Illinois’ comeback story starts here.

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

‘Obama holiday’ bill fails, saving Illinois taxpayers nearly $20M

Proposed legislation to commemorate former President Barack Obama’s birthday as a state holiday in Illinois would have cost taxpayers nearly $20 million in state personnel expenses and lost productivity.

Taxpayers deserve say in the teachers’ union contracts they pay for

Taxpayers deserve say in the teachers’ union contracts they pay for

Negotiations between government-worker unions and governing bodies are conducted behind closed doors, away from public scrutiny. And yet taxpayers are required to pay for whatever extravagant benefits the unions obtain. Recently a bill in the General Assembly would have brought more transparency – and accountability – to the process, but it failed to make it out of committee.

By Mailee Smith

Illinois lawmakers vote against bill to protect state workers from having their Social Security number shared with unions

Illinois lawmakers vote against bill to protect state workers from having their Social Security number shared with unions

Through collective bargaining agreements with the state, government-worker unions require access to workers’ social security numbers – even if those workers are not members of the union. A bill protecting worker privacy recently failed to get enough votes to pass out of committee.

By Mailee Smith