First Lady fumbles Illinois’ job situation
First Lady fumbles Illinois’ job situation
Illinois is last in the U.S. for putting people back to work.
7 of 10 Illinois metro areas are not recovering at all
7 of 10 Illinois metro areas are not recovering at all
Unemployment rates fell for most of Illinois’ metropolitan statistical areas in September, according to a press release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, seven out of 10 Illinois metro areas are not showing any signs of an economic recovery when it comes to putting people back to work. Champaign, Chicago and Springfield are showing...
Three small changes for a better food-truck policy
Three small changes for a better food-truck policy
It’s been two years since Chicago last updated its food-truck regulations to allow vendors to prepare food onboard. This was a significant improvement, but there are still some important changes the city can and should make to better respect food-truck owners’ rights and improve food options for residents across the city. Here are three modest...
Illinois’ real unemployment rate
Illinois’ real unemployment rate
Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014
Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014
In October, we found 52 different stories of potential public corruption in Illinois, including a trio of stories related to the election. An Illinois Policy investigation into emails from a group of Kankakee County superintendents revealed potentially illegal activities to pass a countywide sales-tax hike for school facilities. Documents obtained suggest illegal actions by superintendents...
Illinois’ ‘temporary’ 2011 tax hike breaks household budgets
Illinois’ ‘temporary’ 2011 tax hike breaks household budgets
Illinois’ “temporary” 2011 tax hike made the state’s slow recovery even worse. The tax hikes hit at the worst possible time – right after household incomes had collapsed during the recession. Since the tax hikes, the monthly growth in the number of people working in Illinois has slowed down by 60 percent, while the monthly...
Brains!
Brains!
Jacksonville tax dollars could be spent more wisely in teacher contract
Jacksonville tax dollars could be spent more wisely in teacher contract
The most recent Jacksonville District 117 teacher contract contains provisions that make the deal unaffordable for a struggling community with a poverty rate of 18 percent and incomes that are well below average for the state. The two-year agreement covered August 2012 to August 2014. Pay hikes: While the district managed to coax the Jacksonville...
DCEO gives $25.6M to billion-dollar businesses
DCEO gives $25.6M to billion-dollar businesses
Illinoisans don’t need bureaucrats playing venture capitalist with their hard-earned money.
Kankakee County superintendents behaving badly
Kankakee County superintendents behaving badly
It’s perfectly legal for people working for local government to engage in politics on their own free time, but if they are using taxpayer resources or facilities for political campaigns it can be a criminal act. A Freedom of Information Act investigation conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute has revealed potentially illegal activities being conducted...
States on the move: 401(k)-style pension reform in Michigan
States on the move: 401(k)-style pension reform in Michigan
Michigan was a trailblazer when it comes to 401(k)-style reform plans for government workers. In 1997, Michigan froze the state employees’ defined-benefit pension plan and created a self-managed 401(k)-style retirement plan for new state workers. It was the first state in the nation to enact bold reforms like these. Michigan state employees who started working...
2015 State Business Tax Climate Index: Illinois drops to 31st
2015 State Business Tax Climate Index: Illinois drops to 31st
Illinois’ burdensome tax climate for businesses will continue to hold the state back from creating jobs and growing the economy in 2015. The Tax Foundation issued its 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index, reporting that Illinois dropped two positions in the ranking since last year, to 31st from 29th. Prior to 2011, Illinois steadily ranked...
Outside money pours into communities to pass sales-tax hikes
Outside money pours into communities to pass sales-tax hikes
The public school district in Jacksonville, Illinois, is criticizing fellow Illinoisans for educating residents about a significant sales-tax increase proposal on the ballot – a tax increase that would drive up the cost of gas, clothes, prepared food, electronics and more. School district officials called the Illinois Policy Institute a “Chicago based” group, when we’re...
The top three things McHenry County taxpayers need to know about ‘free’ ObamaCare money
The top three things McHenry County taxpayers need to know about ‘free’ ObamaCare money
The McHenry County Board recently took a brave stance by voting to reject “free” money for Affordable Care Act enrollment, but it’s unclear whether the board’s decision will stand. At issue is almost $585,000 in grant money that is being doled out by the state (but originated with the federal government) to the McHenry County...