Chicago

Want basic information on the state’s workforce?

By Mark Cavers
03/30/2012
On Thursday, the Illinois Senate passedAi??a bill sponsored by Senator Brady that would compile information on employee characteristics, compensation and mobility. Cheap compazine side This is an important piece of legislation because approximately one-third of the stateai??i??s budget goes towards compensation. Yet, simple top-line data on the labor forceAi??is very difficult and in some instances...

Chicago has second highest taxes on meals in restaurants

03/29/2012
Ever notice that going out to eat seems more expensive in Chicago than other cities? One of the reasons is that on top of the very high sales tax in Chicago, there are additional taxes on meals in restaurants: 0.25 percent Chicago restaurant tax and 1.0 percent Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) food and...

Interactive dashboard: Taxes on meals

03/29/2012
Chicago has the second highest taxes on meals of the 50 largest U.S. cities. Check out the Institute's interactive dashboard on meal taxes to see how we stack up.

Illinois should wave goodbye to NCLB opt out

By Chris Andriesen
03/27/2012
by Michael Wille Last month, Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan continued the White House talking point of “We Can’t Wait” when it comes to stalled Congressional action on education. Together with the president, he announced that waivers to the No Child Left Behind Act would be granted to ten different states. These waivers are...

Illinois’ future under ObamaCare

By Jonathan Ingram
03/22/2012
On Monday, the Supreme Court will begin 3 days of oral arguments on the constitutionality of ObamaCare. The case pits the Obama administration against 26 states, and could be one of the biggest federalism showdowns the Court has seen in years. The case centers primarily around two key components of the law: the individual mandate and the...

Chicago-style speed cameras coming to suburbs?

By Brian Costin
03/07/2012
In February, Gov. Quinn signed into law a bill allowing the City of Chicago to introduce automated speed enforcement systems (aka speed cameras) in designated safety zones. While billed as narrow in scope, the eligible areas for safety zones – within one-eighth mile of the property line of a school, college or Park District facility in Chicago – can...