by Michael Wille In their opening round of teacher contract negotiations, the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) has demanded reduced class sizes, higher taxes on the city’s richest residents and a whopping 30 percent salary increase with little accountability in return. Think about what they are calling for. At a time when 10.2 percent of Chicagoans are out...
Introduction Illinois’ prosperity hinges on better public policy, and 2011 was a crucial year for the state as it faces massive challenges. The state raised taxes on every family and business in Illinois, and then doled out tax breaks to a special few. Any serious reform of state spending was left to future years, meaning...
In the 2011 Legislative Vote Card, the Illinois Policy Institute shines a light on the floor votes in Springfield that mattered most during the calendar year, including key votes from the early January session of the outgoing 96th General Assembly.
John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, spoke with John Cody on WBBM about the new city measure to intercept state income tax refunds from scofflaws.
What does it take to start your own business in Chicago?
Join us and C.J. Maloney, author of
The legislature spent a year studying ObamaCare exchanges. Imagine their surprise, then, that Gov. Quinn is now saying he might bypass them altogether and set up an exchange through executive order.
"It's not you, it's your state's fiscal mess."
Featuring Cato and ALEC experts Michael Cannon and Christie Herrera.
A new study highlights the benefits of school choice programs outside the classroom. High-risk students who used vouchers were less likely to commit violent crimes. As a result, costs to society at large dramatically decreased.
by John Tillman Below, you will see a link to my brief response to Gov. Quinn’s 2012 State-of-the-State speech presented at noon today in Springfield. The overarching theme with the Governor’s speech is that Illinois is moving forward and is “back on course.” How does that square with the people of Illinois? Actually, 74% say the...
It's time for honest answers about Illinois' record income tax hike.
As Gov. Pat Quinn prepares for the State of the State address on Feb. 1, he will find it difficult to defend the state’s economic policies that have resulted in more unemployed Illinoisans in 2011. Almost a year after Illinois’ record income tax increase, the state’s unemployment woes contrast starkly with the slow but positive...
A new pension calculator allows individuals to see just how generous government employee pensions really are.