Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 8.9 percent in October from 9.2 percent in August, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A total of 4,800 payroll jobs were created between August and October. Today’s BLS report, which included both October and September numbers, was delayed until today due to the government shutdown in October....
In an effort to curb the tide of millions of health insurance cancellations as a result of ObamaCare, the president called on state regulators to extend the terminated health insurance policies that were canceled as a result of ObamaCare mandates. In response, Illinois Department of Insurance Commissioner Andrew Boron announced that the department “will follow...
Illinois is one of only 11 states without term limits, but a constitutional referendum proposal to bring the proposed reform to Illinois met a significant milestone. From the Chicago Sun-Times: “Bruce Rauner’s Committee for Legislative Reform and Term Limits has already reached 150,000 petition signatures — the halfway mark to getting onto the Nov. 2014...
While millions of Americans across the country are figuring out what to do about their canceled health plans – despite being promised repeatedly by the president that they could keep them – those in Congress who have enrolled in ObamaCare have managed to avoid the unpleasantness. Under the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, commonly known...
For the past several months, the Illinois Policy Institute has published ongoing updates on the progress of the Illinois Medicaid Redetermination Project, or IMRP, which has garnered significant interest over time. Some people may not remember why IMRP was launched; I do. After all, this was among the many topics I discussed when the Medicaid...
In a press conference earlier this month, Republican lawmakers proposed a resolution that urges Congress to delay the “individual mandate” and calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to fully disclose the number of people in Illinois who are facing health insurance cancellations as a result of ObamaCare. Both calls to action are commendable and...
Will County is going through a perfect storm of unionism: an unjustified strike called by a union that is spooked by ObamaCare but unwilling to admit it. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1028 called for a walkout by about 1,000 county employees in spite of a pretty good offer from the...
The federal government has spent almost $155 million on Illinois’ state ObamaCare websites, according to government figures compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform. Just 1,370 Illinoisans added a plan to their shopping cart – a total that falls woefully short of the 17,000 enrollments federal officials had hoped for in the month...
Chicago’s recent triple-notch downgrade by Fitch Ratings is a stark reminder that Illinois’ inability to solve its pension crisis has consequences. Illinois has the lowest credit rating of all 50 states. In contrast, three of its neighbors have maintained their AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Illinois has suffered 13 downgrades from the...
Five million Americans and counting across the country have already received notices that their health insurance plans in the individual and small group markets are being canceled as a result of ObamaCare. So far, Andrew Boron, Illinois’ insurance commissioner, has not yet revealed how many Illinoisans are facing the same situation, despite calls from both...
E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly among smokers of traditional cigarettes looking to kick the habit by moving to a less harmful alternative. So why are Illinois governments wasting taxpayer dollars and time trying to make them harder to buy? The Evanston City Council recently jumped to regulate e-cigarettes under the same...
A lot of local governments are looking at increasing their property tax rates this time of year. Although many of the individual government increases appear relatively small, when added up they could represent a significant increase in cost to local property owners. The root of the problem — explored once again in a new study...
What happens when a local union calls a strike and employees show up to work anyway? Will County residents may get to find out. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1028 announced that it intends to strike against Will County effective Monday, Nov. 18. The strike comes in spite of a final...
The pension crisis has left teachers at risk of losing everything they’re counting on for retirement. Teachers deserve choice and control over their future. The Illinois Policy Institute supports freeing teachers from the bad choices of unpredictable Illinois politicians. Here’s our approach for treating everybody fairly: Pension benefits earned to date are paid. Going forward,...