Illinois

Blagojevich vs. Illinois taxpayers: How the fiscal legacy of Blago is alive and well

12/05/2011
Introduction Rod Blagojevich’s tenure as governor of Illinois will have a lasting effect on the state’s reputation and fiscal condition. From January 2003 to January 2009, Blagojevich made headlines for his sensational comments, political feuds and backroom deals. After being arrested in December 2008 on charges of political corruption, the Legislature removed him from office...

Illinois adds jobs yet unemployment rises to 10.1 percent

11/22/2011
by Emily Dietrich Illinois’ economy added 30,000 jobs in the month of October. However, the state’s unemployment rate ticked up to 10.1 percent. This contradiction leaves many wondering: did the Illinois jobs market improve or not? To evaluate the jobs market, economists rely on two surveys produced by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, or BLS. The...

Budgeting for results

11/17/2011
by Kristina Rasmussen I’m generally a fan of “performance budgeting” systems — they sure beat mindlessly growing last year’s budget without reference to goals or outcomes. When I’ve looked at good governance initiatives at the federal level, my two main criticisms have been that standards all too often 1) get set  low; and 2) encourage more government, not...

Can you be bought off for $1.25?

11/17/2011
by Kristina Rasmussen From the start of discussions over the “tax relief” package being discussed by the Illinois General Assembly, I’ve been concerned about the lack of apparent relief for the middle class. Of the various provisions in the bill (SB397), the one clear measure aimed at providing broad-based relief was supposed to be the personal exemption increase: 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...
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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