Illinois’ warped welfare system traps families in poverty

By Austin Berg

06/20/2015

A new report from the Illinois Policy Institute details an insidious poverty trap created by the “welfare cliff.”

Making work pay in Illinois: How welfare cliffs can trap families in poverty

06/10/2015

Single parent with two children household and two parents with two children household scenarios in Cook County, City of Chicago, Lake County and St. Clair County

What Rauner can do to reform social services in Illinois

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

12/28/2014

There is clearly no lack of commitment aimed at supporting those in need here in Illinois. The question is how to do a better job of it.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, health care, jobs, social services, welfare

5 reasons FOIA bill would crush government watchdogs in corrupt Illinois

By Brian Costin

11/28/2014

HB 3796 would hamstring watchdogs in a state riddled with corruption. Lawmakers should let Quinn’s veto stand.

TAGS: FOIA: Freedom of Information Act, good government

Kankakee County asks voters to hike county-level sales taxes by 800%

By Brian Costin

10/16/2014

Kankakee County already has one of the highest average property tax rates in the country. In 2012, the Tax Foundation ranked Kankakee County as having the 79th-highest property taxes in the nation out of more than 800 of the largest counties in the U.S. Soon, Kankakee County could have one of the highest sales-tax rates...

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

Occupational licensing requirements present one of the steepest barriers to low-income Illinoisans starting careers in beauty services. Illinois requires anyone seeking to become a barber, cosmetologist, nail technician or hair braider to obtain a state license, essentially a permission slip to work. Unlike 45 other states, Illinois offers only one pathway to licensure for each...

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Illinois’ warped welfare system traps families in poverty

Making work pay in Illinois: How welfare cliffs can trap families in poverty

What Rauner can do to reform social services in Illinois

5 reasons FOIA bill would crush government watchdogs in corrupt Illinois

Kankakee County asks voters to hike county-level sales taxes by 800%

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