Corruption Watch

07/05/2016

Headlines in June show why Chicago is considered one of the most corrupt cities in the world.

TAGS: corruption, good government, transparency

5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

06/28/2016

Until CPS passes necessary spending and pension reforms, giving any additional money to the system will only reward officials’ mismanagement and reckless behavior.

TAGS: budget, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, CTU: Chicago Teachers Union, education, Mike Madigan, municipal pensions, pensions, Rahm Emanuel

Hastert will continue receiving $28K pension from Illinois lawmakers’ pension fund

By Amy Korte

04/29/2016

Despite being sentenced to 15 months in prison for a financial crime intended to cover up his sexual abuse of high school students, former U.S. House Speaker Dennis Hastert will continue to receive $28,000 annual pension payments for his six years as an Illinois state representative.

TAGS: corruption, GARS: General Assembly Retirement System, pensions

What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

04/07/2016

Retirement ages, COLAs and out-of-sync pension payouts

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

By Ted Dabrowski

02/05/2016

State-run teacher pensions have a shortfall of $37,000 per student, while Chicago's shortfall totals $24,000.

TAGS: Chicago, CPS: Chicago Public Schools, education, pensions

7-year negative returns in stocks and bonds, fraudulent pension promises

04/24/2015

How did Illinois’ pension plans become so underfunded? In general, by promising far more than can possibly be delivered.

TAGS: bonds, pensions

Illinois pension plans 39% funded, taxpayers on the hook for $105 billion in liabilities: It will get worse

02/27/2015

Numerous U.S. pension plans are in deep, deep trouble, and Illinois is at the top of the list. Plan assumptions cannot and will not be met.

TAGS: pensions

Illinois millennials’ dual debt crises: Who’s to blame?

By Austin Berg

02/27/2015

Baby boomers have saddled young Illinoisans with a grossly unfair burden.

TAGS: debt

The cost of Illinois’ broken pension systems: per-employee retirement contributions 4 times the private sector

12/09/2014

Illinois state government contributes the equivalent of 35 to 127 percent of government-worker salaries to keep its pension systems above water.

TAGS: budget, pensions, taxes

State payment to teacher pensions grows by $300M

By Benjamin VanMetre

11/07/2014

At the rate pension costs are expected to increase, by 2029 the state will spend more on retirement costs than on aid to schools.

TAGS: budget, pensions, taxes, TRS: Teachers’ Retirement System

Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois

Corruption Watch

5 reasons why Illinois politicians should reject a Chicago Public Schools bailout

Hastert will continue receiving $28K pension from Illinois lawmakers’ pension fund

What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis

Springfield couldn’t bail out Chicago Public Schools even if it wanted to

7-year negative returns in stocks and bonds, fraudulent pension promises

Illinois pension plans 39% funded, taxpayers on the hook for $105 billion in liabilities: It will get worse

Illinois millennials’ dual debt crises: Who’s to blame?

The cost of Illinois’ broken pension systems: per-employee retirement contributions 4 times the private sector

State payment to teacher pensions grows by $300M

Who Lives Below the Poverty Line in Illinois? Family Structure and Education Mark the Highest Risk

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