Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Two of Illinois’ five pension systems lost money in 2012

Two of Illinois’ five pension systems lost money in 2012

Not a single one of the state’s five public pension systems earned more than 1 percent returns on their investments last year. In fact, two of the five funds actually lost money. Although pension trustees predicted Illinois’ five pension funds would earn more than $5.1 billion in fiscal year 2012, the funds actually earned less...

By Jonathan Ingram

Illinois has the 2nd-highest property taxes in nation

Illinois has the 2nd-highest property taxes in nation

Statistics show Illinois is a high-tax state. Ironically, advocates of tax hikes across the state often argue that Illinois is a low-tax state. The people have a right to know the truth about Illinois’ tax environment.

By Brian Costin

Contagion: Strike fever spreads across Illinois

Contagion: Strike fever spreads across Illinois

  [updated Feb. 4, 2013] With the Chicago Teachers Union having waged a largely successful strike against the Chicago Public Schools, we can expect to see other public school unions, and maybe other government employee unions, following their example. Strikes allow unions to preserve costly wages and benefits, or block needed reforms, by shutting down...

By Paul Kersey

Institute on ABC 20: Legislative committee stipends are a waste

Institute on ABC 20: Legislative committee stipends are a waste

Institute Senior Director of Government Affairs, Matt Paprocki, joined ABC 20 to discuss legislative committee stipends, which are a waste. State lawmakers make about $65,000 a year for a job many of you think is part time. But that?s not all you pay them. If a lawmaker is a chairman or a spokesman for a...

The RJ Moeller Show: John Tillman talks individual sovereignty and his journey to the Illinois Policy Institute

The RJ Moeller Show: John Tillman talks individual sovereignty and his journey to the Illinois Policy Institute

  R.J. Moeller and guests discuss everything from politics to sports to movies to meatball hoagies.  R.J. is the featured podcast on American Enterprise Institute’s “Values and Capitalism” website. R.J. recently interviewed Institute CEO, John Tillman. They discussed individual sovereignty, John’s conservatarian views and his journey to the Illinois Policy Institute.

AFSCME: Steps toward a walkout

AFSCME: Steps toward a walkout

The American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, or AFSCME, Council 31 sent a message to its employees last week urging them to prepare for a walkout.