Illinois will face future credit downgrades if it expands Medicaid
Illinois will face future credit downgrades if it expands Medicaid
Jonathan Ingram There are plenty of reasons to oppose trapping more Illinoisans in a broken Medicaid program, but Moody’s Investors Services has given the state one more: expanding Medicaid will lead to credit downgrades. Remember: Illinois already has the worst credit rating in the nation. Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings have downgraded the state 11 times since Gov. Pat...
U.S. April unemployment report: Underemployment a growing problem
U.S. April unemployment report: Underemployment a growing problem
Ted Dabrowski John Klingner The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics announced today that the national unemployment rate declined to 7.5 percent in April from 7.6 percent in March. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 165,000 in April, up from a revised 138,000 payroll jobs in March. source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics This amount of job creation...
The power of school choice
The power of school choice
Meet Emilia Melendez – a mother of four from Milwaukee. She didn’t finish high school and works at a private school where she earns just enough to take care of her family. She desperately wants her children to have the educational opportunities she never had, but realizes that she doesn’t have the means to help...
Capitol Updates: April 29 week in review
Capitol Updates: April 29 week in review
This was an eventful week in Springfield with both chambers in session. Virtual charter school moratorium bill moves to Senate subcommittee The Senate Education Committee did not hear House Bill 494 during its hearing on Tuesday, so the Illinois Policy Institute’s Vice President of Policy, Ted Dabrowski, was unable to testify in opposition to the bill as planned. Instead,...
By Jane McEnaney
Madigan’s pension plan would perpetuate Illinois’ crisis
Madigan’s pension plan would perpetuate Illinois’ crisis
Illinois Speaker Michael Madigan’s pension proposal (House Amendment #1 to Senate Bill 1) perpetuates Illinois’ crisis. The plan locks in the unmanageable defined benefit plan, guarantees the crowd out of core government services and continues the irresponsible pension payment ramp. Madigan’s plan keeps politicians in control of state employee pensions. By failing to get rid of...
By Benjamin VanMetre
UNO charters unionize
UNO charters unionize
by Paul Kersey Earlier today the Alliance of Charter School Teachers and Staff, known as ACTS, presented cards that were apparently signed by a strong majority of teachers at United Neighborhood Organization charter schools. An observer appointed by UNO and the union counted the cards and determined that ACTS would henceforth represent UNO teachers. For...
Quinn hikes taxes on Illinois homeowners as part of ‘property tax relief law’
Quinn hikes taxes on Illinois homeowners as part of ‘property tax relief law’
by Brian Costin Gov. Pat Quinn just hiked my property taxes. And, if you’re younger than 65 years old, he just hiked your property taxes too. But if you attended Quinn’s bill signing ceremony for Senate Bill 1894 you would have seen him championing himself as a fighter against Illinois’ outrageously high property tax rates, as evidenced...
Lessons from the Edgar plan: Why defined benefits can’t work
Lessons from the Edgar plan: Why defined benefits can’t work
The problem The blame for Illinois’ pension crisis is often laid at the feet of state politicians who supposedly “skipped” payments and caused the state’s five pension systems to be underfunded. This has prompted legislators to add a “funding guarantee” to the current crop of pension reforms bills in order to stop any future pension...
By Ted Dabrowski
Widespread non-compliance with TIF district reporting requirements
Widespread non-compliance with TIF district reporting requirements
Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, districts are a controversial economic development tool – and there is no concrete evidence they actually work. In fact, a study from professors at the University of Chicago and Lake Forest College showed that Illinois communities with TIF districts “grew substantially slower than non-adopters.” By law, TIFs are intended to promote economic...
By Brian Costin
My representative scored what?
My representative scored what?
Earlier this year, theAi??Illinois Policy Institute released a Vote Card, grading each of our state senators and representatives on their voting record. Today, theAi??National Taxpayers Union Types of generic synthroid Ai??released its 2011 Congressional Rating, which grades legislators at the national level. The Congressional Rating scores each senator and representative on his or her commitment...
By Mark Cavers
The great Twinkie turf war
The great Twinkie turf war
The new owners of Hostess Brands are preparing to restart the production of Twinkies, Ho Hos and all those other sugary treats. Among the plants they plan to reopen is the one in the Chicago suburb of Schiller Park.
By Paul Kersey
Widespread non-compliance with TIF district reporting requirements
Widespread non-compliance with TIF district reporting requirements
A study from professors at the University of Chicago and Lake Forest College showed that Illinois communities with TIF districts grew substantially slower than non-adopters.
By Brian Costin
States with no income tax had a surplus or no deficit in 2012
States with no income tax had a surplus or no deficit in 2012
States that dont have an income tax manage to stay out of the red, and many are even operating with budget surpluses. Texas, for example, currently foresees and $8.8 billion surplus over its current two-year budget cycle.