Illinois governors don’t just pass on debt to their successors – they also leave behind a backlog of petitions for clemency.
In 2016, Chicago and Cook County officials approved new tax and fee hikes that will hit already overburdened residents. A taxpayer bill of rights could prevent politicians from constantly nickel-and-diming residents to make up for budget shortfalls.
After hundreds of waiting list deaths and an unsustainable enrollment explosion, Illinois policymakers must act swiftly to contain this growing nightmare. Thankfully, they have options.
Metra CEO Don Orseno is set to receive a pay increase a month after Metra’s fare hike.
The Illinois Department of Employment Security’s newly released jobs report shows Illinois’ 1,700 jobs gained in November were concentrated in white-collar service sectors, and that blue-collar fields, such as manufacturing, lost jobs.
Illinois’ uncompetitive workers’ compensation system doesn’t just hurt private sector businesses – it is also costing taxpayers more than $400 million per year.
AFSCME's demands would cost Illinois taxpayers an additional $3 billion over the course of the contract.
CAT announces more layoffs due to anticipated losses in 2017.
The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, desperate to avoid the implementation of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s contract offer, filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Labor Relations Board, claiming the board violated the Open Meetings Act in reaching its decision that AFSCME and the state are at impasse in contract negotiations. The labor board met Dec. 13 and reissued the decision it announced at its meeting Nov. 15 and in writing Dec. 5 – that the state and AFSCME are at impasse.
Illinois has had the nation’s highest black unemployment rate for 15 months in a row.
Metropolitan jobs data shows that from October 2015 – October 2016 the greater Chicago area is up +33,500 jobs while the rest of the state is down -2,700 jobs. Measured since before the Great Recession, from October 2007 – October 2016, the greater Chicago area is up 110,100 jobs while the rest of the state is down -42,700 jobs.
A judge in Cook County has issued a temporary restraining order halting a labor board decision that would allow the state to implement its contract with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. The delay costs Illinois taxpayers over $1 million more each day in state-worker health coverage costs.