Press Room

No Pension Reform, No Pay

The Institute is mentioned in the following The Wall Street Journal article: by Collin Levy Illinois lawmakers have been notoriously reckless with the state’s pension liabilities, leaving the system among the most underfunded in the country. In its latest bellyflop, the committee in charge of finding a “compromise” solution to the crisis missed a July 9...

Quinn’s pension stunt may spur action — but will it be the right kind?

Crain’s Chicago Business published the following opinion piece by Institute Vice President of Policy Ted Dabrowski. There’s no question that Gov. Pat Quinn’s decision to hold hostage legislators’ paychecks until pension reform passes is, in Mr. Quinn’s mind, a political slam dunk. What better way for Mr. Quinn to show he’s serious about reform than making legislators...

Governor Quinn signs Medicaid expansion into law

Illinois Policy Institute Vice President of Policy Ted Dabrowski joined Mike Flannery on Fox Chicago to discuss Illinois’ Medicaid expansion. Beginning New Year’s Day, up to 1 million more low-income adult Illinoisans will be eligible for free health care coverage. Governor Quinn signed it into law on Monday. He noted that the President’s Affordable Care Act promises...

Ted Dabrowksi discusses pension reform in Illinois

Illinois Policy Institute Vice President of Policy Ted Dabrowski joins Matt Schmidt on WGEM to discuss pension reform.

Ill. unemployment at 9.2 percent for July, above nat’l average

Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman joined Charles Thomas on ABC 7 Chicago to discuss Illinois’ stalled unemployment rate. In Illinois, the unemployment rate is 9.2 percent, while nationally the rate stands at 7.4 percent. Why is it so much higher here? Illinois has the second-highest state unemployment rate in the country. Only Nevada’s 9.6...

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.