Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Institute on WAND TV: Illinois’ addiction to pork

Institute on WAND TV: Illinois’ addiction to pork

Institute policy expert, Jonathan Ingram, joined Doug Wolfe on WAND TV to discuss Illinois’ addiction to wasteful spending. Check our Piglet 2012 for examples of pork in Illinois. MUSEUM CAPITAL PROJECTS ABRAHAM LINCOLN MEMORIAL GARDEN FOUNDATION, INC. (Sangamon County) – $82,433. Renovation of the Ostermeir Farmhouse to add handicap accessible features, waterproof basement, replace carpet,...

Institute in Daily Herald: Defined benefit plans cannot be sustained

Institute in Daily Herald: Defined benefit plans cannot be sustained

Daily Herald published the following opinion piece by the Institute’s Vice President of Policy, Ted Dabrowski: Many civic groups are calling for the legislature to do something ? anything ? on pension reform. That’s fool’s advice. Instead, they should call on lawmakers to do the right thing. That means a defined contribution system. It’s the...

School Choice Week

School Choice Week

Josh Dwyer Director of Education Reform National School Choice Week is centered on the belief that parents should be empowered to choose the best educational environments for their children From Friday, January 22 to Saturday, February 2 organizations around the country will be sponsoring events related to promoting school choice. Celebrate and promote the ongoing...

Dropping out of pensions

Dropping out of pensions

State law doesn’t allow for the lawmaker, who entered the upper chamber in 2008, to drop out of the system.

No pay for Illinois lawmakers until the state pays all of its past due bills?

No pay for Illinois lawmakers until the state pays all of its past due bills?

What would happen if state officials had their paychecks suspended until the state paid all of its past due bills? State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, thinks it would help the Illinois Legislature find a solution to the state's budget problems.

Illinois needs a strict spending limit

Illinois needs a strict spending limit

Illinois has a spending problem. Spending per capita has grown nearly three times faster than it would have under a responsible spending limit – one tied to the growth of inflation and population.

By Benjamin VanMetre

Grayslake teacher contract details remain a mystery

Grayslake teacher contract details remain a mystery

“Grayslake” sounds like a great place for a mystery. It could be the name of a mansion overlooking a foggy moor upon which a wealthy young heiress was found dead of arsenic poisoning among half a dozen acquaintances, all with serious grudges.

Liberate workers from politician-controlled pensions

Liberate workers from politician-controlled pensions

In the aftermath of this month’s scramble to pass something – anything – that politicians could call pension reform, here’s the most important reason why taxpayers should be grateful the Nekritz-Biss plan was shelved: the “funding guarantee.”

By Jonathan Ingram

Institute on ABC 20: Auditor position vacant at 3 out of 5 state pension funds

Institute on ABC 20: Auditor position vacant at 3 out of 5 state pension funds

Illinois Policy Institute Executive Vice President, Kristina Rasmussen, appeared on ABC 20 to discuss the Auditor General’s report, which found that Illinois’ unfunded pension liability grew nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012. The unfunded liability in the state’s retirement systems has ballooned by nearly $12 billion in the last budget year. That’s according to...

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