A Tale of Two Speeches
A Tale of Two Speeches
Madison and Springfield less than 300 miles apart, yet they couldn't be more different in their approaches to governing.
Pres. Obama Offers States ObamaCare “Flexibility”
Pres. Obama Offers States ObamaCare “Flexibility”
This week, Pres. Obama put his support behind a bill that will purportedly give states flexibility by allowing them to "opt-out" of certain ObamaCare provisions. But does it really provide the solution states are looking for?
Institute on Chicago Tonight: Union Fight Wages On
Institute on Chicago Tonight: Union Fight Wages On
The Institute's John O'Hara appeared on WTTW's Chicago Tonight to discuss the union battle in Wisconsin.
Know Your Income, Then Budget: The People of Illinois Deserve a Balanced State Budget They Can Afford
Know Your Income, Then Budget: The People of Illinois Deserve a Balanced State Budget They Can Afford
An honest budgeting process requires some idea of long-term revenue expectations. In the aftermath of record tax hikes passed earlier this year, one has to ask: will state lawmakers respect the sacrifices taxpayers are making and budget responsibly? Three separate state entities—the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Comptroller and the legislative...
Downers Grove, Willowbrook Take Top Scores in Transparency Audit
Downers Grove, Willowbrook Take Top Scores in Transparency Audit
Feb. 10, 2011 — The Downers Grove Park District and villages of Downers Grove and Willowbrook scored the highest of 16 public agencies recently evaluated in a government transparency audit. The audit was part of the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project and initiated by a local resident. Governments were graded on the availability of information to...
Off With the Red Tape: A Business-Friendly Idea Out of Kansas
Off With the Red Tape: A Business-Friendly Idea Out of Kansas
Excess red tape hurts business. Where superfluous laws and regulations prevail, businesses and individuals lose out. Kansas knows this, and has developed a plan to jump-start business activity in the Sunflower State: the Office of the Repealer. Last month Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback made good on a campaign promise by establishing the office (Appendix I, available...
Cutting the Home Budget to Pay for Higher Taxes
Cutting the Home Budget to Pay for Higher Taxes
The tax increases signed into law this month by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will cost most Illinois households $1,000 – equivalent to one or more weeks’ pay. How many families can afford to miss a paycheck? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average family living in the Midwest earns just under $60,000 annually and consists...
Experts Clash on Constitutionality of Borrowing to Balance State Budget
Experts Clash on Constitutionality of Borrowing to Balance State Budget
Institute CEO John Tillman was featured in a story on the state budget.
SB37: The Local Government Transparency Act
SB37: The Local Government Transparency Act
Taxpayers deserve to know information about the governments they fund. Illinois has thousands of units of local government, but key information about most of them is not readily available to average citizens.
HB1569: Opt-in Health Savings Account Plans for State Employees
HB1569: Opt-in Health Savings Account Plans for State Employees
HB1569 would modify the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to create an optional alternative health insurance program for state employees, a combination of a Health Savings Account and a qualifying, state-sponsored, High-Deductible Health Plan.
Local Transparency Project Started in Evanston Township Area
Local Transparency Project Started in Evanston Township Area
Evanston Resident Dan Kamerling has teamed up with the Illinois Policy Institute to conduct a Local Transparency Project in the Evanston Township Area.
Institute in New York Times: Corporate Giants Received TIF Money
Institute in New York Times: Corporate Giants Received TIF Money
The Institute's Director of Government Reform, Kate Piercy, was quoted in a New York Times story about the use of TIF districts in Chicago.
Anti-Union or Pro-Worker?
Anti-Union or Pro-Worker?
I was asked recently why union members are protesting in Wisconsin, but we did not see similar protests in Springfield when the lame duck tax hikes were passed in January. The answer is simple: Taxpayers cant afford to take off from work.
Wisconsin Protestors Liken Wisconsin Gov. Walker to Hitler?
Wisconsin Protestors Liken Wisconsin Gov. Walker to Hitler?
First you take away the unions, then you take away the Jews, is the shocking comment one protestor at the Wisconsin state capitol told The Heritage Foundation in this video.