Pension reform plan for Illinois: Right under its nose

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/24/2017

Since 1998, more than 20,000 state university workers have opted into a 401(k)-style plan instead of the traditional pension plan.

TAGS: 401(k), pensions, self-managed plans, SURS: State Universities Retirement System

Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

03/08/2017

While sick leave is necessary for working teachers, letting unpaid sick leave accumulate for the purpose of boosting pensions is an expensive perk that taxpayers cannot afford.

Education finance solutions

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

02/09/2017

Making Illinois’ system fairer through pension reform, consolidation and accountability to parents and students.

Budget Solutions 2018: Balancing the state budget without tax hikes

By Ted Dabrowski, Craig Lesner, John Klingner, Michael Lucci

01/31/2017

A set of structural reforms that protect taxpayers and put Illinois on the path to prosperity.

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

By Joe Tabor, Ted Dabrowski

01/04/2017

The little-known legislative rules that govern the legislative process in the Illinois House of Representatives give the House speaker extraordinary power to orchestrate the legislative or political outcomes he or she wants. Those rules allow the speaker to influence the makeup of legislative committees; how lawmakers vote; and when, if ever, the bills get voted...

Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs

By Ben Ruddell, Bryant Jackson-Green

11/16/2016

Most people expect Illinois law enforcement to defend the private property of Illinois residents. As long as you obey the law, your life, liberty and property should be secure from the law – or so common sense would suggest. Yet, every year, Illinois law enforcement agencies take tens of millions of dollars in cash, vehicles,...

State of Illinois’ pension debt jumps to $130 billion

By John Klingner

11/15/2016

Illinois households are now on the hook for $27,000, up 17 percent from 2015.

TAGS: budget, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, JRS: Judges’ Retirement System, pensions, SERS: State Employee Retirement System, SURS: State Universities Retirement System, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Damage from Edgar ramp obscured by dotcom boom

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

10/25/2016

Former Gov. Jim Edgar’s pension compromise with House Speaker Mike Madigan in the 1990s set the state’s pension funds down an unsustainable road.

TAGS: Edgar Ramp, Jim Edgar, pensions

1.6 million Illinoisans need a government license to work

By Michael Lucci

10/07/2016

Needless licensing requirements are killing job opportunities, especially for lower-income Illinoisans.

TAGS: jobs, occupational licensing, unemployment

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System looks to lower its expected investment rate of return

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

08/25/2016

The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s adoption of more realistic investment return assumptions would cause the system’s unfunded liabilities to grow by about $6 billion above their current $62 billion level.

TAGS: education, pensions, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Rhode Island

Pension reform plan for Illinois: Right under its nose

Unpaid sick leave spikes Illinois teachers’ pension benefits

Education finance solutions

Budget Solutions 2018: Balancing the state budget without tax hikes

Madigan’s rules: How Illinois gives its House speaker power to manipulate and control the legislative process

Asset forfeiture in Illinois: What it is, where it happens, and reforms the state needs

State of Illinois’ pension debt jumps to $130 billion

Damage from Edgar ramp obscured by dotcom boom

1.6 million Illinoisans need a government license to work

Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System looks to lower its expected investment rate of return

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