Band-Aid fixes and spending-heavy compromises were rampant. And now it’s all coming home to roost.

An education-funding plan in the General Assembly is already proven to make unattainable goals at a high cost to taxpayers.

In what’s likely to be a chain of credit downgrades for some of Chicago’s sister governments, Moody’s Investors Services cut the city of Chicago’s credit rating to Baa1 from A3. That downgrade follows the rare triple-notch downgrade the city received last year from Moody’s as a result of the city’s growing and out-of-control pension debt. Excluding Detroit,...

The Chicago Tribune published the following letter to the editor from the Institute's senior budget and tax analyst, Ben VanMetre.

To tax-hungry politicians, the Internet is like California in 1849 — a vast expanse of untapped wealth.

Key differences between HB3411 and HB3303 HB3411: Rep. Tom Cross, Rep. Elaine Nekritz bill HB3303: Rep. Tom Morrison bill to be introduced on Thursday (Institute supported) PENSION RAMP HB3411: Keeps pension ramp, so pension contributions increase each and every year. HB3303: Eliminates pension ramp, so pension contributions remain level. RETIREMENT CONTROL HB3411: Keeps politicians in...