Cook County Board approves soda tax
Cook County Board approves soda tax
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of new tax on sugary and artificially sweetened beverages.
S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade
S&P hits Chicago Public Schools with credit downgrade
Standard & Poor’s sent Chicago Public Schools’ credit rating deeper into junk territory in the wake of the new $9.5 billion teachers’ contract. The ratings firm said the new contract will make the district’s financial crisis worse.
Illinois remains most expensive state in Midwest for workers’ compensation
Illinois remains most expensive state in Midwest for workers’ compensation
The regulatory cost of doing business in Illinois remains the highest in the Midwest for workers’ compensation, according to the 2016 Oregon Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking study.[1] Illinois’ out-of-balance workers’ compensation laws contribute to the Land of Lincoln’s loss of industrial investment and blue-collar job opportunities. Illinois manufacturing firms often cite workers’ compensation as...
New bill would limit types of roofing Illinois employees can do on their companies’ own roofs
New bill would limit types of roofing Illinois employees can do on their companies’ own roofs
Illinois Senate Bill 2982 epitomizes the kind of overregulation and burdensome licensing requirement Illinois should overhaul.
Illinois waives food-stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults, eating up funds for truly needy
Illinois waives food-stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults, eating up funds for truly needy
Illinois is one of only eight states that do not enforce food-stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. But reinstating work requirements would benefit Illinois food-stamp enrollees as well as state and local economies.
Madigan loses his supermajority in Illinois House
Madigan loses his supermajority in Illinois House
Illinois voters sent a clear message to the longtime House speaker Nov. 8: “enough.”
Illinois companies announce over 800 layoffs in October
Illinois companies announce over 800 layoffs in October
More than half of the month’s jobs losses occurred in the manufacturing sector.
As health care premiums soar in Illinois, AFSCME demands additional $3B in raises, health care
As health care premiums soar in Illinois, AFSCME demands additional $3B in raises, health care
As Illinois taxpayers struggle under Obamacare’s skyrocketing health insurance costs, AFSCME has called for tax hikes to fund an additional $3 billion in pay and benefits for state workers.
Madigan’s army
Madigan’s army
Sharing a photo of your completed ballot could be a felony in Illinois
Sharing a photo of your completed ballot could be a felony in Illinois
If you take a photo of your ballot to post on Facebook or Instagram in Illinois, you’re a felon and could get up to three years in prison.
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel used private email account to talk with Clinton campaign
Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel used private email account to talk with Clinton campaign
WikiLeaks latest revelations show Emanuel tried to get top staffer a job inside the Clinton campaign. Government at all levels must be transparent and accessible to the public. The use of private email accounts flouts efforts to hold government accountable and expose corruption.
Illinois lost more than 30,000 millennials on net in 2014
Illinois lost more than 30,000 millennials on net in 2014
Illinois’ out-migration of younger workers should concern lawmakers and urge them to pass pro-growth reforms.
For state workers, a special holiday come vote time
For state workers, a special holiday come vote time
Deciding to work on a holiday can yield big payouts for AFSCME members.