Illinois

OfficeMax seeks Illinois tax break

By Hilary Gowins
06/19/2013
Tucked in during the Illinois General Assembly’s special session to discuss the state’s pension crisis was a proposal to give a corporate giant a special tax break. According to the State Journal-Register, OfficeMax Inc. is asking the state of Illinois for tax breaks to keep the company’s headquarters in-state after the office supply chain’s merger with...

Bill Daley acknowledges depth of union politics

06/19/2013
by Paul Kersey Possible gubernatorial candidate Bill Daley said something interesting at his “pension plan” news conference Monday morning. It just wasn’t really what he wanted to emphasize. Though he summoned the media for the occasion, the former White House Chief of Staff had little to say about why pensions in Illinois are in the...

Chicago Public Schools looking for cash can start by ending teacher pickups

By Benjamin VanMetre
06/19/2013
Chicago Public Schools pension payment will increase by roughly $400 million due to the expiration of a temporary “pension holiday.” Local lawmakers knew this was coming but did nothing to prepare for the increased payment. The good news is there is a simple, responsible way to cut more than 30 percent of the increased pension...

Capitol Updates: Special session

By Jane McEnaney
06/19/2013
In early June, Gov. Pat Quinn called lawmakers to return to Springfield on June 19 for a one-day special session on pension reform. This came in the wake of yet another downgrade of Illinois’ credit as a result of inaction on pension reform when the legislative session adjourned on May 31. Our most recent knocks from Moody’s Investors Service and Fitch Ratings  mark Illinois’ 12th...

Summer 2013 Compass quarterly magazine is here

06/19/2013
by Daniel Anthony Each quarter the Illinois Policy Institute produces Compass, a quarterly  publication filled with original writing on topics that will help make Illinois first in economic outlook and job creation. Compass also promotes personal freedom and prosperity in Illinois and America. This issue of Compass focuses on the power of school choice. Many...

Illinois pension debt to double as new Moody’s methodology kicks in

06/17/2013
It’s taken as fact that Illinois’ five state-run pension systems have a $100 billion funding shortfall. That’s what the official reports say. But all that’s about to change. Moody’s Investors Service is making good on its promise to evaluate state pension plans on more realistic assumptions. The rating agency has long critiqued the pension funds’...

TAGS: credit rating, pensions

Average salary for Illinois downstate and suburban teachers: $70,000

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
06/17/2013
Public worker compensation is a major factor in the debate over pension reform. Teacher’s salaries are particularly important because the Teachers’ Retirement System, or TRS, is a major driver of the pension crisis. The total unfunded liability for TRS is $53.5 billion, more than half of the state’s total shortfall. TRS maintains more than 130,000 active...

The path forward on pension reform: A fair solution for all stakeholders

By Chris Andriesen
06/16/2013
State Reps. Tom Morrison (R-Palatine) and Jeanne Ives (R-Wheaton) have proposed House Bill 3303, which is based the Institute’s pension reform plan. State Sen. Jim Oberweis (R-Sugar Grove) introduced a floor amendment to Senate Bill 2026, which is identical to House Bill 3303. The problem Illinois has the nation’s worst-funded pension systems. The unfunded liability currently stands at more...

Illinois lawmakers still shopping without price tags

By Jane McEnaney
06/15/2013
In March, the Illinois Policy Institute released a report on the lack of fiscal notes – or legislative “price tags” – on legislative bills that passed the 97th General Assembly. Fiscal notes estimate the costs, savings and revenue gain or loss resulting from the implementation of proposed legislation. Crafted properly, fiscal notes can provide a wealth of...

Bedford Park fails to post traffic stats online for more than 3 years, pulls an ‘Animal House’ on red-light camera language

06/15/2013
by Andrew Wyatt The village of Bedford Park has had some trouble managing its red-light camera program and posting traffic safety statistics online in the past several years. In a rush to implement its  red-light camera program, village officials pulled an “Animal House” and mistakenly used boilerplate language on the village’s website: “The purpose of this...
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Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Illinois’ tax code stands in the way of the state’s economic competitiveness. The combination of high tax burdens and a poor tax structure contributes to the loss of jobs and investment to other states. From a place of former economic dominance, Illinois now ranks 45th in gross state product (GSP) growth over the past decade...

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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