Overloaded: One in Three Illinoisans on Medicaid by 2019?
Overloaded: One in Three Illinoisans on Medicaid by 2019?
The Problem The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare, will have a profound impact on Illinois’ Medicaid patients. It will make the program more expensive and worsen care for those who need it most by adding more people to a failing program. ObamaCare expands Medicaid in two major ways: First, it...
By Jonathan Ingram
Policy Chart: ObamaCare will make 1 in 3 Illinoisans a dependant of Medicaid
Policy Chart: ObamaCare will make 1 in 3 Illinoisans a dependant of Medicaid
Download this Policy Chart report here. See the full report for this Policy chart here. The federal health care changes hinge on expanding Medicaid eligibility to cover more Americans. While proponents of this supposed reform say more people will have access to care, the reality is that flooding an already-stressed Medicaid system with new enrollees...
Ask expert Joel Kotkin: What will Illinois & America look like in 2050?
Ask expert Joel Kotkin: What will Illinois & America look like in 2050?
by Brian Costin Joel Kotkin is a noted author and leading expert on the evolution of cities, towns and rural places across the world. Demographic and technology advancements are transforming how and where Illinoisans will live and work. What’s in store for Illinois, and what policies will best help us capitalize on our future? Should we...
A perfect 10 – Unemployment rises to 10% in Illinois
A perfect 10 – Unemployment rises to 10% in Illinois
by Emily Dietrich Illinois’ unemployment rate rose to 10 percent, the Illinois Department of Employment Security reported today. For yet another month, more Illinoisans were added to the unemployment rolls. Specifically, 10,500 people lost their jobs last month or started looking for work after having given up. Yet, Illinois did experience some job creation. In September, 1,600...
House Republicans Say No to Federal Pension Bailout for IL
House Republicans Say No to Federal Pension Bailout for IL
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson As Illinois state legislators head back to Springfield for the veto session next week, pension reform is the hot topic on everyone’s mind. The time for reform is now, but what solutions are available to legislators? The right way: Taking the difficult, but necessary steps towards real pension reform that ensures there will be money...
CLASS Act Scrapped
CLASS Act Scrapped
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Earlier today, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports (CLASS) Act is not going to be implemented. The controversial long-term care program is part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) and has been under scrutiny since before the law was enacted....
Rahm’s First Budget Address
Rahm’s First Budget Address
by Amanda Griffin-Johnson Yesterday, Chicago’s new mayor, Rahm Emanuel, released his first budget proposal. In his prepared budget address, he acknowledged that Chicago’s history of unbalanced budgets could not continue, and he recognized that “What we cannot do, however, is to protect the status quo by asking more of Chicago’s taxpayers. Raising taxes will drive more people...
Taxes Drive Away Local Small Business
Taxes Drive Away Local Small Business
by Emily Dietrich A recent email from Jeff Hickman – General Manager of Cal Lab Co., Inc. – read: “Attached is just one more reason why we’re looking at moving to Indiana. I took these photos on my way in to work this morning.” Titled “Illinoid,” the pictures showed a whopping $0.37 difference between a...
New technology for old problems: 10 elements of high quality digital learning
New technology for old problems: 10 elements of high quality digital learning
The Problem For years, the same common challenges have escaped solutions in even the best public schools: classes move too slowly for some students but too quickly for others; course offerings in foreign language or Advanced Placement are very limited in small and rural schools; and, especially in elementary schools, the school day leaves too...
By Collin Hitt