Illinois Tollway fees a good example of how Illinois politicians interpret ‘temporary’
Illinois Tollway fees a good example of how Illinois politicians interpret ‘temporary’
In the past two years, the Illinois Tollway Authority has filed lawsuits totaling $11 million against drivers who didn’t pay tolls – a fee that was originally sold to the public as “temporary.” When the Illinois Tollway was originally created in 1953, lawmakers used the revenue to pay for the original bonding needed to build...
By Matt Paprocki
Waukegan strike shows need for labor law reform
Waukegan strike shows need for labor law reform
Waukegan Public Schools have been closed for more than three weeks because of a teacher strike called by the Lake County Federation of Teachers. At this point, the acrimony between the union and the administration must be severe; and the children who attend the district’s schools, along with a lot of teachers, are stuck in...
By Paul Kersey
Memphis set to embrace 401(k)-style pension reform
Memphis set to embrace 401(k)-style pension reform
401(k)-style retirement plans are becoming the new normal in state and local pension reform efforts. Six states have passed 401(k)-style reforms since 2008 – with Oklahoma passing a 401(k)-style reform plan for new workers earlier this year. Memphis, Tennessee, is the most recent example of a city pushing to take politicians out of the retirement...
By Benjamin VanMetre
Insurers’ ObamaCare escape hatch
Insurers’ ObamaCare escape hatch
Insurers wouldn’t participate in the federal health exchange without an escape clause protecting them from the possibility that IRS subsidies would be ruled illegal, according to industry news. It was a smart move, as that possibility just got more likely in recent weeks. At issue is what the plain text of Section 1401 of the Affordable Care...
By Naomi Lopez Bauman
Chicago’s budget includes higher tax rates for parking, vehicle leasing and cable TV
Chicago’s budget includes higher tax rates for parking, vehicle leasing and cable TV
Mayor Rahm Emanuel delivered his 2015 Chicago budget proposal to the City Council last week. He did so expressing pride that he did not increase property taxes, sales taxes or the gas tax – the big three taxes that support the city budget. That said, his budget proposal continues to nickel-and-dime Chicago taxpayers with new...
By Robert Steere
Illinois payrolls increase, manufacturing declines
Illinois payrolls increase, manufacturing declines
The Illinois unemployment rate fell to 6.6 percent from 6.7 percent in September, according to today’s economic release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The number of payroll jobs in Illinois increased by 19,300 in September, the sixth-best monthly increase in the last 10 years. Illinois’ workforce grew by 5,800 in September, the first month...
By Michael Lucci
Top 10 facts on labor policy in Illinois
Top 10 facts on labor policy in Illinois
Top 10 facts on labor policy in Illinois Unions are often presented as the plucky defenders of the working man or woman, whose only interest is seeing that workers get a fair shake on the job. But in reality, unions are well financed and powerful. And in government, at least, union influence goes beyond the...
Top 10 pension facts
Top 10 pension facts
Here are the top 10 facts you need to know about Illinois’ pension crisis: 1) Illinois’ state pension funds have only 41 cents for every dollar they need to pay out future benefits. 2) Illinois has the nation’s worst pension crisis. Taxpayers are officially on the hook for more than $100 billion in unfunded Illinois pension debt,...
Top 10 facts on 401(k)s for government workers
Top 10 facts on 401(k)s for government workers
Illinois politicians have looted and mismanaged government-worker pensions for decades. Now the retirement security of government workers is at risk. It’s time to take politicians out of the retirement business and give workers control over their own retirement futures. Here are the top 10 facts you need to know about 401(k)-style retirement plans: 1) 401(k)s...
10 Illinois jobs facts you should know
10 Illinois jobs facts you should know
Illinois is ready to boom. That is the single most important fact about Illinois’ jobs climate and economy as a whole. However, Illinoisans have been held back by policy errors that have plagued the state for decades, especially since the Great Recession. Policy errors are causing tremendous pain for Illinoisans, but that pain can be...
Top 10 facts about local government transparency in Illinois
Top 10 facts about local government transparency in Illinois
One of the best protections against government corruption is transparency. And in today’s digital age, one of the easiest ways for government to be open and accountable is through posting public documents on the Internet. Illinois needs to strengthen online transparency standards to fight government corruption and wasteful spending practices, especially given its troubled history...
The top 10 things every Illinoisan should know about ObamaCare and Medicaid
The top 10 things every Illinoisan should know about ObamaCare and Medicaid
The Affordable Care Act, or ACA, commonly known as ObamaCare, is failing to deliver on its promises to provide health-care access and affordability. While some Illinoisans now have coverage, it has come at the expense of people like Michéle who lost her employer-based coverage as a result of the law and now struggles to find...
Hinsdale school board poised to sign teacher contract full of pay raises … and the public has barely had a chance to see it
Hinsdale school board poised to sign teacher contract full of pay raises … and the public has barely had a chance to see it
The school board in Hinsdale Township High School District 86 is expected to approve a contract with the local teachers union this week, despite the fact that the school board refused to make the terms of this agreement available to the public. Luckily, on Oct. 19, the contract was obtained by the Illinois Policy Institute...
By Paul Kersey
Hinsdale district dispute highlights need for greater transparency
Hinsdale district dispute highlights need for greater transparency
For weeks, teachers in Hinsdale Township High School District 86 threatened to strike after contract negotiations went awry. But on Oct. 9, the union and district officials reached a deal. A strike was avoided, but at what cost? Hinsdale taxpayers won’t find out until after the ink is dry on the new contract because of...
By Paul Kersey