Is pension reform possible in Illinois?

03/10/2015

The plaintiffs in the SB 1 case are asking the court to do something extraordinary: to hold, in effect, that pension benefits should receive stronger protection than any other type of constitutional right.

TAGS: COLA: cost of living adjustment, Illinois Constitution, Illinois Supreme Court, IML: Illinois Municipal League, Kanerva v. Weem, Lisa Madigan, Senate Bill 1

Pension crisis hits home: Springfield

By Benjamin VanMetre

03/10/2015

Since 2009, taxpayer contributions to police and fire pensions in Springfield have increased by 44 percent.

TAGS: debt, pensions

Pension crisis hits home: Arlington Heights

By Benjamin VanMetre

03/10/2015

Whether they realize it or not, taxpayers in Arlington Heights have a lot of experience with the impact of rising pension costs.

TAGS: pensions

Illinois labor-union membership in 10 charts

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

03/10/2015

One in 10 workers in the private, for-profit sector are union members in Illinois – 1 in 12 in the nonprofit sector. But more than half of Illinois’ government workers belong to a union.

TAGS: membership

Wisconsin becomes 25th Right-to-Work state

By Michael Lucci

03/09/2015

The Badger State is now even more alluring for Illinois workers and businesses.

TAGS: home rule, right to work, Scott Walker

Union membership collapsing in forced-union states

By Michael Lucci

03/09/2015

An unhealthy business climate and the forced-union status quo in states like Illinois does not serve the well-being of rank-and-file union members.

TAGS: employment, right to work

2 Illinois universities among worst in the nation for free speech

By Jeffrey Schwab

03/06/2015

Universities are supposed to be safe havens for controversial ideas, but at least 10 Illinois universities have one or more policies that clearly and substantially restrict freedom of speech.

TAGS: CSU: Chicago State University, Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, free speech, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Mayor Dave Schmidt, good-government advocate, remembered

By Jim Long

03/06/2015

In a state notorious for its troubles with public corruption, the loss of a leader like Dave Schmidt will leave a void that will be difficult to fill.

TAGS: Dave Schmidt, obituary

Restoring state pride

By Matt Paprocki

03/06/2015

There are transformational changes on the horizon in Illinois.

Supreme Court to rule on the proper reading of ObamaCare

By Jeffrey Schwab

03/05/2015

The fact that the government does not like the consequences of its actions is not a reason to ignore the clear meaning of the text of the Affordable Care Act.

TAGS: King v. Burwell, U.S. Supreme Court

Illinois

Is pension reform possible in Illinois?

Pension crisis hits home: Springfield

Pension crisis hits home: Arlington Heights

Illinois labor-union membership in 10 charts

Wisconsin becomes 25th Right-to-Work state

Union membership collapsing in forced-union states

2 Illinois universities among worst in the nation for free speech

Mayor Dave Schmidt, good-government advocate, remembered

Restoring state pride

Supreme Court to rule on the proper reading of ObamaCare

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

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