By Brian Costin
02/01/2014
In a recent editorial, Better Government Association, or BGA, President Andy Shaw debates examines Illinois’ “obesity epidemic.” But bulging waistlines are not the target of Shaw’s ire. Instead, he complains about Illinois’ abundance of taxing bodies. “This is about a state that’s morbidly obese when it comes to government: Illinois has nearly 7,000 separate taxing...
TAGS: local government
by Brian Costin Illinois is notorious for government corruption. Since 1976, the state has had the third-highest amount of public corruption convictions in the country — including four out of the last seven governors. Outside of Springfield, things aren’t much better. Chicago has been called “the most corrupt city in America.” A report by the University of Illinois-Chicago and...
By Brian Costin
06/27/2013
One of the best protections against corruption is transparency, and in today’s digital age one of the easiest ways for government to be open and accountable is through posting public documents on the Internet. Unfortunately, most Illinois counties need to dramatically improve when it comes to online transparency. The Illinois Policy Institute recently audited all...
by Brian Costin The city of Chicago is currently considering bids to select a private management company for the operation of Midway Airport for the next 40 years. The proceeds of the deal will be primarily used to pay off Midway’s $1.4 billion in outstanding debt and additional capital needs. As an advocate for limited...
The BGA's volunteer Citizen Watchdog Training is a free program that empowers citizens to keep an eye on their government and report about what's going on in their local communities.
Despite the $700 million budget deficit Chicago Public Schools is facing, fourteen Chicago public school teachers went on an all-expense paid trip to a Las Vegas resort and spa for a conference last year.
by Brian Costin Liberty Leader John Yackley has paid a large role in forming a new taxpayer watchdog organization called Cook County Coalition for Tax Relief. The Coalition is for Cook County business and residents alike, but emphasizes the effects of the Cook County property tax code and the unequal burden it places on businesses. The purpose...
In recent weeks there has been a lot of bad news surfacing for taxpayers when it comes to the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago.
