Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Pantagraph: Woman sues city over van-for-hire request

Pantagraph: Woman sues city over van-for-hire request

Liberty Justice Center attorneys Jacob Heubert and Greg Bedell were featured in a Pantagraph news story about the case of Julie Crowe, a woman suing the city of Bloomington for her vehicle-for-hire license application being denied to limit competition.

Event recap: C.J. Maloney

Event recap: C.J. Maloney

Author C.J. Maloney speaks to the Institute about his latest book, "BACK TO THE LAND: Arthurdale, FDR'S New Deal, and the Costs of Economic Planning."

Fact Finder: The truth about ObamaCare exchanges

Fact Finder: The truth about ObamaCare exchanges

The Affordable Care Act, commonly referred to as ObamaCare, permits states to establish health insurance exchanges. These exchanges will operate as new bureaucracies to oversee the purchase of government-approved health insurance. States electing to create these exchanges must comply with federal rules that will dictate virtually all aspects of the exchanges’ operations. If Illinois chooses...

By Jonathan Ingram

Diagnosis: Disaster – The $44 billion price tag of state retiree health insurance

Diagnosis: Disaster – The $44 billion price tag of state retiree health insurance

The problem Illinoisans are beginning to see the dangers of another unfunded liability: free or subsidized health care for retired state workers. The state has promised, in today’s dollars, nearly $44 billion in retiree health benefits to government employees over the next thirty years. Unfortunately, it has not set aside any funds for those future...

By Jonathan Ingram

The truth about ObamaCare exchanges

The truth about ObamaCare exchanges

While a number of people are urging the state to immediately create an ObamaCare exchange, the reasons are based on myths, not facts. In this report, we respond to those myths.

CPS board votes to put students and taxpayers first

CPS board votes to put students and taxpayers first

by Michael Wille Following a contentious 7 hour hearing on Wednesday, the Chicago Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to turn around 10 failing schools and close or phase out 7 others. These schools had been seriously under performing over the last 5 years even with increased financial support from the city and the state. Nevertheless,...

By Chris Andriesen

Due process denied: Illinois’ new scheme to take your tax refund

Due process denied: Illinois’ new scheme to take your tax refund

by Peter White, Liberty Justice Center Residents of Illinois are dying a death by a thousand cuts. Municipalities are finding ever more creative ways to raise revenue: fees, fines and taxes. The trouble for some localities such as the City of Chicago is collection. Now, however, they’ve found something new: the City is going to...

By Chris Andriesen

Commentary on Gov. Quinn’s budget address

Commentary on Gov. Quinn’s budget address

This week, Gov. Quinn submitted his budget proposals for fiscal year 2013, which starts July 1, 2012. The governor said that the state’s “rendezvous with reality has arrived.” But while the governor recognized the state’s problems, he offered few concrete reforms on how to solve these problems. Below is the Institute’s commentary on Gov. Quinn’s...

By Chris Andriesen

Illinoisans agree: The tax hike was a failure

Illinoisans agree: The tax hike was a failure

by Taylor Smith It’s no secret that Illinois’ record income tax hike has failed to revive Illinois’ fiscal health. But it also has dramatically exacerbated the state’s economic outlook on many levels. Since the tax hike, Illinois’ unemployment numbers have worsened. In 2011, Illinois’ unemployment rate increased most in the nation – by far – with 46...

By Chris Andriesen

Life isn’t fair: The teachers’ union boss’ teachable moment

Life isn’t fair: The teachers’ union boss’ teachable moment

by Dan Proft I stand corrected. The teachers’ unions do have the ability to educate. New Jersey Education Association Executive Director Vincent Giordano recently provided, however inadvertently, the greatest teachable moment in public education since American Federation of Teachers President Al Shanker said, “When school children start paying union dues, that’s when I’ll start representing the...

By Chris Andriesen

Hubris defined: Chicago teachers union wants 30% salary raises

Hubris defined: Chicago teachers union wants 30% salary raises

by Michael Wille In their opening round of teacher contract negotiations, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has demanded reduced class sizes, higher taxes on the city’s richest residents and a whopping 30 percent salary increase with little accountability in return. Think about what they are calling for. At a time when 10.2 percent of Chicagoans are out...

By Chris Andriesen