AFSCME promised to negotiate in ‘good faith,’ backs bill to take taxpayers out of contract talks

By Mailee Smith

05/11/2016

AFSCME Illinois contract negotiations with Rauner

AFSCME promised to play nice at the negotiating table with Gov. Rauner, but it never intended to keep that promise. The union is doing everything it can to muscle the state’s taxpayers into an outside arbitration process that will practically guarantee that AFSCME’s unreasonable demands are met.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

AFSCME’s actions show union unwilling to negotiate contract taxpayers can afford

By Mailee Smith

04/28/2016

AFSCME’s push for HB 580, which would allow a panel of unelected arbitrators to draft a binding contract between the state and the union, is the latest power play in AFSCME’s long and uncompromising battle for pay hikes and benefits that could cost Illinois taxpayers more than $3 billion.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees

Madigan’s ‘millionaire tax’ fails in House

By Hilary Gowins

04/20/2016

The House speaker’s proposal to hike taxes on small businesses failed to garner the 71 necessary “yes” votes needed to pass out of the House on April 20.

TAGS: Mike Madigan, millionaire tax

3 Illinois Policy Action bills advance out of committee before April deadline

By Heather Weiner

04/08/2016

Local government transparency, local government consolidation and criminal justice reform gain traction despite politicized legislature.

TAGS: consolidation

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

04/04/2016

Several instances of corruption and mismanagement of public property and trust came to light in March and included new developments in cases involving Chicago Public Schools’ former CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

TAGS: corruption

General Assembly returns to Springfield with looming deadlines

By Heather Weiner

04/01/2016

After returning from vacation, Illinois lawmakers will operate under rapidly approaching deadlines to pass legislation.

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

03/16/2016

In light of the Illinois General Assembly’s refusal to pass a balanced budget, the Unbalanced Budget Response Act is a prudent measure that would temporarily allow the governor to shift funds and reduce spending to balance the state’s budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, budget, Illinois Constitution

State not paying out on auto accident claims

By Mark Fitton

03/14/2016

Illinois’ budget gridlock has prevented the state from making payments on some 200 auto liability claims worth $560,000.

TAGS: budget

Rauner: Madigan not ‘doing his job’

By Mark Fitton

03/09/2016

More than two-thirds of fiscal year 2016 has passed with the state lacking an overall budget.

TAGS: Bruce Rauner, Mike Madigan

Legislative update: Government transparency, consolidation bills on the move in Springfield

By Heather Weiner

03/07/2016

Illinois Policy Action has been busy advancing its 2016 Legislative Agenda, arguing for bills that make local- government operations more transparent to residents, and promote efficiency.

TAGS: good government

United States Senate

AFSCME promised to negotiate in ‘good faith,’ backs bill to take taxpayers out of contract talks

AFSCME’s actions show union unwilling to negotiate contract taxpayers can afford

Madigan’s ‘millionaire tax’ fails in House

3 Illinois Policy Action bills advance out of committee before April deadline

Illinois corruption watch: March 2016

General Assembly returns to Springfield with looming deadlines

Rauner’s proposed bill would give the governor the ability to balance the state’s budget

State not paying out on auto accident claims

Rauner: Madigan not ‘doing his job’

Legislative update: Government transparency, consolidation bills on the move in Springfield

FAQ: How the federal scholarship program would help Illinois students

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