Press Room

Negotiations over next contract with AFSCME are at a partial impasse, Illinois administrative law judge rules

Uncertainty over the state’s next contract with AFSCME remains, as administrative law judge rules that the state and union are at a stalemate on certain issues, but have room for more negotiating on others.

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System to discuss lowering expected rate of return on investments

Illinois Policy Institute experts available to explain what this means for the state’s massive pension debt and what it means for taxpayers

Review of expired AFSCME contract finds lax disciplinary policies, questionable overtime practices and taxpayers footing the bill for union work

Largest government-worker union and governor have been deadlocked in negotiations for more than one year; union reportedly threatening to strike as early as Sept. 1

Liberty Justice Center files lawsuit challenging Election Day voter registration at polling places in Illinois

CHICAGO (Aug. 4, 2016) – The Liberty Justice Center has filed a federal lawsuit to strike down Illinois’ Election Day voter registration law. The lawsuit shows that this law violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment by making it more difficult for people to register to vote in some areas of the state than...

Each Illinois legislator costs taxpayers an average of $100,000 a year

Illinois legislators are fifth-highest paid in the nation; average lawmaker receives $100,000 each year in compensation

Lawsuit challenging Chicago’s “Netflix tax” advances

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Carl Anthony Walker allowed a lawsuit challenging Chicago’s 9 percent tax on internet-based streaming media services, such a Netflix, Spotify and Xbox Live, to proceed this afternoon. The lawsuit, which the Liberty Justice Center filed in September on behalf of customers of these services, challenged the application of the city’s...

BLS Job Report: Illinois loses 2,200 jobs in June, middle-class job opportunities continues to fade

Illinois lost 2,200 jobs in June, according to a report released today by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics. The data show Illinois’ economy remains stagnant with the report showing a net job loss and a significant workforce dropout. The overall jobs loss for the state was driven by a large loss of 7,300 jobs...

Illinois Policy Institute report analyzes health care benefits for state government workers, retirees

Illinois taxpayers subsidize 77 percent of health care costs for current workers, and 100 percent of retiree health insurance who have worked for the state 20 years.