Illinois

Gov. Walker’s reforms are working

11/16/2011
by Michael Wille Earlier this year, the Wisconsin legislature passed the Budget Repair Act, a bill that, among other things, limits the collective bargaining rights of Wisconsin teachers. In the most contentious battle regarding public sector unions the state has ever seen, hundreds of thousands of people descended upon the statehouse to protest the actions...

Expanding sales tax collection to remote retailers

11/16/2011
by Emily Dietrich The debate over sales tax collection for remote retailers and traditional sellers continues to rage. As the Institute reported last month, the state law that forces remote sellers to remit taxes to the Illinois Department of Revenue on behalf of Illinois residents has cost many families in Illinois both jobs and income. Now, federal...

ObamaCare headed to Supreme Court

11/14/2011
by Jonathan Ingram There’s good news for those of us who love liberty. Earlier this morning, the Supreme Court announced that it would hear the constitutional challenges to ObamaCare. These are the challenges brought by 26 states and the National Federation of Independent Business. The biggest question, of course, is whether the federal government can force everyone to purchase...

Don’t drink but drink more: Cook County proposal would raise already high excise taxes

By Chris Andriesen
11/11/2011
The problem Cook County is facing a budget shortfall. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has rightfully earned political goodwill for proposing serious changes to how county officials spend taxpayers’ money. She has challenged public employee union bosses to come to the negotiating table, and is utilizing private sector contractors to keep costs low. However,...

Lost opportunity for Medicaid reform

11/11/2011
by Jonathan Ingram As the Institute reported last week, Republican members of the Illinois House of Representatives filed a resolution urging the federal government to give the state greater flexibility in administering its Medicaid program. That resolution was still stuck in committee on Wednesday, when Represenative Patti Bellock, R-Hinsdale, motioned the full House to bring the resolution...

The correct way to provide tax relief

11/10/2011
by Kristina Rasmussen Much to the dismay of families and businesses across the state, the Illinois General Assembly passed the largest tax hike in Illinois’ history earlier this year. People are hurting as a result. Income once earned for the household budget is now sent to government. The job market remains weak. Businesses understandably want relief....

Medicaid FAIL: Why cutting appropriations doesn’t control costs

By Jonathan Ingram
11/08/2011
The problem Earlier this year, Illinois lawmakers purportedly passed a budget that reduced overall state spending. As part of this supposed budget reform, the state’s runaway Medicaid budget was to be brought under control. A review of the fiscal year 2012 budget will show that the money appropriated to the Medicaid program for fiscal year...

Illinois Policy Institute wins Templeton Freedom Award

11/08/2011
Nov. 8, 2011 – Today, John Tillman, CEO of the Illinois Policy Institute was honored to accept a 2011 Templeton Freedom Award for Excellence in Promoting Liberty. The Illinois Policy Institute won in the category of Innovative Media for its Illinois Turnaround Tour New Media Campaign. This award category recognizes outstanding think tank projects that use...

Kotkin to Chicago: Look to New Orleans for School Reforms

11/08/2011
by Michael Wille Joel Kotkin, an author and futurist, recently spoke at the Institute on what Illinois might look like in 2050. He had a number of insights on different areas of public policy, including a commentary on the reforms that have affected New Orleans’ public school system. Following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in...

Joel Kotkin: Illinois needs competitive public policies

11/03/2011
Noted futurist and author Joel Kotkin visited the Illinois Policy Institute Wednesday to discuss how Illinois can brighten its economic and social outlook. In his remarks, Kotkin discussed the importance of good public policies that will allow people and businesses to thrive. When bad public policies are enacted, people vote with their feet – which...
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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