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How Illinois Democrats plan to raise taxes again (in five easy steps)

The Daily Herald published the following opinion piece by Illinois Policy Institute Senior Budget and Tax Policy Analyst Ben VanMetre. Illinois politicians have their faults, but one of their most salient traits is that they are creatures of habit. They often wear their political playbook on their sleeve. Watch their maneuvers long enough, and you’ll learn to...

Chicago residents on the hook for $63 billion in debt

Illinois Policy Institute Vice President of Policy Ted Dabrowski joined Mike Flannery on Fox Chicago to discuss giving government workers control of their retirement futures by moving them to 401(k)-style plans.

Chicago Public Schools spending $24M to modernize schools while facing billions in debt

Illinois Policy Institute Vice President of Policy Ted Dabrowski joined Sarah Schulte on ABC 7 to discuss Chicago Public Schools spending $24 million to modernize schools while it faces billions in debt.

Institute in Crain’s Chicago Business: Chicago’s $63 billion debt crisis

Crain’s Chicago Business political columnist Greg Hinz wrote about the Illinois Policy Institute’s report on Chicago’s looming pension crisis. by Greg Hinz The average Chicago household owes as much as $83,000 for unfunded pension liabilities and other City Hall debt — well over what the typical family makes in a year. That’s the discomforting bottom line in a new...

Health care expert available to discuss how the Affordable Care Act, aka “ObamaCare”, will unfold in the next week

CHICAGO (Sept, 24, 2013) – As the Oct. 1 start date for ObamaCare looms closer, many Illinoisans are wondering how its implementation will affect them and their families. The Illinois Policy Institute’s Director of Health Policy, Naomi Lopez-Bauman, is a leading expert on ObamaCare, and specifically how ObamaCare will affect Illinois health care systems. Naomi will be available for interviews this week (Sept. 24-27) to discuss what the...

llinois Policy Institute analysis of Chicago pension crisis paints grim picture for taxpayers

As Illinois grapples with a state pension shortfall of $100 billion, there is a second pension crisis looming right here in Chicago. A report released today by the Illinois Policy Institute finds that government agencies in Chicago have accumulated a combined $63.2 billion in pension and retirement-related debt.  This staggering figure totals more than $61,000 per...

Chicago’s combined pension, retirement-related, other debt is $61,000 per household

As Illinois grapples with a state pension shortfall of $100 billion, there is a second pension crisis looming right here in Chicago. A report released today by the Illinois Policy Institute finds that government agencies in Chicago have accumulated a combined $63.2 billion in pension, retirement-related and other debt.  This staggering figure totals more than $61,000 per Chicago...

Illinois deserves better when it comes to fighting public corruption

Illinois has the unfortunate reputation of being one of the most corrupt states in the country. Four of the past seven governors have ended up in prison. And a recent University of Illinois at Chicago study found that since 1976, Illinois had the third-most public corruption convictions in the country. Recently, Mercer County Treasurer Mike...