Dropping out of pensions
Dropping out of pensions
State law doesnt allow for the lawmaker, who entered the upper chamber in 2008, to drop out of the system.
No pay for Illinois lawmakers until the state pays all of its past due bills?
No pay for Illinois lawmakers until the state pays all of its past due bills?
What would happen if state officials had their paychecks suspended until the state paid all of its past due bills? State Rep. Charlie Meier, R-Okawville, thinks it would help the Illinois Legislature find a solution to the state's budget problems.
Illinois needs a strict spending limit
Illinois needs a strict spending limit
Illinois has a spending problem. Spending per capita has grown nearly three times faster than it would have under a responsible spending limit one tied to the growth of inflation and population.
Grayslake teacher contract details remain a mystery
Grayslake teacher contract details remain a mystery
Grayslake sounds like a great place for a mystery. It could be the name of a mansion overlooking a foggy moor upon which a wealthy young heiress was found dead of arsenic poisoning among half a dozen acquaintances, all with serious grudges.
Liberate workers from politician-controlled pensions
Liberate workers from politician-controlled pensions
In the aftermath of this months scramble to pass something anything that politicians could call pension reform, heres the most important reason why taxpayers should be grateful the Nekritz-Biss plan was shelved: the funding guarantee.
Institute on ABC 20: Auditor position vacant at 3 out of 5 state pension funds
Institute on ABC 20: Auditor position vacant at 3 out of 5 state pension funds
Illinois Policy Institute Executive Vice President, Kristina Rasmussen, appeared on ABC 20 to discuss the Auditor General’s report, which found that Illinois’ unfunded pension liability grew nearly $12 billion in fiscal year 2012. The unfunded liability in the state’s retirement systems has ballooned by nearly $12 billion in the last budget year. That’s according to...
Taxpayers feel the pinch, as Illinois spends
Taxpayers feel the pinch, as Illinois spends
Is your wallet a little thinner these days?
NANNY STATE: Chicago Alderman Burke decides energy drinks aren’t good for you
NANNY STATE: Chicago Alderman Burke decides energy drinks aren’t good for you
Aside from crime, spending and transportation, Chicago leaders are looking to take a hard line on energy drinks
Squeezy cost $23; pension inaction costs $21 million per day
Squeezy cost $23; pension inaction costs $21 million per day
An open records request to the governor's office revealed the only new cost for the entire website was a $23 purchase to reserve domain names at GoDaddy.com.
Institute on Fox Business: Ted Dabrowski discusses one in three Illinois residents living at or near poverty
Institute on Fox Business: Ted Dabrowski discusses one in three Illinois residents living at or near poverty
Illinois Policy Institute’s Vice President of Policy, Ted Dabrowski, joined Varney & Co. on Fox Business to discuss poverty in Illinois — one in three residents lives at or near poverty.
Contagion 2.0: Did you really think it was over?
Contagion 2.0: Did you really think it was over?
The holidays are over and kids have been back in school for weeks. But students in Grayslake District 46 are back at home now that teachers are on strike.
Illinois’ balanced budget rule not worth the paper its written on
Illinois’ balanced budget rule not worth the paper its written on
Gov. Pat Quinns Office of Management and Budget recently released its three-year budget projections for Illinois General Fund. According to the report, Illinois will end fiscal year 2013 with a $242 million budget surplus.
CPS free lunch program plagued by fraud
CPS free lunch program plagued by fraud
Illinois education financing system is rife with poorly designed policies.
When it comes to pensions, Illinois faces lack of leadership
When it comes to pensions, Illinois faces lack of leadership
We keep looking for leadership and we keep ending up with politics.