State Rep. Durkin’s advocacy helps lead to historic ruling in Harris v. Quinn
State Rep. Durkin’s advocacy helps lead to historic ruling in Harris v. Quinn
This morning, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn was wrong to issue and enforce his 2009 executive order that forced the unionization of Illinoisans who are not state workers. This groundbreaking ruling on the Harris v. Quinn case asserts that state governments cannot force-unionize participants in state entitlement programs or force...
By Matt Paprocki
Victory: Harris v. Quinn
Victory: Harris v. Quinn
The U.S. Supreme Court has issued a groundbreaking ruling today on the case of Harris v. Quinn. The court’s ruling states that state governments cannot force-unionize participants in state entitlement programs or force them to pay union dues as a condition of receiving help from the state. The court’s 5-4 decision was in favor of the plaintiff...
By Paul Kersey
Illinois’ jobs report card
Illinois’ jobs report card
It’s report-card season in Illinois, as the journey and efforts that began last August have come to fruition for students across the state. State governments can be graded too, in particular on the subject of jobs. How Illinois fares on job creation is critically important for local high school and college seniors, who have just...
By Michael Lucci
Harris v. Quinn: Everything you need to know
Harris v. Quinn: Everything you need to know
As early as tomorrow, the U.S. Supreme Court could announce its decision in the case Harris v. Quinn. Legal experts and unions across the country are closely watching this case because it could be a landmark decision on the issues of unionization and freedom of speech. The lead Plaintiff, Pam Harris, is a suburban Chicago...
By illinoispolicy
Chart of the week: Waning entrepreneurial spirit in Illinois
Chart of the week: Waning entrepreneurial spirit in Illinois
According to a recent Gallup survey, only 60 percent of Illinoisans believe that this is a good state to start a business. Not only do we have one of the most negative views in the nation, but it stands in stark contrast to booming states such as North Dakota and Texas, where more than 80...
By Naomi Lopez Bauman
Premiums on the rise for Illinoisans under ObamaCare
Premiums on the rise for Illinoisans under ObamaCare
President Obama came into office promising to reduce health-care costs. Instead of delivering on that promise – to reduce health insurance premiums by $2,500 per year for the average family – premiums have actually increased an average of 30 percent over the last year alone. That’s on top of the broken promises that you could...
By Bobby Shaw
Minnesota just passed civil asset forfeiture reform; here’s why Illinois should be next
Minnesota just passed civil asset forfeiture reform; here’s why Illinois should be next
Most people might think that the police can’t take and keep your property unless they can prove that you used it in illegal activities. Most people would be wrong. Under state and federal civil asset forfeiture laws, which are increasingly garnering national attention, police can take property they suspect has somehow been involved with criminal...
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Back to reality: More bad news for Illinois teachers’ pension fund
Back to reality: More bad news for Illinois teachers’ pension fund
In the next bad surprise for taxpayers and Illinois’ downstate teachers, the Teachers’ Retirement System, or TRS, announced that the shortfall in its pension fund has increased by $6 billion. The bigger shortfall means that without real pension reform, teachers may see their pensions cut and taxpayers may be called on to bail out the nearly insolvent...
By John Klingner
Illinois ‘watchdog tax’ bill set to hike the cost of public information by 10,000%
Illinois ‘watchdog tax’ bill set to hike the cost of public information by 10,000%
Illinois is ranked as the third-most corrupt state in the nation. And Illinoisans have by far the lowest level of trust in state government in the nation at only 28 percent. So why are lawmakers trying to make it harder and more expensive for citizens to fight public corruption? A “watchdog tax” bill that does...
By Brian Costin
CPS layoffs another signal for real reform
CPS layoffs another signal for real reform
Chicago Public Schools, or CPS, officials announced yesterday that the district laid off a group of teachers and other staff. Overall, 1,150 school district employees, composed of 550 teachers and 600 clerical support staff, are being let go by the school district. This round of layoffs comes a year after CPS let go a further...
By John Klingner
What’s at stake in Harris v. Quinn
What’s at stake in Harris v. Quinn
As early as today, the U.S. Supreme Court could announce its decision in the case Harris v. Quinn. Legal experts and unions across the country are watching closely as it could be a landmark decision on the issues of unionization and freedom of speech. The lead plaintiff, Pam Harris, is a suburban Chicago mom whose...
By Paul Kersey
Halbig v. Sebelius ruling could be first step in ObamaCare’s undoing
Halbig v. Sebelius ruling could be first step in ObamaCare’s undoing
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit’s imminent decision in Halbig v. Sebelius could be an important step in toppling ObamaCare. The central issue in Halbig v. Sebelius is whether the Internal Revenue Service can provide tax credits to individuals, as well as impose penalties on employers, in states that did not establish...
By Naomi Lopez Bauman
State threatens to ‘fire’ moms and dads caring for children with disabilities
State threatens to ‘fire’ moms and dads caring for children with disabilities
In 2003 and 2009, governors Rod Blagojevich and Pat Quinn, respectively, issued executive orders to unionize parents who receive a modest Medicaid benefit to help pay for the cost of caring for their disabled children. Suburban Chicago mother Pam Harris has bravely taken this decision to the U.S. Supreme Court in what could be a...
By Paul Kersey, Austin Berg
Lawmakers should stand firm in tax-hike extension opposition during lame-duck session
Lawmakers should stand firm in tax-hike extension opposition during lame-duck session
Taxpayers finally scored a victory in Illinois. Lawmakers kept their promise and passed a budget slated to provide income tax relief starting in January 2015. But a threat to that relief still looms large. After the November election this fall, current lawmakers will meet for a final time in January for their lame-duck session. There’s...
By Benjamin VanMetre