Madigan declines to attend leadership meeting with Rauner

By Eric Kohn

11/14/2016

The Nov. 8 election saw Madigan lose his supermajority in the Illinois General Assembly. Now, two Democrats are calling on the speaker to present his solution set for a state in fiscal crisis before pledging to vote for his re-election as House speaker.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan

AFSCME: The 800-pound gorilla at the negotiating table

By Mailee Smith

11/14/2016

The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees claims to be seeking a “fair contract” on behalf of Illinois state workers. But the power and influence exerted by the state’s largest government-worker union means the bargaining table almost always tilts in AFSCME’s favor. The reality is that AFSCME is the power player in negotiations...

November election results mean Illinois’ neighbors likely to embrace worker freedom

By Mailee Smith

11/11/2016

The outcome of 2016 races in nearby states may result in all states surrounding Illinois becoming Right-to-Work states – leaving Illinois a lone island in a sea of worker freedom. To remain competitive for workers and business, Illinois must consider similar reforms.

TAGS: labor, right to work, unions

Illinois’ $204B debt crowding out payment for social services

By Craig Lesner

11/11/2016

Illinois will spend $1 billion more on annual debt payments than it will on human services in fiscal year 2017.

TAGS: budget, debt, social services

DuPage residents vote to consolidate local units of government

By Brendan Bakala

11/11/2016

Voters in Naperville and surrounding townships voted in favor of government consolidation in nonbinding ballot questions.

TAGS: local government, local government consolidation, property taxes

Moody’s calls Safe Roads Amendment a “credit negative” for Illinois’ finances

By Ted Dabrowski

11/11/2016

Now that politicians don’t have the flexibility to access transportation funding during emergencies, they’ll use the lack of funds as an excuse to pass higher taxes on Illinoisans.

TAGS: budget, labor, transportation

Metra votes to hike fares on commuters again in 2017 budget

11/11/2016

The commuter train service’s board approved rate hikes for the third time in as many years, making it costlier to get to and from Chicago.

TAGS: Chicago, Metra, transportation

Illinois remains most expensive state in Midwest for workers’ compensation

By Michael Lucci

11/10/2016

The regulatory cost of doing business in Illinois remains the highest in the Midwest for workers’ compensation, according to the 2016 Oregon Workers’ Compensation Premium Rate Ranking study.[1] Illinois’ out-of-balance workers’ compensation laws contribute to the Land of Lincoln’s loss of industrial investment and blue-collar job opportunities. Illinois manufacturing firms often cite workers’ compensation as...

New bill would limit types of roofing Illinois employees can do on their companies’ own roofs

By Ari DeWolf

11/10/2016

Illinois Senate Bill 2982 epitomizes the kind of overregulation and burdensome licensing requirement Illinois should overhaul.

TAGS: jobs, regulations

Illinois waives food-stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults, eating up funds for truly needy

11/10/2016

Illinois is one of only eight states that do not enforce food-stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents. But reinstating work requirements would benefit Illinois food-stamp enrollees as well as state and local economies.

TAGS: food stamps, jobs, SNAP, unemployment, welfare

Illinois

Madigan declines to attend leadership meeting with Rauner

AFSCME: The 800-pound gorilla at the negotiating table

November election results mean Illinois’ neighbors likely to embrace worker freedom

Illinois’ $204B debt crowding out payment for social services

DuPage residents vote to consolidate local units of government

Moody’s calls Safe Roads Amendment a “credit negative” for Illinois’ finances

Metra votes to hike fares on commuters again in 2017 budget

Illinois remains most expensive state in Midwest for workers’ compensation

New bill would limit types of roofing Illinois employees can do on their companies’ own roofs

Illinois waives food-stamp work requirements for able-bodied adults, eating up funds for truly needy

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