Though Baxter International Inc. has denied reports that it is considering relocating to Boston, Illinois officials are in damage-control mode to ensure that the Deerfield, Ill.-based company stays put. On Aug. 27, the Boston Business Journal reported that Baxter, a biotech giant that has been based in Illinois since the 1930s, is looking to make a...

TAGS: Baxter, Chicago, jobs

Fireworks ban a boon for neighboring states, restricts Illinoisans

By Austin Berg

07/03/2014

Fireworks are a staple in America’s celebration of its Independence Day. But good luck buying any in Illinois. For yet another year, the Land of Lincoln is one of only eight states in the country that doesn’t allow the purchase of consumer fireworks. Illinois’ Pyrotechnic Use Act bans the sale, possession and use of those...

What D.C. lawmakers aren’t asking about ObamaCare

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

06/03/2014

The House Energy and Commerce Committee wants answers. According to a June 3 letter from committee leaders to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, lawmakers are seeking details on how and why several state-run health care exchanges have failed. They want to know why the administration awarded more than $1 billion...

Another state-funded ObamaCare health exchange goes up in smoke

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

05/06/2014

Before ObamaCare, there was RomneyCare, the Massachusetts model upon which ObamaCare was built. This week, Massachusetts announced that it is scrapping its failed state-funded exchange website. The state will simultaneously merge with the federal healthcare.gov site and attempt to build another state exchange website before open enrollment season for 2015 coverage which begins in the...

Illinois LLC fees need to be cut

By Michael Lucci

01/29/2014

The structure of a limited liability company, or LLC, offers great advantages for small businesses, such as allowing start-ups and small businesses to avoid the extra tax burdens of corporations. At the same time, the LLC structure protects the owners from the excessive liability of sole proprietorships and partnerships. In Illinois, the LLC is burdened...

TAGS: jobs, LLC fees

Shrinking the Illinois Senate

By Brian Costin

10/08/2013

With 42,336 elected officials as of 1992, Illinois has nearly 12,000 more state and local elected politicians than any other state. Amazingly, with this unprecedented wealth of legislators Illinois hasn’t been able to adequately address some of its most dire problems. Illinois still ranks near the bottom of the nation in numerous key economic indicators,...

TAGS: term limits

Massachusetts

Comptroller confirms workers’ compensation costs are a budget issue

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

Illinois law allows schools to demand students’ Facebook passwords

Top 10 reasons Illinois should reject a state-based health-insurance exchange

Baxter denies claims it will relocate from Illinois to Boston

Fireworks ban a boon for neighboring states, restricts Illinoisans

What D.C. lawmakers aren’t asking about ObamaCare

Another state-funded ObamaCare health exchange goes up in smoke

Illinois LLC fees need to be cut

Shrinking the Illinois Senate

Taxed out: 10 reforms to stop Illinois from losing people and jobs

Report Archive

Take advantage of the various ways to vote

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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