Press Releases

Springfield leaders are in pension denial

For decades Illinois politicians ignored the state’s mounting pension debt. Now, with a state crisis that’s reeling out of control, Illinoisans are experiencing what happens when politicians put their heads in the sand. Unfortunately, Springfield residents now find themselves headed in the same direction, but at the local level. The city’s pension shortfall has jumped...

Watchdog Groups Ask for More Government Transparency

Government watchdog groups want lawmakers to support the Local Government Transparency Act. The Illinois Policy Institute is just one group calling on local governments with budgets of at least $1 million to post financial reports on their government websites. They want the local government transparency standards to be set by state government. The groups want...

Press conference 1 p.m. Thursday in Blue Room: Watchdog groups to urge lawmakers to back “Local Government Transparency Act”

Proposal would make local governments more open, accessible to citizens SPRINGFIELD (March 19, 2014) – Illinois has a long-standing history of corruption. The best way to combat corruption is through proactive, online transparency – which, thanks to the Internet, has never been easier. On Thursday, the state’s leading government watchdog groups are coming together to...

Cullerton: Illinois’ economy is healthier than critics claim

by Mike Flannery John Cullerton, President of the State Senate, declared Thursday that “It’s time to end the Illinois bashing!” He insisted the Land of Lincoln’s economy is in fact healthier than critics claim. “I think it’s time to end the Illinois Bashing and start recognizing our economic attributes, and build on them to solve problems,”...

Moody’s lowers Peoria’s bond rating, city still ranks better than Chicago and state

by Nick Vlahos The municipal bond rating for Peoria has been downgraded, but excessive worry about it doesn’t appear warranted. Not now, at least. Some of the underlying reasons for the change by Moody’s Investors Service might require more immediate attention in the Illinois General Assembly. Unfunded state mandates regarding pension funds for fire, police and...

Rockford’s dangerous pension status

Ted Dabrowski, VP of Policy at the Illinois Policy Institute joins Scot Bertram and Riley O’Neal to discuss the dangerous status of Rockford’s pension system.

Chicago’s credit downgrade

Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman joined John Kass and Lauren Cohn to discuss Chicago’s pension crisis and latest credit downgrade.

Rockford taxpayer pension liability double what it was a decade ago

by Kevin Haas Pension costs have consumed more of Illinois’ cities revenues, forcing higher taxes and cuts in services, a statewide report from the Illinois Policy Institute shows. The Institute, a research group that previously advocated for 401(k)-style public pension plans, highlighted some of Rockford’s pension woes in the report released last week. The report states...