Emanuel promises another Chicago property-tax hike
Emanuel promises another Chicago property-tax hike
Mere months after passing the largest tax hike in modern Chicago history, Mayor Rahm Emanuel vows to hit residents with even higher property-tax bills, this time to bail out pension mismanagement by Chicago Public Schools officials – behavior tacitly endorsed by the Chicago Teachers Union.
By Austin Berg
Steps and lanes: Understanding how Chicago public school teachers get multiple pay raises each year
Steps and lanes: Understanding how Chicago public school teachers get multiple pay raises each year
Chicago teachers’ salaries are based on a complex and convoluted system that has provided teachers with annual pay increases well in excess of the 2.75 to 3 percent raises proposed by the district.
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
Rauner’s criminal-justice reform commission issues first recommendations
Rauner’s criminal-justice reform commission issues first recommendations
The commission’s 14 policy suggestions aim to safely reduce Illinois’ prison population by 25 percent by 2025.
By Bryant Jackson-Green
Why Indiana’s population grows faster than Illinois’
Why Indiana’s population grows faster than Illinois’
Illinois’ weak jobs growth is driving more residents to other states on net than Illinois gains from other states, from natural growth in births or from international immigration.
By Michael Lucci
CPS’ postponed bond sale poses questions for Chicago and Emanuel
CPS’ postponed bond sale poses questions for Chicago and Emanuel
Amid CPS’ postponed $875 million bond sale, Chicagoans should question whether the district can fill its budget hole and whether Emanuel will stand up for Chicago taxpayers or give in to more teachers union demands.
IEA, IFT, SEIU executives supported skipping pension payments
IEA, IFT, SEIU executives supported skipping pension payments
Government-worker union officials filed papers with the Illinois General Assembly in favor of the “pension holiday” that contributed to the state’s $111 billion pension debt.
By Amy Korte
5 reasons why Chicago can’t afford to get steamrolled by another CTU contract
5 reasons why Chicago can’t afford to get steamrolled by another CTU contract
CPS is broke. To preserve funding for the classroom and Chicago's children, and to keep CPS from going belly up, CPS officials must broker significant concessions from the union.
By Ted Dabrowski
Illinois manufacturing workers earn less money, see less growth than Indiana peers
Illinois manufacturing workers earn less money, see less growth than Indiana peers
Federal data show how Illinois workers suffer under their state’s anti-manufacturing status quo.
By Michael Lucci
CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low
CAT layoffs continue as manufacturing work in Peoria area closes in on all-time low
Caterpillar Inc.’s announcement of 670 layoffs comes amid the loss of a quarter of the manufacturing jobs in Peoria and Tazewell counties since 2008.
By Michael Lucci
New proposal would hold schools accountable for ensuring students can read
New proposal would hold schools accountable for ensuring students can read
Across the state, only 36 percent of third-grade black children read at grade level in 2014, while only 39 percent of Hispanic children met the standards. Yet state education rules force 4th grade children to advance to the next grade – whether they’re reading-ready or not.
By Ted Dabrowski
Low-income entrepreneurs suffer most when government makes it harder to start a business
Low-income entrepreneurs suffer most when government makes it harder to start a business
Chicago’s many bureaucratic barriers to starting a business shield established businesses from competition and keep low-income entrepreneurs from getting ahead.
By Mark Adams