Illinois Senate passes legislation to slash start-up costs

By Michael Lucci

05/08/2017

Illinois currently has the highest start-up fees in the country, further burdening the already-unfriendly business climate in the state.

TAGS: David McSweeney, jobs, LLC fees, LLC: limited liability company, regulations, small business, Thomas Cullerton

Ex-offenders less likely to quit their jobs, no more likely to be fired than other employees

By Amy Korte

12/02/2016

Although a new study by Northwestern University researchers shows ex-offenders can make good hires, obstacles such as negligent-hiring liability hinder employers willing to give ex-offenders a chance.

TAGS: ban the box, criminal justice reform, expungement, record sealing, reentry

Food-stamp fraud and prevalence signs of a struggling state

By Austin Berg

08/25/2016

More than 1 in 5 Illinois households rely on food stamps to make ends meet.

TAGS: corruption, food stamps, jobs, SNAP, unemployment, welfare

How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/07/2016

With the right liability reforms, Illinois can protect businesses and make them more likely to give ex-offenders a chance at employment.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, jobs

The debt never paid: Re-entry reforms for Illinois

By Bryant Jackson-Green

03/31/2016

How to reform a broken criminal-justice system that prevents ex-offenders from achieving self-sufficiency

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s 2016 State of the State address

By illinoispolicy

01/27/2016

Transcript, provided by Gov. Bruce Rauner’s office, of his 2016 State of the State address, as prepared for delivery, to the General Assembly on January 27, 2016.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, State of the State

Illinois is unprepared for the next recession

By Ted Dabrowski

01/15/2016

Sky-high debt and a meager rainy day fund make Illinois the second-least prepared state in the U.S. for its capacity to weather a recession.

TAGS: food stamps, jobs, manufacturing, pensions

GE rejects Chicago as home for corporate headquarters, cites pension debt

By Ted Dabrowski

01/14/2016

General Electric will move its corporate headquarters and 800 jobs to Boston, Mass., from Fairfield, Conn., noting its concerns about Chicago’s government-worker pension debt in its rejection of the Windy City.

TAGS: Chicago, pensions

Comptroller confirms workers’ compensation costs are a budget issue

By Austin Berg

09/10/2015

Poorly written workers’ compensation laws cost Illinois government hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

TAGS: workers compensation

Madigan wrong again: Workers’ compensation is a direct budget issue

By Michael Lucci

08/30/2015

Reforming Illinois’ workers’ compensation laws could save state and local governments hundreds of millions of dollars per year.

TAGS: workers compensation

Massachusetts

Illinois Senate passes legislation to slash start-up costs

Ex-offenders less likely to quit their jobs, no more likely to be fired than other employees

Food-stamp fraud and prevalence signs of a struggling state

How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment

The debt never paid: Re-entry reforms for Illinois

Full text: Gov. Rauner’s 2016 State of the State address

Illinois is unprepared for the next recession

GE rejects Chicago as home for corporate headquarters, cites pension debt

Comptroller confirms workers’ compensation costs are a budget issue

Madigan wrong again: Workers’ compensation is a direct budget issue

Fighting poverty with employment: Chicago block clubs

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