Veterans courts: How Illinois can help its incarcerated veterans
Veterans courts: How Illinois can help its incarcerated veterans
Veterans courts provide Illinois a more effective way to address offenders who have served in the military, allowing the state to rely less on incarceration
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Another vendor tells Illinois to pay up
Another vendor tells Illinois to pay up
Southwestern Electric Cooperative Inc. sends a disconnection-warning letter to Illinois.
By Mark Fitton
Ford set to invest $1.1B in Chicago-area plants
Ford set to invest $1.1B in Chicago-area plants
While thousands of Chicago-area Ford employees rejoice over news of long-term stability, many more Illinois manufacturing workers face joblessness.
By Austin Berg
Rauner ends tax breaks for companies that create no new jobs
Rauner ends tax breaks for companies that create no new jobs
Gov. Bruce Rauner announced plans to restrict tax breaks for companies for retaining existing employees – putting an end to excessive tax credits that have cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.
Moody’s: Chicago taxpayers on the hook for growing pension contributions
Moody’s: Chicago taxpayers on the hook for growing pension contributions
Chicago’s contributions to its government-worker pension funds will jump to $1 billion in 2016 from $500 million in 2015, according to a new report by Moody’s Investors Service.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth
Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth
A new report by Moody’s Investors Service details Chicago’s weak economic growth and increasing government-worker pension obligations.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
After months of gridlock, compromise rears its head in Springfield
After months of gridlock, compromise rears its head in Springfield
Good-faith negotiation and trust were foundational to all of the deals made, but some Statehouse Democrats pushed for extreme solutions while others were actively compromising.
By Heather Weiner
Dems block plan to pay Illinois Lottery winners
Dems block plan to pay Illinois Lottery winners
Gov. Rauner and the Illinois House of Representatives support a bill to release lottery winnings, but Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are standing in the way. Now Illinois Lottery winners may not be paid until 2016.
By Hilary Gowins
House Democrats and Republicans still playing hardball
House Democrats and Republicans still playing hardball
Restoration of child-care cuts fails in Illinois House.
By Mark Fitton
Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails
Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails
The Chicago Teachers Union cannot legally strike before completing several procedural steps, which would take four months following failed mediation with Chicago Public Schools; however, the union could flout the law and strike sooner in the hope of pressuring Chicago Public Schools to reach a deal quickly.
By Jeffrey Schwab
Rauner, business and labor agree on unemployment insurance changes
Rauner, business and labor agree on unemployment insurance changes
Changes to Illinois unemployment insurance law will strengthen deterrents against fraud, abuse and negligence; eliminate a $470 million tax increase and $300 million benefit reduction.
By Mark Fitton