Labor reform continues to gain popularity

By Paul Kersey

09/09/2013

Labor law reform has been popular in a lot of neighboring states, with Wisconsin passing an overhaul of its government union law, and Michigan and Indiana adopting right-to-work. The move toward greater union accountability could pick up again if Missouri sets up a referendum on right-to-work, as it might as early as next year. Labor...

Illinois business moves headquarters to Wisconsin

By Hilary Gowins

08/08/2013

EMCO Chemicals Distributors Inc., a chemical manufacturer, packager and distributor, announced the grand opening of its brand new, 260,000-square-foot-facility in Pleasant Prairie, Wis. That’s bad news for Illinois, as the company’s headquarters was previously located about 20 miles south in North Chicago. EMCO earns more than $300 million annually in sales, and is now the...

Power to the parents: using parent trigger laws to change educational outcomes

08/06/2013

As Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union continue to argue about the reasons for the district’s recent school closings, one thing is clear – parents have largely been excluded from the conversation. But they don’t have to be – a new law appearing in seven states across the country, if adopted in Illinois, would...

TAGS: CPS: Chicago Public Schools, parent trigger

Illinois should look to Wisconsin and Indiana for education reform inspiration

07/15/2013

by Josh Dwyer Illinois’ education system is struggling. Fewer than half of public school students are college-ready in reading, math and science, and last year82 percent of Illinois districts failed to make Adequate Yearly Progress – a key measure in No Child Left Behind that gauges school success. What’s even more startling is that these poor outcomes...

Cheaper across state lines: buying gas in neighboring Wisconsin and Indiana cities saves money

By Hilary Gowins

07/13/2013

It’s no secret to drivers in the Greater Chicago area that gas prices are cheaper across state lines. Illinoisans who live or work near bordering states often drive the extra few miles out of their way to take advantage of cheaper gas in Wisconsin and Indiana. So how do gas prices – and taxes –...

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 one of only 7 states with unemployment higher than one year ago

05/20/2013

by Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner Illinois continues to have the nation’s second-worst unemployment rate, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ April labor report. The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 9.3 percent in April, down from 9.5 percent in March, and is still nearly two percentage points above the 7.5 percent national average. The state’s drop...

The CPS shuffle: moving students and money, with no promise of better results

05/15/2013

by Josh Dwyer When Chicago Public Schools first announced that it was closing schools, the primary justification it gave was to save money – upward of $500,000 to $800,000 per school. It needed the money to address the looming pension cliff the city is facing next year. When people began questioning those numbers, CPS’s story...

Capitol Updates: May 6 week in review

By Jane McEnaney

05/11/2013

Both chambers were in session this week in Springfield. Moratorium on virtual schools passes out of committee On Tuesday afternoon, House Bill 494 passed out of the Senate Subcommittee on Charter Schools and was subsequently approved by the full Senate Education Committee. The Illinois Policy Institute’s Executive Vice President Kristina Rasmussen and Director of Education Reform Josh Dwyer attended both...

Illinois competitiveness: ChiefExecutive.net ranks state 48th best for business

05/08/2013

by Ted Dabrowski Illinois politicians can’t hide from their decade-long policy failures. Jobs are scarce, as evidenced by the state’s 9.5 percent unemployment rate. That’s second worst in the nation, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The state’s finances are in shambles and Illinois now pays the highest penalty rate for borrowing when compared to other states....

Indiana

Labor reform continues to gain popularity

Illinois business moves headquarters to Wisconsin

Power to the parents: using parent trigger laws to change educational outcomes

Illinois should look to Wisconsin and Indiana for education reform inspiration

Cheaper across state lines: buying gas in neighboring Wisconsin and Indiana cities saves money

Summer 2013 Compass quarterly magazine is here

Illinois one of only 7 states with unemployment higher than one year ago

The CPS shuffle: moving students and money, with no promise of better results

Capitol Updates: May 6 week in review

Illinois competitiveness: ChiefExecutive.net ranks state 48th best for business

Pathway to a Profession: How Apprenticeships Could Reshape Illinois’ Beauty Service Industry

Report Archive

Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students