Institute on Fox Business: Chicago to close 54 schools
Institute on Fox Business: Chicago to close 54 schools
Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman joined Melissa Francis to talk school closings in Chicago.
As ObamaCare comes to Illinois, the fight for health care freedom continues
As ObamaCare comes to Illinois, the fight for health care freedom continues
Three years after the enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, or PPACA, we are beginning to suffer its painful consequences.
When it comes to the AFSCME contract, taxpayers still in the dark
When it comes to the AFSCME contract, taxpayers still in the dark
After all, there is a basic democratic principle in play: An informed citizenry can hold its government in check. But how can we hold Quinn accountable if the information we receive is only what he chooses to share?
Poor policy decisions continue to sap Illinois’ economic activity
Poor policy decisions continue to sap Illinois’ economic activity
In the game of state competitiveness, Illinois lags the nation. Poor policy decisions continue to sap economic activity and ruin opportunities for businesses operating in Illinois.
Laying blame: union bosses also culpable for pension crisis
Laying blame: union bosses also culpable for pension crisis
In case you missed it, a couple of days ago journalist Dave McKinney of the Chicago Sun-Times put together an interesting history lesson on how the state of Illinois wound up committing securities fraud.
Illinois’ unemployment rate jumped to 9.5% in February
Illinois’ unemployment rate jumped to 9.5% in February
Job growth is also anemic in the state. Illinois added 12,400 jobs last month. Thats a growth rate of only 0.2 percent from the previous month.
Legislative & Policy Breakfast on the State of Illinois in Decatur
Legislative & Policy Breakfast on the State of Illinois in Decatur
Decatur breakfast featuring Institute staff
Budget Solutions 2014: Pension reform and responsible spending for state and local governments
Budget Solutions 2014: Pension reform and responsible spending for state and local governments
Illinois is in crisis. According to official government numbers, Illinois has an unfunded pension liability of $96 billion – the worst in the nation. This heavy debt burden, combined with the state’s culture of out-of-control, wasteful spending, has driven the state into an economic death spiral. Illinois cannot be economically prosperous until real pension reform...
Key differences between Cross/Nekritz pension bill and real reform
Key differences between Cross/Nekritz pension bill and real reform
Key differences between HB3411 and HB3303 HB3411: Rep. Tom Cross, Rep. Elaine Nekritz bill HB3303: Rep. Tom Morrison bill to be introduced on Thursday (Institute supported) PENSION RAMP HB3411: Keeps pension ramp, so pension contributions increase each and every year. HB3303: Eliminates pension ramp, so pension contributions remain level. RETIREMENT CONTROL HB3411: Keeps politicians in...
School choice must yield results: CPS to close two underperforming charters
School choice must yield results: CPS to close two underperforming charters
School choice should be the foundation of any successful school system. This includes learning options of all kinds, including online learning, private schools, charter schools, homeschooling and more. While alternative learning options provide much-needed options for students, these programs should not be exempt from performance reviews. In a surprise move, the Chicago Public Schools, or...
Budget Solutions 2014: Pension reform
Budget Solutions 2014: Pension reform
The only way to end Illinois’ pension crisis is to empower government workers by transitioning benefits for all future work to a defined contribution system.
Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund goes five years with no growth
Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund goes five years with no growth
The Chicago Teachers’ Pension Fund, or CTPF, lost money last year. Although pension trustees predicted the fund would earn $778 million in fiscal year 2012, the fund actually lost more than $38 million. The system posted an investment return of -0.4 percent, far below the 8 percent expected. That brings the five-year average return to...
No such thing as a temporary tax hike in Illinois
No such thing as a temporary tax hike in Illinois
Illinois state Rep. Lou Lang, D-Skokie, has proposed legislation to try to address the state’s pension crisis by permanently locking in the “temporary” 2011 67% income tax increase, raising employee contributions and stretching out state pension payments. “We have close to a $100 billion unfunded liability in our pension system,” Lang said. “This unfunded liability...
The truth comes out: new pension proposal includes making 2011 tax hike permanent
The truth comes out: new pension proposal includes making 2011 tax hike permanent
Illinois House Deputy Majority Leader Lou Lang, D-Skokie, wants to hike taxes to avoid meaningful pension reform. Lang’s solution is to keep income taxes up statewide as a “reform” for Illinois’ pension systems, which are underfunded by $209 billion. He introduced legislation Wednesday, Feb. 20, that would make the record 67 percent income tax hike...