There are four days of legislative session remaining, during which time state lawmakers will debate many important issues that affect taxpayers in the state of Illinois. Here is what you need to know going into the last week of session. No budget … yet At this point in session, a state budget proposal is usually...

This was an eventful week in Springfield. Though pension negotiations between House Speaker Mike Madigan and Senate President John Cullerton remain at an impasse, the General Assembly passedSenate Bill 2356, which raises the speed limit on Illinois’ tollways and interstates to 70 mph, up from 65 mph. Gov. Pat Quinn remains noncommittal on this issue. Here’s a look at some of the legislative...

This week in Springfield, the focus shifted from pension reform to policy issues certain members of the Illinois General Assembly deem important, such as the Lion Meat Act. The Illinois Policy Institute had a big victory this week, as our workforce transparency measure passed the Illinois House and Senate and now heads to Gov. Pat Quinn...

Both chambers were in session this week in Springfield. Moratorium on virtual schools passes out of committee On Tuesday afternoon, House Bill 494 passed out of the Senate Subcommittee on Charter Schools and was subsequently approved by the full Senate Education Committee. The Illinois Policy Institute’s Executive Vice President Kristina Rasmussen and Director of Education Reform Josh Dwyer attended both...

It was a quiet week in Springfield as the Illinois Senate was the only chamber in session. Here’s what took place: Virtual charter school moratorium bill assigned to substantive committee On Wednesday, the Senate Assignments Committee referred House Bill 494 to the Senate Education Committee, where it is scheduled to be heard next Tuesday, April...

PRESS RELEASE from the ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE MEDIA CONTACT: Diana Rickert diana@illinoispolicy.org or (312) 607-4977 New analysis shows that, contrary to popular belief, more than half of Illinois pension debt accumulated since 1995 not related to “skipped payments” or “pension holidays” SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (April 23, 2013) — Illinois’ massive pension debt frequently is blamed on...

On Feb. 28, the Illinois Policy Institute held a press conference to publicly release its alternative budget plan, entitled Budget Solutions 2014. This 10-point plan offers responsible solutions to Illinois’ fiscal crisis. State Reps. Tom Morrison, Jeanne Ives, Dwight Kay and state Sen. Kyle McCarter showed their support and attended the press conference. Budget Solutions...