Illinois

ObamaCare in Illinois

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/21/2013
In a press conference earlier this month, Republican lawmakers proposed a resolution that urges Congress to delay the “individual mandate” and calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to fully disclose the number of people in Illinois who are facing health insurance cancellations as a result of ObamaCare. Both calls to action are commendable and...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

Taxpayers have spent $90K per potential Illinois ObamaCare enrollee

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/20/2013
The federal government has spent almost $155 million on Illinois’ state ObamaCare websites, according to government figures compiled by the Washington, D.C.-based Americans for Tax Reform. Just 1,370 Illinoisans added a plan to their shopping cart – a total that falls woefully short of the 17,000 enrollments federal officials had hoped for in the month...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, enrollment

Illinois has lowest credit rating of all 50 states

By John Klingner
11/19/2013
Chicago’s recent triple-notch downgrade by Fitch Ratings is a stark reminder that Illinois’ inability to solve its pension crisis has consequences. Illinois has the lowest credit rating of all 50 states. In contrast, three of its neighbors have maintained their AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services. Illinois has suffered 13 downgrades from the...

TAGS: Chicago, credit rating, downgrade, pensions

40 insurance policies canceled for every ObamaCare enrollee

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/18/2013
Five million Americans and counting across the country have already received notices that their health insurance plans in the individual and small group markets are being canceled as a result of ObamaCare. So far, Andrew Boron, Illinois’ insurance commissioner, has not yet revealed how many Illinoisans are facing the same situation, despite calls from both...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

Evanston’s opportunistic nanny state e-cigarette restrictions treat adults like children

By Bryant Jackson-Green
11/18/2013
E-cigarettes have become increasingly popular in recent years, particularly among smokers of traditional cigarettes looking to kick the habit by moving to a less harmful alternative. So why are Illinois governments wasting taxpayer dollars and time trying to make them harder to buy? The Evanston City Council recently jumped to regulate e-cigarettes under the same...

TAGS: ban, e-cigarettes, ecig, nanny state

Cutting property taxes begins with cutting government

By illinoispolicy
11/17/2013
A lot of local governments are looking at increasing their property tax rates this time of year. Although many of the individual government increases appear relatively small, when added up they could represent a significant increase in cost to local property owners. The root of the problem — explored once again in a new study...

AFSCME workers to strike Monday in Will County

By Paul Kersey
11/17/2013
What happens when a local union calls a strike and employees show up to work anyway? Will County residents may get to find out. American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1028 announced that it intends to strike against Will County effective Monday, Nov. 18. The strike comes in spite of a final...

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bruce Tidwell, labor, strike, unions

What Illinois Policy Institute’s pension plan means for teachers

By Ted Dabrowski
11/15/2013
The pension crisis has left teachers at risk of losing everything they’re counting on for retirement. Teachers deserve choice and control over their future. The Illinois Policy Institute supports freeing teachers from the bad choices of unpredictable Illinois politicians. Here’s our approach for treating everybody fairly: Pension benefits earned to date are paid. Going forward,...

TAGS: 401(k), education, pensions, teacher salaries

Boeing latest Fortune 100 company to offer 401(k) retirement plans

By Paul Kersey
11/14/2013
The International Association of Machinists rejected an eight-year contract offer from Boeing Co. yesterday, according to the Chicago Tribune. The contract extension would’ve ensured that production of Boeing’s 777X plane would continue in Washington state – in exchange for several cost-cutting measures, including moving employees to a 401(k)-style retirement plan by 2016. If all had...

TAGS: 401(k)

Illinois legislators introduce bills to kill the state charter school commission

11/14/2013
The state charter school commission is under attack. State Rep. Linda Chapa LaVia, D-Aurora, has contempt for the state charter school commission, even though she voted for its creation more than two years ago. It was on full display the last time Jeanne Nowaczewski – the commission’s executive director – appeared in front of the...

TAGS: Charter Authorizer Task Force, charter schools, ISBE: Illinois State Board of Education, Jeanne Nowaczewski, Kimberly Lightford, Linda Chapa LaVia, school choice, vouchers

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FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Illinois students could soon benefit from scholarship money to help them find a tutor, attend ACT or SAT prep sessions, pay tuition, get special education services or assist with other academic needs. That will happen in Illinois only if Gov. J.B. Pritzker lets the state’s schoolchildren benefit from the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, established...

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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