Medicaid math: Why tax hikes aren’t spending cuts
Medicaid math: Why tax hikes aren’t spending cuts
In February, Gov. Quinn told lawmakers that in order to rescue Illinois
Gov. Quinn’s plan for Medicaid: hike taxes and cut access to care
Gov. Quinn’s plan for Medicaid: hike taxes and cut access to care
Moments ago, Gov. Quinn released his plan to cut Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion. So what does that plan actually look like? It looks like a tax hike coupled with even worse access to care for the poor. Sen. Dale Righter and Rep. Patti Bellock have both voiced opposition to the Governor’s plan, and the Medicaid working...
Dixon fails Local Transparency Audit, Comptroller accused of stealing $53 million
Dixon fails Local Transparency Audit, Comptroller accused of stealing $53 million
Illinois has long been known for corruption of government. Recently, a national public corruption study from University of Illinois-Chicago ranked the Northern District of Illinois as the most corrupt area in the nation. So it’s hardly shocking when we hear of another public corruption case. But the latest case of public corruption from the city of Dixon,...
Illinoisans must work longer than others to pay their tax bills
Illinoisans must work longer than others to pay their tax bills
In 2012, Illinoisans will have to work 114 days to earn enough to pay their combined federal, state and local tax bill – seven days longer than the average of all the states. The Tax Foundation released their annual “Tax Freedom Day” report, which determines how long residents must work to pay off all tax...
Cigarette taxes can’t fix Medicaid
Cigarette taxes can’t fix Medicaid
It looks like Gov. Quinn may be pinning his hopes of finding Medicaid savings by raising cigarette taxes. This isn’t the first time Gov. Quinn has floated his $1-per-pack tax hike on cigarettes. So I was glad to see that Sen. Dale Righter and Rep. Patti Bellock, members of the Medicaid reform working group, have voiced their opposition to...
2011 Illinois state representative salaries
2011 Illinois state representative salaries
In March, Illinois state senators voted to freeze their salaries and forfeit twelve days of pay. The bill is awaiting concurrence in the House. According to the NCSL, Illinois state legislators will earn a base salary of $67,836 in 2012, along with a $111 per diem for each session day. Members of the Illinois legislature are among the highest-paid in...
2011 Illinois state senate salaries
2011 Illinois state senate salaries
What did your state senator earn in 2011?
Illinois ranked third worst in economic outlook and performance
Illinois ranked third worst in economic outlook and performance
The 5th ALEC-Laffer State Economic Competitiveness Index was just released, ranking states on past economic performance and future economic outlook. Illinois is ranked 48 out of the 50 states in both measures.
On policy and political competition
On policy and political competition
Commentary from John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute.
10 Peoria-area municipalities fail government transparency audit
10 Peoria-area municipalities fail government transparency audit
Peoria, Ill. (April 11, 2012) – Ten out of eleven government agencies in the Peoria-area received failing grades in an online transparency audit conducted by local citizen activists and the Illinois Policy Institute. Members of the Peoria 9/12 group worked with the Institute to grade local government websites on how much public data is readily...
Another $54 billion?! In addition to pensions, the state owes billions more in retiree health benefits
Another $54 billion?! In addition to pensions, the state owes billions more in retiree health benefits
The problem Illinois state government owes more than $83 billion to the pension plans it operates for retired employees; servicing this obligation is crippling the state’s budget. But pension debt is only part of the story. Much less publicized are the additional obligations the state has taken on to provide health insurance for pensioners, the...
Another $54 billion?! In addition to pensions, the state owes billions more in retiree health benefits
Another $54 billion?! In addition to pensions, the state owes billions more in retiree health benefits
Illinois state government owes more than $83 billion to the pension plans it operates for retired employees; servicing this obligation is crippling the state
Food entrepreneurs need real freedom
Food entrepreneurs need real freedom
A story in the Pekin Daily Times reports that farm-market shoppers in Illinois will have more choices this year, thanks to a law Governor Quinn signed last August, the Local Food Entrepreneur and Cottage Food Operation Act. But the law might not be as beneficial as the its backers suggest — and Illinois and other governments can and should do...
Hanover Township earns A in government transparency audit
Hanover Township earns A in government transparency audit
With a score of 96.5 percent, the Hanover Township is the first township-level government entity in the state to earn an “A” grade in the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project. The Local Transparency Project grades governments on the availability to the public of vital community information, such as public meeting schedules, government employee salaries and...