Want basic information on the state’s workforce?
Want basic information on the state’s workforce?
On Thursday, the Illinois Senate passedAi??a bill sponsored by Senator Brady that would compile information on employee characteristics, compensation and mobility. Cheap compazine side This is an important piece of legislation because approximately one-third of the stateai??i??s budget goes towards compensation. Yet, simple top-line data on the labor forceAi??is very difficult and in some instances...
By Mark Cavers
State Rep. Monique Davis compares school closings to Nazi actions
State Rep. Monique Davis compares school closings to Nazi actions
During a contentious hearing on the Chicago school closings and turnarounds, Rep. Monique Davis compared actions of the CPS board to those during the "German whatever" (referring to the Nazi regime that closed Jewish businesses and schools in the 30s).
Institute in AP story: Chicago embarks on $7 billion infrastructure plan
Institute in AP story: Chicago embarks on $7 billion infrastructure plan
Illinois Policy Institute Senior Fellow Leonard Gilroy was interviewed by the Associated Press about Mayor Emmanuel's $7 billion public-private partnership plan for Chicago.
Institute in Illinois Statehouse News: Former U of I president gets golden parachute
Institute in Illinois Statehouse News: Former U of I president gets golden parachute
The Institute's senior director of government affairs, Collin Hitt, was quoted in an Illinois Statehouse News article about a former University of Illinois President receiving a golden parachute funded by the students and taxpayers.
Comparison of Quinn’s Budget, House Budget and Budget Solutions 2013
Comparison of Quinn’s Budget, House Budget and Budget Solutions 2013
Today the Illinois House adopted a budget framework for fiscal year 2013. The framework had bipartisan sponsorship, but unfortunately adopts an overall spending target that is still far too high. What is good about the budget is that it acknowledges the overwhelming burden of the unsustainable Medicaid program and takes steps to slow the growth of the...
Chicago has second highest taxes on meals in restaurants
Chicago has second highest taxes on meals in restaurants
Ever notice that going out to eat seems more expensive in Chicago than other cities? One of the reasons is that on top of the very high sales tax in Chicago, there are additional taxes on meals in restaurants: 0.25 percent Chicago restaurant tax and 1.0 percent Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) food and...
Interactive dashboard: Taxes on meals
Interactive dashboard: Taxes on meals
Chicago has the second highest taxes on meals of the 50 largest U.S. cities. Check out the Institute's interactive dashboard on meal taxes to see how we stack up.
Medicaid fiscal notes advances
Medicaid fiscal notes advances
Institute proposal to put "price tags" on Medicaid legislation advances out of Senate committee.
Day 3: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court
Day 3: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court
Today was the final marathon session of oral arguments over ObamaCare. It began this morning with the question of what to do with the rest of the law if the individual mandate is struck down, a very real possibility after yesterday's hearing.
Day 2: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court
Day 2: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court
If the government can force you to buy health insurance, what can’t they force you to do or buy? That was the question posed by a number of Supreme Court justices throughout today’s oral argument on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. And that was the question President Obama’s lawyers couldn’t seem to answer. That question didn’t...
By Jonathan Ingram
Illinois should wave goodbye to NCLB opt out
Illinois should wave goodbye to NCLB opt out
by Michael Wille Last month, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan continued the White House talking point of “We Can’t Wait” when it comes to stalled Congressional action on education. Together with the president, he announced that waivers to the No Child Left Behind Act would be granted to ten different states. These waivers are...
By Chris Andriesen
Day 1: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court
Day 1: ObamaCare at the Supreme Court
Today was a big day. This morning, the Supreme Court began oral arguments over the constitutionality of ObamaCare. You can preview those arguments and see how the law will affect Illinois by clicking here. While the most important questions will be heard tomorrow and Wednesday, today’s argument was notable because the Justices seemed in general agreement...
By Jonathan Ingram
Supreme Court should strike ObamaCare mandate
Supreme Court should strike ObamaCare mandate
On Tuesday, March 27, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments on the most controversial part of ObamaCare: the “individual mandate,” which requires that everyone not otherwise covered purchase government-approved health insurance. The government claims that the individual mandate is constitutional because it falls under Congress’s power to regulate interstate commerce. In an amicus brief filed by the...
Illinois’ future under ObamaCare
Illinois’ future under ObamaCare
On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin 3 days of oral arguments on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. The case pits the Obama administration against 26 states, and could be one of the biggest federalism showdowns the Court has seen in years. The case centers primarily around two key components of the law: the individual mandate and the...
By Jonathan Ingram