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

Rare interview shows Madigan rejecting term limits, downplaying power

By Austin Berg

05/15/2017

House Speaker Mike Madigan ducks responsibility for Illinois' woes, spurns term limits, and minimizes his massive power in a new interview.

TAGS: budget, Mike Madigan, term limits, workers compensation

Indiana has added five times more union members than Illinois since passing Right to Work

By Michael Lucci

05/09/2017

Indiana’s sharp rise in union members is due to its robust economic growth and increase in manufacturing jobs, while Illinois’ economy continues to lose factories and sees little growth in union members.

TAGS: Indiana, jobs, labor, manufacturing, right to work, unions, workers compensation