systems in America, dating to 1911.
IDES: Illinoisans must file résumés to receive unemployment payments
IDES: Illinoisans must file résumés to receive unemployment payments
By linking unemployment payments with the requirement to submit a résumé, the Illinois Department of Employment Security is trying to connect unemployed people with employers faster, helping job seekers find employment, and saving taxpayers money.
Illinois is losing prime working-age adults
Illinois is losing prime working-age adults
BLS data show that Illinois had a net loss of 354,000 adults over the last decade from its prime working-age adult population (ages 25 to 54), with 290,000 of that loss attributable to migration rather than mortality. This is a troubling sign that indicates a weak economy – and the loss of adult taxpayers and their children.
A pricy homecoming: Dwyane Wade’s $890,000 Illinois tax bill
A pricy homecoming: Dwyane Wade’s $890,000 Illinois tax bill
In joining the Chicago Bulls, former Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade is trading Florida’s 0 percent personal income tax for Illinois’ 3.75 percent rate, a choice many out-migrating, middle-class Illinoisans cannot afford to make.
Illinois employers announce 600 layoffs in June
Illinois employers announce 600 layoffs in June
Illinois’ June WARN report shows 600 mass layoffs for the state in June, with 44 jobs lost in manufacturing, an improvement over May’s 1,300 layoffs and 500 manufacturing job losses.
Madigan’s plan: Reduce wages and standard of living for Illinois’ middle class
Madigan’s plan: Reduce wages and standard of living for Illinois’ middle class
Madigan’s stated concern for the middle class rings hollow given that his own plan to boost the state’s fiscal health consists solely of income-tax increases, which would directly reduce the wages and standard of living for Illinoisans.
Regulatory excess can transform entrepreneurs into unwitting criminals
Regulatory excess can transform entrepreneurs into unwitting criminals
Illinois entrepreneurs face myriad regulations that impede starting or running a business. Compliance with those regulations is costly; more importantly, it is almost impossible for entrepreneurs to know every regulation that affects their businesses. The uncertainty of not knowing the law creates a regulatory minefield and takes away opportunity for Illinoisans.
Illinois one of few states still recovering from the Great Recession
Illinois one of few states still recovering from the Great Recession
Most states have far outstripped Illinois on the number of jobs recovered. And even worse, Illinois has also lagged in the quality of jobs recovered. Illinois was the 37th state to recover and match its pre-recession jobs count. But there are still 110,000 fewer Illinoisans working today than before the recession began.
Chicago passes new rules on Uber and Lyft
Chicago passes new rules on Uber and Lyft
The city will require rideshare drivers to complete an online course before hitting the road, and will allow ridesharing platforms such as Uber and Lyft to continue conducting their own background checks.
Chicago’s new Airbnb ordinance greets visitors to the city with a 21 percent tax bill
Chicago’s new Airbnb ordinance greets visitors to the city with a 21 percent tax bill
The city’s new ordinance will punish visitors to the city with a 21 percent hotel tax bill.