Former Illinois Policy Institute President Kristina Rasmussen has been appointed chief of staff to Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Former Illinois Policy Institute President Kristina Rasmussen has been appointed chief of staff to Gov. Bruce Rauner.
Former Illinois Policy Institute President Kristina Rasmussen has been appointed chief of staff to Gov. Bruce Rauner.
By illinoispolicy
Endurance: A lesson from generations of American patriots for Illinoisans today
Endurance: A lesson from generations of American patriots for Illinoisans today
Those fighting in Springfield for a better future for Illinois should look to past generations of Americans who stayed the course through long and difficult battles for liberty.
By John Tillman
6 reasons why Chicago taxes will keep going up
6 reasons why Chicago taxes will keep going up
Even with the city’s record tax hike and massive borrowing, lack of reform means Chicagoans can expect to open up their wallets yet again.
By Ted Dabrowski
Self-sufficiency for those who have paid their debt to society: 3 criminal-justice reforms Illinois needs
Self-sufficiency for those who have paid their debt to society: 3 criminal-justice reforms Illinois needs
Without a job, an ex-offender is likely to re-enter the system. Finding work breaks that cycle. Illinois needs major re-entry reforms that remove barriers to employment and work – and give ex-offenders a chance at success.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Chicago State University students: Blame CSU administration for your troubles
Chicago State University students: Blame CSU administration for your troubles
CSU's bloated administration costs more than $3,600 per student, by far the highest of all Illinois' public colleges and universities. By comparison, the average MAP grant at CSU is $2,600 per student.
By Ted Dabrowski
Illinois now home to the highest sales taxes in the Midwest
Illinois now home to the highest sales taxes in the Midwest
Combined sales taxes in Illinois have leaped past those of every other state in the region.
By Austin Berg
Illinois corruption watch: February 2016
Illinois corruption watch: February 2016
Illinoisans’ confidence in their state government is the lowest of residents of any state in the nation, and corruption stories from February 2016 don’t help.
11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions
11 things you need to know about Chicago teacher pensions
Pension holidays, steep increases in teachers' salaries, and lopsided ratios of teacher contributions to pension payouts have caused the Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund’s unfunded liabilities to shoot up to $9 billion in 2015.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
CPS budget breakdown: Where has the money gone?
CPS budget breakdown: Where has the money gone?
Unaffordable salaries and pension benefits on top of a structurally unstable retirement system have pushed CPS to the brink of insolvency despite record tax revenues.
By John Klingner, Amy Korte
Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders
Illinois gets $1.2M windfall in late fees after failing to send vehicle-registration reminders
Budget gridlock in Springfield caused the Illinois secretary of state’s office to suspend mailing vehicle-registration-renewal reminders in October 2015.
By Amy Korte
Steps and lanes: Understanding how Chicago public school teachers get multiple pay raises each year
Steps and lanes: Understanding how Chicago public school teachers get multiple pay raises each year
Chicago teachers’ salaries are based on a complex and convoluted system that has provided teachers with annual pay increases well in excess of the 2.75 to 3 percent raises proposed by the district.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Rauner’s criminal-justice reform commission issues first recommendations
Rauner’s criminal-justice reform commission issues first recommendations
The commission’s 14 policy suggestions aim to safely reduce Illinois’ prison population by 25 percent by 2025.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Why Indiana’s population grows faster than Illinois’
Why Indiana’s population grows faster than Illinois’
Illinois’ weak jobs growth is driving more residents to other states on net than Illinois gains from other states, from natural growth in births or from international immigration.
By Michael Lucci
Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges
Center of Chicago red-light-camera scandal found guilty on all charges
A federal jury convicted former transportation official John Bills of fraud, extortion, bribery and more.
By Austin Berg