Republican Party

Progressive tax opposition builds as Senate Republicans make budget demands

By Benjamin VanMetre
02/25/2014
Income taxes will arguably be one of the most contentious issues during the current legislative session. And rightly so. Under current law, all Illinois families and businesses will receive tax relief in 2015. That’s because the state’s personal income tax is slated to drop to 3.75 percent from 5 percent, and the corporate income tax...

Illinois has a dirty little secret buried in its tax history

By Benjamin VanMetre
01/02/2014
Illinois has a dirty little secret buried in its tax history – the first income tax approved in Illinois was a progressive tax. Fortunately, the progressive tax was ruled unconstitutional and was never implemented. But now the threat of a progressive tax hike is back again. Originally, Illinois didn’t have an income tax. When the...

TAGS: fair tax, flat tax, graduated income tax, income tax, progressive income tax, taxes

Government affairs gearing up for 2014

By Matt Paprocki
12/31/2013
With 2014 just around the corner, the Illinois Policy Institute’s government affairs department has much to look forward to, including a new legislative arm, an aggressive legislative agenda and even more talented staff. The Institute announces its launch of Illinois Policy Action. In December, Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman released the following statement: “Illinois Policy Action...

Illinois Policy Institute’s government affairs team makes big strides in 2013

By Jane McEnaney
12/29/2013
The Illinois Policy Institute’s overarching goal is to transform liberty principles into marketable policies that become law. Naturally, the ultimate sign of success is when free market ideas are turned into laws that change lives for the better. There’s a long way to go before our vision is fully realized, but this year, our government...

Fighting the progressive tax in Illinois

By Benjamin VanMetre
12/27/2013
Fighting the progressive tax in Illinois The battle to raise taxes again is underway in Illinois. Politicians and special interest groups across the state have put a plan in motion to implement yet another income tax hike in Illinois – one that targets the state’s working- and middle-class residents. Politicians already pushed through a record...

TAGS: fair tax, flat tax, income tax, progressive income tax

Bipartisan success 2013

By Matt Paprocki, Jane McEnaney
12/19/2013
The Illinois Policy Institute introduced the only comprehensive pension reform plan during the 2013 legislative session. The Institute’s pension solution is the first plan that shifts Illinois workers out of the state’s broke defined benefit system and into a 401(k)-style plan, giving workers control and the pension system solvency. The introduction of this legislation has...

After ‘backroom deal,’ Illinois to hire 500 new government workers to replace private Medicaid scrub contractor

By Hilary Gowins
12/18/2013
Republican state Sens. Dale Righter and Patti Bellock accused the Quinn administration of cutting a “backroom deal” with the largest state employee union that will dismantle efforts to crack down on Medicaid fraud, according to the State Journal-Register. In 2012, the state hired a private vendor to help rein in out-of-control costs associated with Illinois’...

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, Maximus, Medicaid

ObamaCare in Illinois

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/21/2013
In a press conference earlier this month, Republican lawmakers proposed a resolution that urges Congress to delay the “individual mandate” and calls on the Illinois Department of Insurance to fully disclose the number of people in Illinois who are facing health insurance cancellations as a result of ObamaCare. Both calls to action are commendable and...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

40 insurance policies canceled for every ObamaCare enrollee

By Naomi Lopez Bauman
11/18/2013
Five million Americans and counting across the country have already received notices that their health insurance plans in the individual and small group markets are being canceled as a result of ObamaCare. So far, Andrew Boron, Illinois’ insurance commissioner, has not yet revealed how many Illinoisans are facing the same situation, despite calls from both...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act

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FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

Illinois students could soon benefit from scholarship money to help them find a tutor, attend ACT or SAT prep sessions, pay tuition, get special education services or assist with other academic needs. That will happen in Illinois only if Gov. J.B. Pritzker lets the state’s schoolchildren benefit from the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit program, established...

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Diana Graham

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

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

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016