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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...

Government shutdown

President Obama invites House Democrats to a meeting at the White House to discuss the budget crisis. Is the government shutdown nearing its end? Carol Marin was joined by John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute, Laurel Harbridge, Assistant Professor of Political Science at Northwestern University, and Jason DeSanto, Senior Lecturer at Northwestern Law. The last government...

Policy group says 4 metro-east counties violate open government laws

By DANIEL KELLEY — News-Democrat Only two county governments in the metro-east passed an online review from an independent group seeking more openness in governance to prevent corruption. Madison County scored sixth best in the state and St. Clair County scored 12th, according to the Illinois Policy Institute, which reviewed information posted on county websites across...

City to change party bus, taxi regulations after judge’s ruling

By Rachel Wells BLOOMINGTON — The city will look to change its rules for licensing party buses and other vehicles for hire rather than appeal a judge’s ruling last week that its current rules are unconstitutional. The city also will grant Julie Crowe the right to operate her late-night shuttle business if she provides proof...