Illinois

Comptroller says Illinois’ unpaid bills will grow by $1 billion in coming weeks

07/09/2013
by Ben VanMetre Illinois is notorious for ignoring its financial obligations and racking up billions in unpaid bills. When it sits on those unpaid bills long enough, the state has to pay a penalty. Illinois is required by law to pay interest of 1 percent a month on its unpaid bills, also called invoices, when they become...

Illinois unions fight to block Medicaid savings

By Paul Kersey
07/09/2013
One of the screwier effects of Illinois labor law was on display recently when an arbitrator ruled that the state would have to terminate its contract with Maximus Health Services. In September 2012, the state hired Maximus to review Illinois’ Medicaid rolls and remove those who were no longer eligible for benefits. The company’s investigation identified 60,000...

Most Illinois counties fail online transparency audit

07/09/2013
by Brian Costin One of the best protections against corruption is transparency, and in today’s digital age one of the easiest ways for government to be open and accountable is through posting public documents on the Internet. Unfortunately, most Illinois counties need to dramatically improve when it comes to online transparency. Last week the Illinois...

Growing pension costs for Illinois judges are burdening state taxpayers

By John Klingner
07/08/2013
Judges’ contributions to the Judges’ Retirement System, or JRS, have gone up by 52 percent since 1998. During the same time period, taxpayer contributions to judges’ retirements increased by 306 percent. In 2012 alone, Illinois taxpayers contributed $47 million more to JRS than judges did. And the disparity between taxpayers and employee contributions is projected...

Advisory committee on education funding needs to embrace bold reforms

07/07/2013
Nearly every week, I receive a call from an Illinois parent asking about whether the state has a school voucher program. Last week it was a single mother from the South Side of Chicago. Her daughter just graduated from elementary school and will attend one of the city’s worst high schools if her family can’t...

Illinois taxpayers shelling out more to pay for state lawmakers’ retirements

07/06/2013
by Ted Dabrowski Legislators’ contributions to the General Assembly Retirement System, or GARS, have gone up by 33 percent since 1998.  During the same time period, taxpayer contributions to legislators’ retirements increased by 237 percent. In 2012 alone, Illinois taxpayers contributed nearly $9 million more to GARS than legislators did. And the disparity between taxpayers...

Houston woos Dwight Howard with state income tax

By Hilary Gowins
07/05/2013
In the wake of Lebron James’ second-straight NBA title and the end of the professional season, free agents across the league are considering their next moves. Some of the biggest names to enter the free-agent fray include the Los Angeles Lakers’ Dwight Howard and New York Knicks sixth-man, J.R. Smith. As these athletes consider their decision, they’ll...

TAGS: progressive income tax, taxes

Pizza with a purpose: Restaurateur Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau believes in Illinois’ future

By Hilary Gowins
07/03/2013
Dimitri Syrkin-Nikolau doesn’t just make pizza. Through his Chicagobased business, Dimo’s Pizza, he also cultivates talented employees. He opens his doors to local schools. He helps foster enthusiasm and excitement within his community. That’s because, to Syrkin-Nikolau, business isn’t just about making money. He believes it’s about what he calls “purposeful profit.” “Ultimately, profit is...
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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