Freedom of Information Act

Education finance solutions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
02/09/2017
Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

By Joe Tabor, Ted Dabrowski
01/04/2017
The little-known legislative rules that govern the legislative process in the Illinois House of Representatives give the House speaker extraordinary power to orchestrate the legislative or political outcomes he or she wants. Those rules allow the speaker to influence the makeup of legislative committees; how lawmakers vote; and when, if ever, the bills get voted...

Madigan spokesman, trial bar peddle myths about workers’ compensation

By Michael Lucci
12/01/2016
Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan’s spokesman, Steve Brown, has repeatedly implied that Illinois insurance companies are hoarding cost savings. However, this couldn't be happening unless insurance companies were colluding in violation of the principle of antitrust laws, and there's no evidence they are. Illinois trial lawyers have echoed Brown's sentiments, but they don't seem to see evidence of antitrust violations either given that they haven't brought lawsuits against insurance companies for violating federal antitrust law.

TAGS: John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, Steve Brown, workers compensation

Workers’ compensation for state, county and municipal workers costs Illinois taxpayers $400 million per year

By Michael Lucci
11/28/2016
Workers’ compensation is a significant cost to Illinois taxpayers and drains scarce tax dollars from government coffers. Political and business leaders often view workers’ compensation as a costly regulation that affects private-sector investment and employment in Illinois.[1] This description is accurate yet incomplete. The same heavy costs imposed on private-sector employers[2] are also imposed on...