Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

03/16/2016

In light of the Illinois General Assembly’s refusal to pass a balanced budget, the Unbalanced Budget Response Act is a prudent measure that would temporarily allow the governor to shift funds and reduce spending to balance the state’s budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois Constitution

Pension costs eat up funding meant for students

By Ted Dabrowski

02/27/2016

Illinois’ growing pension costs – not the state budget gridlock – are taking away funding for essential government services, such as education.

TAGS: pensions

Missouri lawmaker proposes bill to allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control

By Mark Adams

02/18/2016

A Republican-sponsored bill in Missouri could make it easier, less costly and more convenient for women across Illinois’ border to obtain birth control.

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

02/17/2016

Chicago taxpayers to pay a significant premium and fees in connection with the $725 million Chicago Public Schools borrowed on Feb. 3.

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

By Ted Dabrowski

02/05/2016

State-run teacher pensions have a shortfall of $37,000 per student, while Chicago's shortfall totals $24,000.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, pensions

CPS’ postponed bond sale poses questions for Chicago and Emanuel

02/02/2016

Amid CPS’ postponed $875 million bond sale, Chicagoans should question whether the district can fill its budget hole and whether Emanuel will stand up for Chicago taxpayers or give in to more teachers union demands.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools

Illinois’ fiscal problems drive away GE, spur talk of bankruptcy, pension reform

01/26/2016

The state must get its financial affairs in order by allowing municipal bankruptcy and enacting real pension reforms.

TAGS: bankruptcy

Illinois became less competitive after Blagojevich’s 2005 workers’ compensation bill

By Michael Lucci

01/19/2016

This blog is the fifth part of a series that explores Illinois’ workers’ compensation system, the state’s inadequate reforms, and opportunities policymakers should seize now to make the system less costly and more effective for employers and workers alike.

TAGS: workers compensation

Illinois to issue $500M in bonds, continues to pay highest borrowing rate of all 50 states

By Ted Dabrowski

01/09/2016

Illinois’ monthslong budget gridlock, $111 billion in government-worker pension debt, and more than a decade of unbalanced budgets have resulted in credit downgrades for Illinois and the highest borrowing costs of any state in the nation.

TAGS: budget

Despite massive stock-market rally, Illinois’ pension liabilities go up and up and up

01/05/2016

The fiscal crises caused by the state’s government-worker pension liabilities.

Illinois General Assembly

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

Pension costs eat up funding meant for students

Missouri lawmaker proposes bill to allow pharmacists to prescribe birth control

Chicago taxpayers’ money funneled to capital markets, professional advisers, according to ‘Bond Girl’

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

CPS’ postponed bond sale poses questions for Chicago and Emanuel

Illinois’ fiscal problems drive away GE, spur talk of bankruptcy, pension reform

Illinois became less competitive after Blagojevich’s 2005 workers’ compensation bill

Illinois to issue $500M in bonds, continues to pay highest borrowing rate of all 50 states

Despite massive stock-market rally, Illinois’ pension liabilities go up and up and up

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students