Illinois lost more population than any other state last year

By Mark Fitton

12/23/2015

Of the 50 states, Illinois was the top population loser.

The Chicago squeeze: Property taxes, fees and over 30 individual taxes crush city residents

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

12/08/2015

Chicagoans are the most-taxed residents of any major city in Illinois and pay the 10th-highest property taxes compared to taxpayers in other large U.S. cities.

How to heal Illinois’ economy: Reform permission, friction and preparation policies

By Michael Lucci

11/25/2015

Illinois can implement several reforms now to remove obstacles to starting businesses, reduce the cost and aggravation of doing business, and more effectively educate the next generation of workers.

TAGS: jobs

Meet the politicians getting rich off Chicago’s property-tax scheme

By Austin Berg

10/16/2015

Flawed property valuations and the process required to fix them are a cash cow for law firms, including those of House Speaker Mike Madigan, Chicago Alderman Ed Burke and Illinois Senate President John Cullerton.

TAGS: Chicago, corruption, cronyism, Ed Burke, John Cullerton, Mike Madigan, property taxes

CPS pensions: From retirement security to political slush fund

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/06/2015

CPS leaders have brought the teachers’ pension fund to the brink of insolvency. Now they’re counting on taxpayers to clean up the mess.

Chicago: 7th most expensive city in the world

By Amy Korte

09/18/2015

Driven by a costly tax burden, Chicago’s high cost of goods and services lands the Windy City in the top 10 for the most expensive 71 cities across the world, according to a new survey by UBS.

TAGS: Chicago, sales tax

Chicago’s food-cart ban costs revenue, jobs

By Michael Lucci, Hilary Gowins

09/09/2015

Chicago’s ban on food carts is costing the city jobs and revenue. The city has fallen behind its peers: Street vending from food carts is already legal in 23 of the 25 largest cities in the U.S. The Illinois Policy Institute conducted a survey of nearly 200 Chicago food-cart street vendors to assess the social...

Madigan comes up short on SB 1229 override

By Hilary Gowins

09/03/2015

House Speaker Mike Madigan said on multiple occasions he had the votes to override the governor’s veto.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Bruce Rauner, Jack Franks, Ken Dunkin, Mike Madigan, SB 1229, Scott Drury

Illinois’ occupational licensing laws undermine ex-offender rehabilitation

By Bryant Jackson-Green

08/03/2015

To get ex-offenders back to work and reduce crime, Illinois needs to lift restrictions on the right to earn a living.

Suspending state energy assistance opens door for reform in Illinois

06/09/2015

With the right reforms, Illinois can provide energy assistance to people who need it without using scarce state dollars.

TAGS: State Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

New York

Illinois lost more population than any other state last year

The Chicago squeeze: Property taxes, fees and over 30 individual taxes crush city residents

How to heal Illinois’ economy: Reform permission, friction and preparation policies

Meet the politicians getting rich off Chicago’s property-tax scheme

CPS pensions: From retirement security to political slush fund

Chicago: 7th most expensive city in the world

Chicago’s food-cart ban costs revenue, jobs

Madigan comes up short on SB 1229 override

Illinois’ occupational licensing laws undermine ex-offender rehabilitation

Suspending state energy assistance opens door for reform in Illinois

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