Illinois’ comeback story starts here.
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Pension reform, gay marriage, concealed carry, and a budget are some big and historic items remaining on the agenda for state lawmakers. With just a week and a half left in the spring session, could lawmakers be in Springfield past May 31, and would that cost taxpayers? It’s a common theme at the statehouse during...
Today, state Rep. Elaine Nekritz released savings projections for the pension reform plan backed by House Speaker Michael Madigan. Supporters of the Madigan/Nekritz/Cross plan have argued that his plan should be enacted because it saves more money than Senate President John Cullerton’s proposal. Using that same principle, Illinois would be better off passing House Bill...
LOMBARD, Illinois—Capping a year of effort, the Village of Lombard received the Illinois Policy Institute’s Transparency Award at this past Thursday’s Village Board meeting. During the award presentation, the Illinois Policy Institute’s Director of Government Reform, Brian Costin, recognized the Village of Lombard for enacting the strongest government transparency policy in the state and announced...
A report released this morning by the Illinois Policy Institute outlines yet another reason Illinois should abandon the defined benefit pension system and adopt a 401(k)-style retirement program for government workers: The “cost shift” for teacher retirements is more affordable and predictable under a 401(k)-style system. This week and next, Illinois lawmakers are discussing who...
by Ciara McCarthy After months spent in a legal back-and-forth, the dispute between Evanston and food truck Beavers Coffee and Donuts is now back where it all started. A Cook County judge ruled Tuesday the case would proceed after several steps slowed down its progress. Beavers initially filed a lawsuit against the city in August to...
The Liberty Justice Center filed an amended complaint in Illinois Liberty PAC et. al. v. Madigan et al., 12 C 5811, which currently is pending in the federal district court in Chicago. This case challenges Illinois campaign finance law, the Illinois Disclosure and Regulation of Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Act, on First Amendment grounds. Illinois’...
Illinois lawmakers could vote as early as this afternoon on a pension proposal put forth by Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan, but the proposal falls dramatically short of the serious policy changes Illinois’ pension systems need. The Illinois Policy Institute has been a leading voice for pension reform in Illinois for years. In February, the...
The hearing scheduled for Friday, April 26 in the case of Wailand v. City of Macomb has been canceled. The hearing was scheduled at the conclusion of the April 8 evidentiary hearing held in this case to allow the city of Macomb to provide additional evidence in support of its position. On Thursday, the city...