Veto session: legislative recap
Veto session: legislative recap
There was very little legislative activity during the past two weeks of veto session in Springfield.
Illinois legislators among highest paid in the nation
Illinois legislators among highest paid in the nation
Illinoisans aren
States can block the federal government’s enforcement of critical portions of ObamaCare
States can block the federal government’s enforcement of critical portions of ObamaCare
Diane Cohen General Counsel Liberty Justice Center In the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision in NFIB v. Sebelius last June, and with the prospects for repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act dashed by the 2012 elections, key states – including Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia...
Citizen speaks out against latest pension plan
Citizen speaks out against latest pension plan
A member of our community sent the following email to Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) and Gov. Pat Quinn. Subject: 6258 and 4% more the taxpayers will be on the hook for Mr. Franks, Ms. Althoff, Mr. Quinn, Although I agree that comprehensive pension reform must happen in Illinois, how can...
The semi-legal Carpentersville strike
The semi-legal Carpentersville strike
At the end of today’s blog post you should be thinking a bit more like a lawyer, though you might prefer the skull full of mush you had beforehand. Teachers in Carpentersville-based District 300 went on strike for one day this week. Among the issues that remained at the time of the strike was class sizes. The...
PRESS RELEASE: Newest pension plan falls short
PRESS RELEASE: Newest pension plan falls short
Ted Dabrowski, vice president of policy at the Illinois Policy Institute, released the following statement in response to a new pension reform proposal to be unveiled today by members of the Illinois House:
Educating in the dark
Educating in the dark
School districts want to make it more difficult for the public to hold them accountable
The semi-legal Carpentersville strike
The semi-legal Carpentersville strike
At the end of today
Citizen speaks out against latest pension plan
Citizen speaks out against latest pension plan
A member of our community sent the following email to Rep. Jack Franks (D-Woodstock), Sen. Pamela Althoff (R-Crystal Lake) and Gov. Pat Quinn.
States can block the federal government
States can block the federal government
Saying no just may be one of our last best hopes to save our country from ObamaCare.
Teachers on strike in Carpentersville District 300
Teachers on strike in Carpentersville District 300
LEAD 300, the Illinois Education Association affiliate that represents public school teachers in Carpentersville Community Unit School District 300 schools, has called a strike this morning, and the district has announced that classes are cancelled. The main sticking point in the strike appears to be class sizes. In the last best offers for both sides...
Chicago Tribune: Citizens deserve a seat in the room: Open up collective bargaining
Chicago Tribune: Citizens deserve a seat in the room: Open up collective bargaining
Illinois’ pension payment set to increase by another $1 billion next year
Illinois’ pension payment set to increase by another $1 billion next year
For the second year in a row, the state’s annual pension payment will increase by nearly $1 billion. The combined payment for all five state pension systems will increase to $6.8 billion next year, up from $5.9 billion this year. Annual payments for Illinois’ five pension systems per year, in millions Illinois ended fiscal year...
HJR 45: better than nothing
HJR 45: better than nothing
Faint praise for a fainthearted resolution Much of Illinois politics has become a contest of wills between a political establishment that is prone to wishful thinking and government employee unions with worldviews that border on fantasy. House Joint Resolution 45, or HJR 45, represents the latest attempt to wrest control of state spending away from...