Drug company prepares to pay up to $4.5M to Illinois in opioid marketing lawsuit

By Amy Korte

08/09/2017

Illinois has sued a pharmaceutical company over opioid marketing, yet state lawmakers refuse to reform a workers’ compensation system that encourages the overprescription of dangerous drugs.

TAGS: Lisa Madigan, opioid, physician dispensing, workers compensation

Another Illinois manufacturer set to cross state lines

By Marianna Schmiesing

08/07/2017

Alliance Steel Corp could bring 100 new jobs to Gary, Indiana.

TAGS: Indiana, manufacturing, taxes, workers compensation

Manufacturing giant passes up Illinois for Wisconsin

By Marianna Schmiesing

07/26/2017

News outlets have reported that Foxconn will announce plans to build a production plant in Wisconsin that could employ up to 13,000 workers.

TAGS: Foxconn, manufacturing, right to work, Wisconsin, workers compensation

Rauner’s reform demands: From 44 to 0

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/27/2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner has compromised over and over to strike a deal, to the point of abandoning every reform he once demanded. But no matter how much Rauner gave, House Speaker Mike Madigan never budged.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, collective bargaining, income tax, Mike Madigan, pensions, property taxes, term limits, turnaround agenda, workers compensation

Cook County black population falls by 12,000 from 2015-2016

By Michael Lucci

06/24/2017

Cook County has lost nearly 50,000 black residents since the 2010 census, and the rate is accelerating.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, employment, outmigration, population, prevailing wage, unemployment, workers compensation

Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to create state-based workers’ compensation insurance company

By Madelyn Harwood

06/16/2017

House Bill 2622 would create a state-run workers’ compensation insurance company using a $10M loan from the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Operations Fund.

TAGS: Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission Operations Fund, workers compensation

Where have all the new homes gone?

By Austin Berg

06/15/2017

Compared with Illinois’ pre-recession average, permits for new single-family and multiunit housing are down more than 60 percent.

TAGS: construction, housing, local government, prevailing wage, property taxes, workers compensation

Illinois has 4th-most Fortune 500 corporate headquarters in U.S.

By Kevin Angell

06/13/2017

Although Illinois hosts corporate headquarters of many large companies, its economy lags in blue-collar job opportunities.

TAGS: Chicago, Fortune 500, manufacturing, prevailing wage, regulations, workers compensation

Fact-checking Madigan: Rauner’s agenda is packed with budgetary items

By Michael Lucci

06/01/2017

Though Illinois Democrats insist Gov. Bruce Rauner’s reform agenda has nothing to do with the state’s budget, Rauner’s original proposed spending reforms would allow the state to balance its budget without hitting up taxpayers for more revenue.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, collective bargaining, consolidation, local government consolidation, Mike Madigan, pensions, prevailing wage, workers compensation

Political cowardice on workers’ compensation is destroying blue-collar jobs

By Austin Berg

05/16/2017

Illinois is home to the highest workers’ compensation costs in the region, and the weakest manufacturing recovery. New research details pain points and ways to fix the system while protecting worker safety.

TAGS: jobs, manufacturing, physician dispensing, workers compensation