Illinois

Public support plummets when government unions strike

By Justin Hegy
12/30/2013
For decades, labor unions have used public demonstrations such as rallies, pickets or strikes to generate public support for their cause. But in 2013, unions learned the hard way that this strategy can backfire on them. A recent poll by the Field Research Corp. showed public support of government unions in California plummeted over the...

TAGS: strike

Illinois Policy Institute’s government affairs team makes big strides in 2013

By Jane McEnaney
12/29/2013
The Illinois Policy Institute’s overarching goal is to transform liberty principles into marketable policies that become law. Naturally, the ultimate sign of success is when free market ideas are turned into laws that change lives for the better. There’s a long way to go before our vision is fully realized, but this year, our government...

The Good, the bad and the ugly: Three new state laws for 2014

By Bryant Jackson-Green
12/28/2013
A new year brings new laws – good, bad and ugly – in Illinois. There’s a lot of them, but here are three in particular that stand out. The Good: Speed limit raised to 70 mph One piece of good news is that the state speed limit has been raised to a maximum of 70...

Illinois passes 11 new specialty license plate laws for 2014

By Brian Costin
12/28/2013
If passing legislation concerning specialty license plates in Illinois was high on your wish list, 2013 was a very good year. Eleven new laws will go into effect on Jan. 1 concerning specialty license plates in Illinois. House Bill 0198 provides for the issuance of Illinois Police K-9 Memorial Plates. Proceeds benefit the Illinois Police K-9...

Fighting the progressive tax in Illinois

By Benjamin VanMetre
12/27/2013
Fighting the progressive tax in Illinois The battle to raise taxes again is underway in Illinois. Politicians and special interest groups across the state have put a plan in motion to implement yet another income tax hike in Illinois – one that targets the state’s working- and middle-class residents. Politicians already pushed through a record...

TAGS: fair tax, flat tax, income tax, progressive income tax

ObamaCare: Year-end review

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
12/26/2013
It is not uncommon for a president’s signature policy to unanimously make every news outlet’s top stories of the year list. But when that policy provides late-night talk show fodder and comedy sketch parody material for the same policy would be. Beating out the George Zimmerman trial, the birth of a royal baby and the...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

Local government transparency naughty/nice list

By Brian Costin
12/23/2013
Nice list Many local taxing bodies in Illinois took a giant leap forward in 2013 when it comes to improving online transparency. And many local officials worked with the Illinois Policy Institute to meet our online transparency standards, per the 10-Point Transparency Checklist. Our report “Obstructed views: Illinois’ 102 county online transparency audit” showed that...

TAGS: corruption, transparency

Michael Jordan’s $200K property tax bill can’t cover Highland Park’s No. 1 pensioner

By Hilary Gowins
12/23/2013
Michael Jordan may have paid $178,900 in property taxes on his Highland Park home in 2012. But his property taxes aren’t even enough to cover the annual pension of Highland Park’s highest-compensated retired Teachers’ Retirement System member. Linda Hanson, 66, is a former Highland Park Township High School District 113 superintendent who has been retired...

TAGS: Michael Jordan, pensions, property taxes, taxes

Illinois unemployment rate falls to 8.7%, continues to lag behind national average

By John Klingner
12/21/2013
Illinois’ unemployment rate fell to 8.7 percent in November from 8.9 percent a month prior, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Illinois still has the fourth-highest unemployment rate in the nation, behind only Nevada, Rhode Island and Michigan. The state gained 9,400 payroll jobs over the month, while the number of unemployed Illinoisans...

TAGS: jobs, unemployment

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Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

Leaders of these organizations on the South and West sides connect residents to jobs and engage youth to build safer neighborhoods.

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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