Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Wage difference: Illinois is a hub for white-collar jobs, but blue-collar workers are better off in Indiana

Wage difference: Illinois is a hub for white-collar jobs, but blue-collar workers are better off in Indiana

Recent federal jobs data show that white-collar professionals are more numerous and earn more money in Illinois than in Indiana, but that Indiana, a Right-to-Work state, has more and better-paying jobs for blue-collar workers than does Illinois, which has forced unionization.

By Michael Lucci

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling

Although the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that altering pension benefits of current government workers violates the Illinois Constitution, there are still actions – from politicians voluntarily reforming their own pension system, to allowing municipal bankruptcy – that Illinois can take to set government-worker pensions on a more fiscally sound path.

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

Illinois Corruption Watch: October 2015

October saw a former Chicago Public Schools CEO plead guilty to wire fraud and several other instances of criminal charges and civil lawsuits against public officials, as well as crony deals between businesses and government.

Illinois taxes are not low when entire picture is seen

Illinois taxes are not low when entire picture is seen

In her recent opinion piece, Innovation Illinois’ Elizabeth Austin misrepresented the facts in order to claim Illinoisans don’t pay high taxes: “My View: Illinois OK when right tax info is compared.” As the state budget battle wages on, it’s important for taxpayers to be armed with accurate information. Austin claimed that so far in the...

By Michael Lucci