86% of Illinois state lawmakers received money from major government unions since 2002

By David Giuliani

02/06/2015

House Speaker Mike Madigan received more than $1.1 million since 2002 from the state’s five major public unions.

Missing the boat on Right to Work

02/06/2015

The Illinois Chamber of Commerce seems to hold contradictory opinions when it comes to economic opportunity.

TAGS: prevailing wage, right to work

5 signs Illinois’ economy is failing, and 5 ways to fix it

By Michael Lucci

02/05/2015

The people of Illinois – workers, entrepreneurs and business owners – have been held back by policy errors that have plagued the state for decades. But with the proper policy framework, the state can come back to life and lead the Midwest.

TAGS: jobs

Pension costs to consume 25 cents of every state-budget dollar in Illinois

By Benjamin VanMetre

02/05/2015

The state’s 2016 pension cost is projected to increase to nearly $8 billion – or 25 cents of every dollar the state spends during the next budget year.

TAGS: pensions

Video of alleged sleeping cop highlights problems with Illinois’ new anti-recording law

By Bryant Jackson-Green

02/04/2015

The Illinois Supreme Court has made clear that the police don’t have a reasonable expectation of privacy when they’re on duty in public.

TAGS: anti-recording law, eavesdropping, police

The 3 most powerful lessons learned from the 2011 tax hikes

By Michael Lucci

02/04/2015

Since the January 2011 tax hikes, Illinois’ recovery slowed down, the rest of the Midwest sped up and the rest of the U.S. significantly accelerated. The Great Lakes states performed in lockstep with how well they fostered the free-enterprise system.

TAGS: jobs

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address

By illinoispolicy

02/04/2015

Gov. Bruce Rauner's State of the State Address. February 4, 2015

State of the state: 10 facts you need to know about transparency in a state famous for corruption

By Brian Costin

02/03/2015

The state that gave rise to Rod Blagojevich, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Rita Crundwell still hasn’t learned its lesson.

State of the state: 10 pension facts every Illinoisan should know

By Benjamin VanMetre

02/03/2015

How bad the pension crisis really is, and why getting politicians out of the retirement business is the only way to solve it.

TAGS: pensions

State of the state: What every Illinoisan should know about the social safety net

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

02/03/2015

The state’s complex and duplicative social-welfare system is punishing many of those who seek to move up the ladder of economic opportunity.

TAGS: welfare

Illinois

86% of Illinois state lawmakers received money from major government unions since 2002

Missing the boat on Right to Work

5 signs Illinois’ economy is failing, and 5 ways to fix it

Pension costs to consume 25 cents of every state-budget dollar in Illinois

Video of alleged sleeping cop highlights problems with Illinois’ new anti-recording law

The 3 most powerful lessons learned from the 2011 tax hikes

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s State of the State address

State of the state: 10 facts you need to know about transparency in a state famous for corruption

State of the state: 10 pension facts every Illinoisan should know

State of the state: What every Illinoisan should know about the social safety net

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