Nearly 1 in 5 voters believe the size and power of government is the most important issue in US
Nearly 1 in 5 voters believe the size and power of government is the most important issue in US
by Ashley Muchow When polled by Gallup this past week, Americans showed their concern for the economy, healthcare, and the size of government. Voters are first and foremost concerned about the economy–43% believe this issue to be the most important. But consider this: Nearly 1 in 5 American voters believe the size and power of government is the most...
D+ Math Standards Good Enough for Illinois Schools?
D+ Math Standards Good Enough for Illinois Schools?
by Collin Hitt Federal education law compels states to create performance standards for their schools. Some state choose high standards – creating a common expectation that students are learning at or above grade level. Other states have low standards – benchmarks that are so easy for schools to meet that no meaningful information is provided...
Grant for Costumed Actors Costs Taxpayers $79K
Grant for Costumed Actors Costs Taxpayers $79K
by Wesley Fox In 2009, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity awarded a $79,000 to the Looking for Lincoln Heritage Coalition (search “Looking for Lincoln” – Grant #09337008). The Grant was awarded to “cover costs associated with hosting a Living History Program” that would include “costumed interpreters” to lead daily tours of historical locations around Springfield. According...
Likely Illinois Voters Place Budget Blame on Gov’t Spending
Likely Illinois Voters Place Budget Blame on Gov’t Spending
In a recent survey of 750 Likely Voters in Illinois, Rasmussen Reports measured citizens’ views on the Illinois budget crisis. 73% of voters in Illinois blame the budget crisis in the state on politicians’ unwillingness to reduce government spending. 16% blame the taxpayer’s unwillingness to pay more in taxes. 10% are not sure who is more to...
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Includes Indirect Donations to Politicians
Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying Includes Indirect Donations to Politicians
by Wesley Fox The Illinois Policy Institute has proposed greater transparency in taxpayer-funded lobbying, including reports on state and local government expenditures on lobbyists. The Daily Herald has found another good reason for transparency. According to the Daily Herald, the Regional Transit Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Pace and Metra spent more than $12.8 million on...
WSJ Highlights Need for Health Care Transparency
WSJ Highlights Need for Health Care Transparency
Today’s Wall Street Journal carried a special report on how Medicare claims data can be used to root out suspected waste, fraud and abuse (like the NYC family-medicine physician who was flagged for pocketing more than $2 million in 2008 from Medicare thanks in part to administering an odd battery of tests). Earlier this year, we testified in favor of creating...
Stimulating More Taxes
Stimulating More Taxes
by Ashley Muchow Illinois has received $8.4 billion in stimulus funds since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) was passed in early February of last year. While these funds came as life preservers to some, a recent Mercatus on Policy study shows quite the opposite. According to Russell Sobel and George Crowley of the Mercatus Center, federal grant funding leads...
Telling Graph: Who Got Stimulated
Telling Graph: Who Got Stimulated
by Kate Piercy Here’s a telling graph, courtesy of the Heritage Foundation, about how the stimulus has “worked” since January 2008: Federal Government: 198,100 jobs gained State Government: 6,000 jobs lost Local Government: 128,000 jobs lost Private Sector: 7,837,000
Honest Taxation Pledge Gains Another Senator
Honest Taxation Pledge Gains Another Senator
The Illinois Honest Taxation Pledge has another new signer! Senator Dale Righter (R-Matoon) reaffirmed his commitment to protecting taxpayers and being honest with voters through his signature today. The pledge asks incumbents pledge to oppose and vote against all tax hikes through the start of the 97th Session of the General Assembly in 2011. Previously, David Vaught the Illinois...
Post-Corruption Transparency Improvements for Hanover Township
Post-Corruption Transparency Improvements for Hanover Township
With Cook County being known nationwide for its levels of corruption you know it’s bad when Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez says that a case of corruption by Hanover Township’s former welfare services director, Aurea Picasso, “may be a new low in Cook County corruption.” “Assistant State’s Attorney Bill Conway said that as welfare...
Chicago Horticultural Society receives $250k for its Conservation Center
Chicago Horticultural Society receives $250k for its Conservation Center
by Wesley Fox In 2009 the Chicago Horticultural Society received a $250,000 grant from the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity “to assist in the development of the visitor interpretive features in the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center.” The Center is located at the Chicago Botanical Gardens. According to the DCEO Grant Tracker website (search Chicago...
Reliance on Government Payments & Programs Rises
Reliance on Government Payments & Programs Rises
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson The Heritage Foundation recently released their 2010 Index of Dependence on Government, and their results are not encouraging. The findings of this year’s Index include: The Index of Dependence on Government grew by 13.6 percent in 2009; The Index of variables that moved the most over the past year were Health care and welfare at 22 percent, Rural...
Time to Vilify & Tax The Rich?
Time to Vilify & Tax The Rich?
With the elections in less than 2 weeks the campaign rhetoric is heating up. On the federal level one of the hot button issues is the expiration of the so-called “Bush” tax cuts, set to expire on January 1st, 2010. Despite the harsh recession Congress has failed to extend the 2001 & 2003 tax cuts....
Unfunded Chicago Pensions Total $42,000 per Household
Unfunded Chicago Pensions Total $42,000 per Household
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Like many state governments, city and county governments across the country are facing huge unfunded pension liabilities. Recently, researchers from the University of Rochester and Northwestern University found that the average unfunded municipal pension liability per household is about $15,000. Unfortunately, Chicago has the highest per household unfunded pension liability of the 50 cities...