Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

Wanted: A Balanced Budget

Wanted: A Balanced Budget

Today the House Revenue Committee passed a proposal that will lower the FY12 revenue estimates by $759 million

What He Really Meant Pt. 2

What He Really Meant Pt. 2

Two weeks ago the Governor made his budget address, here is what he really meant.

Money in Politics and the New Class Warfare

Money in Politics and the New Class Warfare

While most other states in the union are tackling public employee pensions, cutting taxes and razing roadblocks to prosperity, Illinois remains the last bastion of fiscal foolishness.

What He Really Meant Pt. 1

What He Really Meant Pt. 1

Two weeks ago the Governor made his budget address, here is what he really said.

A Tale of Two Speeches

A Tale of Two Speeches

Madison and Springfield less than 300 miles apart, yet they couldn't be more different in their approaches to governing.

Pres. Obama Offers States ObamaCare “Flexibility”

Pres. Obama Offers States ObamaCare “Flexibility”

This week, Pres. Obama put his support behind a bill that will purportedly give states flexibility by allowing them to "opt-out" of certain ObamaCare provisions. But does it really provide the solution states are looking for?

Know Your Income, Then Budget: The People of Illinois Deserve a Balanced State Budget They Can Afford

Know Your Income, Then Budget: The People of Illinois Deserve a Balanced State Budget They Can Afford

An honest budgeting process requires some idea of long-term revenue expectations. In the aftermath of record tax hikes passed earlier this year, one has to ask: will state lawmakers respect the sacrifices taxpayers are making and budget responsibly? Three separate state entities—the Governor’s Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Comptroller and the legislative...

By Collin Hitt

Downers Grove, Willowbrook Take Top Scores in Transparency Audit

Downers Grove, Willowbrook Take Top Scores in Transparency Audit

Feb. 10, 2011 — The Downers Grove Park District and villages of Downers Grove and Willowbrook scored the highest of 16 public agencies recently evaluated in a government transparency audit. The audit was part of the Illinois Policy Institute’s Local Transparency Project and initiated by a local resident. Governments were graded on the availability of information to...

By Brian Costin

Off With the Red Tape: A Business-Friendly Idea Out of Kansas

Off With the Red Tape: A Business-Friendly Idea Out of Kansas

Excess red tape hurts business. Where superfluous laws and regulations prevail, businesses and individuals lose out. Kansas knows this, and has developed a plan to jump-start business activity in the Sunflower State: the Office of the Repealer. Last month Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback made good on a campaign promise by establishing the office (Appendix I, available...

By Collin Hitt

Cutting the Home Budget to Pay for Higher Taxes

Cutting the Home Budget to Pay for Higher Taxes

The tax increases signed into law this month by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will cost most Illinois households $1,000 – equivalent to one or more weeks’ pay. How many families can afford to miss a paycheck? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average family living in the Midwest earns just under $60,000 annually and consists...

By Collin Hitt

SB37: The Local Government Transparency Act

SB37: The Local Government Transparency Act

Taxpayers deserve to know information about the governments they fund. Illinois has thousands of units of local government, but key information about most of them is not readily available to average citizens.

HB1569: Opt-in Health Savings Account Plans for State Employees

HB1569: Opt-in Health Savings Account Plans for State Employees

HB1569 would modify the State Employees Group Insurance Act of 1971 to create an optional alternative health insurance program for state employees, a combination of a Health Savings Account and a qualifying, state-sponsored, High-Deductible Health Plan.

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