General Assembly passes occupational-licensing reform

By Bryant Jackson-Green

06/01/2016

HB 5973 would remove significant occupational-licensing barriers, thereby making it easier for former offenders to support themselves and their families – and making it less likely ex-offenders will commit crimes in the future.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing

Illinois House votes to reform health care licensing for ex-offenders

By Bryant Jackson-Green

05/26/2016

If Gov. Bruce Rauner signs SB 42, ex-offenders would gain the chance to prove their rehabilitation and earn the right to work in medical occupations.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing

Record sealing for Illinois ex-offenders offers a better shot at employment, second chance

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/14/2016

An effective record-sealing policy can help nonviolent offenders find employment and stay away from crime.

TAGS: record sealing

Illinois to allow trained ex-offenders to apply for barbering and cosmetology licenses before they leave prison

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/12/2016

By allowing offenders to submit applications for barbering licenses within six months before release from prison, Illinois will reduce wait times for licensing – and reduce the likelihood those ex-offenders will return to crime. But more reforms are needed.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, occupational licensing

How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment

By Bryant Jackson-Green

04/07/2016

With the right liability reforms, Illinois can protect businesses and make them more likely to give ex-offenders a chance at employment.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, jobs

Growing out of control: Property taxes put increasing burden on Illinois taxpayers

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner

12/17/2015

Property taxes are the single largest tax in Illinois, burdening residents far more than either income or sales taxes. Illinoisans already know they pay high property taxes. But what is not as well known is that property taxes are outpacing residents’ ability to pay for them. Over the past 50 years, whether measured in comparison...

3 lessons on criminal-justice reform from the author of ‘Orange is the New Black’

By Bryant Jackson-Green

06/27/2015

Piper Kerman draws on personal experience to show how public safety hinges on criminal-justice reform.

TAGS: criminal justice reform, Piper Kerman

[LIVESTREAM] Joint Hearing on How our Welfare System Can Discourage Work

By illinoispolicy

06/25/2015

CLICK HERE FOR LIVESTREAM The joint hearing will take place on Thursday, June 25, 2015, in 1100 Longworth House Office Building, beginning at 9:30 A.M. EST. Broadcast live streaming video on Ustream Congressman Charles Boustany (R-LA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Human Resources of the Committee on Ways and Means, today announced that the Subcommittee will...

The left and the right agree: Scrap ObamaCare’s employer mandate

By Naomi Lopez Bauman

06/13/2014

The drumbeat for eliminating the Affordable Care Act’s employer mandate is getting louder. And it is under attack from both sides of the political aisle, according to The Washington Post. The real question is, especially given new opposition from the law’s own supporters: Can it survive? A briefing paper released by the Urban Institute and...

TAGS: ACA: Affordable Care Act, Barack Obama, health care, health insurance

Illinois paid out $266M in improper unemployment insurance payments

By Brian Costin

01/14/2014

Earlier this week in a televised White House address President Barack Obama said, “I can’t name a time where I met an American who would rather have an unemployment check than the pride of having a job.” But Obama’s statement is contrary to recent statistics released by the U.S. Department of Labor, which show many...

TAGS: unemployment

Urban Institute

General Assembly passes occupational-licensing reform

Illinois House votes to reform health care licensing for ex-offenders

Record sealing for Illinois ex-offenders offers a better shot at employment, second chance

Illinois to allow trained ex-offenders to apply for barbering and cosmetology licenses before they leave prison

How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment

Growing out of control: Property taxes put increasing burden on Illinois taxpayers

3 lessons on criminal-justice reform from the author of ‘Orange is the New Black’

[LIVESTREAM] Joint Hearing on How our Welfare System Can Discourage Work

The left and the right agree: Scrap ObamaCare’s employer mandate

Illinois paid out $266M in improper unemployment insurance payments

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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