by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Earlier today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act is not going to be implemented. The controversial long-term care program is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and has been under scrutiny since before the law was enacted....
Public employee unions balked at pension reform when it was introduced this spring because they claim government workers already have “paid their fair share” by kicking in “8 percent, 9 percent or more from each paycheck” to their retirement funds. But when it comes to public school teachers in Illinois, paying their own way to...
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Yesterday, Chicago’s new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, released his first budget proposal. In his prepared budget address, he acknowledged that Chicago’s history of unbalanced budgets could not continue, and he recognized that “What we cannot do, however, is to protect the status quo by asking more of Chicago’s taxpayers. Raising taxes will drive more people...
by Emily Dietrich A recent email from Jeff Hickman – General Manager of Cal Lab Co., Inc. – read: “Attached is just one more reason why we’re looking at moving to Indiana. I took these photos on my way in to work this morning.” Titled “Illinoid,” the pictures showed a whopping $0.37 difference between a...
Introduction Policy changes lives. Legislation that lowers the cost of living and doing business in Illinois makes life better across the state. Legislation that gives children better educational opportunities can transform the futures of families and communities. But legislation that increases taxes, drives up public debt or limits economic opportunity can destroy a family’s dream,...
The Problem For years, the same common challenges have escaped solutions in even the best public schools: classes move too slowly for some students but too quickly for others; course offerings in foreign language or Advanced Placement are very limited in small and rural schools; and, especially in elementary schools, the school day leaves too...
by Kristina Rasmussen October 15 — this Saturday — is the last day of Illinois’s amnesty program for consumers to pay use tax for Internet purchases where sales tax was not collected. From an oldState Journal-Register article: The state will offer a sales tax amnesty from Jan. 1 through Oct. 15. Under legislation passed last year and...
by Emily Dietrich After a weeklong excursion to Asia, Gov. Quinn made a splash last Wednesday with his first public statement in 20 days. Quinn said that those expressing concern over Illinois’s economy are “complainers” and “naysayers.” As evidence of a positive jobs market, Quinn pointed to the job growth the state experienced last year. True, the...
by Kristina Rasmussen Illinois is still broke. Teachers, listen up. It is time for the truth.
by Kristina Rasmussen The state is spending hundreds of millions of dollars on renovating the capitol building in Springfield. That money is being spent even as Illinois state government faces billions in past-due bills. As one of my colleagues noted, it’s like putting up new curtains when your house is on fire. Here’s a run down...
by Kristina Rasmussen While standing in a very long line at the Post Office yesterday, I noticed this placard advertising their PhotoStops Kit. Basically, you get to put a photo of your choice on a legit stamp. We all know that USPS is facing major fiscal issues. Things are bad. So bad, apparently, that they’re asking customers...
The Problem Chicago high schools have long held a tragic reputation. For years, district-wide dropout rates have hovered near 50 percent. High school test scores remain low. Only a relative few students have been able to attend selective schools, where seats are reserved for students with exceptional records in elementary school. Now, a new group...
by Emily Dietrich In page after page of Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand depicts her real life hero – the entrepreneur. After a Library of Congress survey revealed that readers of Atlas Shrugged rate the novel only second to the Bible as the most influential book in their lives, it’s no surprise that this way of thinking has taken root. Entrepreneurs...
by Kristina Rasmussen If Illinois Members of Congress had their way, how much would government spending increase or decrease? The National Taxpayers Union Foundation keeps a running tally of each Congressman’s net spending agendas as measured by their bill co-sponsorships. Last week I asked them to share preliminary data on the spending agendas of members of the Illinois...