Illinois’ comeback story starts here.
Sign up for our press list to receive statements and press releases from the institute on breaking news, original research and more.
by Bill McMorris A 55-year-old woman who earns less than minimum wage caring for her disabled son could unravel decades of labor law and strike a blow against one of the most powerful political lobbies in the nation. Pamela Harris is fighting an Illinois law crafted by imprisoned former Gov. Rod Blagojevich (D.) and enforced by...
By Kevin Bogardus Labor unions are at risk of having one of their most successful organizing tactics nullified by the Supreme Court. On Tuesday, the high court will hear oral arguments in Harris V. Quinn, a case that could upend agreements with state governments that allow taxpayer-funded home-care workers to unionize. Those deals have helped boost...
by Ben VanMetre The Daily Herald delivered harsh but necessary truth in its Dec. 5 editorial against Illinois moving to a graduated income tax. The editorial rightly exposed the progressive tax for what it really is: a money grab disguised as tax reform. Tax hike advocates are using “tax fairness” as the sales pitch for...
This weekend marks the three-year anniversary of the 2011 Illinois income tax increase. But the anniversary also marks another milestone for taxpayers: We are just one year away from tax relief. Illinois taxpayers currently fork over 5 percent of their paycheck to the state. Politicians like to say that 5 percent isn’t much. Many people...
This post originally appeared at pantagraph.com. Part of America’s government framework is the ability to watch and follow lawmakers do their jobs. The media — and by extension, the public — is part and parcel of that, tasked with a responsibility to make sure government and its workers remain open and transparent in conducting the...
By Dennis Rodkin With all the snow this week and the brutal cold forecast for Chicago next week, it’s no wonder so many of us are dreaming of Hawaii right about now. But if you own your home, those daydreams may not only be weather-related: in Hawaii, homeowners are taxed at about one-eighth the rate...
by Patrick Wade The city is failing when it comes to providing information on its website, a conservative research institute says. The Illinois Policy Institute this week released its annual “online transparency audit,” which evaluates towns and cities’ websites and grades them based on how well they provide public information like officials’ contact information, budgets,...
City improves online transparency grade from a D to an A Transparency in government is one of the most effective and easiest ways to prevent corruption and enable active citizen participation in government. A recent analysis by the Illinois Policy Institute found that the city of Peoria has improved its online transparency score three grade...