Illinois

7 of 10 Illinois metro areas are not recovering at all

By Michael Lucci
11/03/2014
Unemployment rates fell for most of Illinois’ metropolitan statistical areas in September, according to a press release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, seven out of 10 Illinois metro areas are not showing any signs of an economic recovery when it comes to putting people back to work. Champaign, Chicago and Springfield are showing...

TAGS: Chicago, jobs

Illinois Corruption Watch, October 2014

By Brian Costin
11/01/2014
In October, we found 52 different stories of potential public corruption in Illinois, including a trio of stories related to the election. An Illinois Policy investigation into emails from a group of Kankakee County superintendents revealed potentially illegal activities to pass a countywide sales-tax hike for school facilities. Documents obtained suggest illegal actions by superintendents...

TAGS: good government, waste

Illinois’ ‘temporary’ 2011 tax hike breaks household budgets

By illinoispolicy
10/31/2014
Illinois’ “temporary” 2011 tax hike made the state’s slow recovery even worse. The tax hikes hit at the worst possible time – right after household incomes had collapsed during the recession. Since the tax hikes, the monthly growth in the number of people working in Illinois has slowed down by 60 percent, while the monthly...

Kankakee County superintendents behaving badly

By Brian Costin, Shawn Tonge
10/30/2014
It’s perfectly legal for people working for local government to engage in politics on their own free time, but if they are using taxpayer resources or facilities for political campaigns it can be a criminal act. A Freedom of Information Act investigation conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute has revealed potentially illegal activities being conducted...

TAGS: corruption, cronyism, Stifel Nicolaus & Co.

States on the move: 401(k)-style pension reform in Michigan

By Benjamin VanMetre
10/30/2014
Michigan was a trailblazer when it comes to 401(k)-style reform plans for government workers. In 1997, Michigan froze the state employees’ defined-benefit pension plan and created a self-managed 401(k)-style retirement plan for new state workers. It was the first state in the nation to enact bold reforms like these. Michigan state employees who started working...

TAGS: 401(k), Michigan, pensions

2015 State Business Tax Climate Index: Illinois drops to 31st

By Robert Steere
10/29/2014
Illinois’ burdensome tax climate for businesses will continue to hold the state back from creating jobs and growing the economy in 2015. The Tax Foundation issued its 2015 State Business Tax Climate Index, reporting that Illinois dropped two positions in the ranking since last year, to 31st from 29th. Prior to 2011, Illinois steadily ranked...

TAGS: taxes

Outside money pours into communities to pass sales-tax hikes

By illinoispolicy
10/29/2014
The public school district in Jacksonville, Illinois, is criticizing fellow Illinoisans for educating residents about a significant sales-tax increase proposal on the ballot – a tax increase that would drive up the cost of gas, clothes, prepared food, electronics and more. School district officials called the Illinois Policy Institute a “Chicago based” group, when we’re...

The top three things McHenry County taxpayers need to know about ‘free’ ObamaCare money

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
10/29/2014
The McHenry County Board recently took a brave stance by voting to reject “free” money for Affordable Care Act enrollment, but it’s unclear whether the board’s decision will stand. At issue is almost $585,000 in grant money that is being doled out by the state (but originated with the federal government) to the McHenry County...
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Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

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Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016