Gabe Wiesen
Gabe Wiesen
“Our dream is to make people happy, provide jobs and earn an honest living while serving great food. Same dream of any restaurant owner.” Gabe Wiesen Beavers Donuts
Labor law 101: Understanding the basics
Labor law 101: Understanding the basics
Familiarity with labor law terminology helps Illinoisans understand the impact of government-worker unions and the need for labor reform in the state.
Administrative law judge: State and AFSCME are at partial impasse in contract negotiations
Administrative law judge: State and AFSCME are at partial impasse in contract negotiations
Illinois taxpayers have won a partial victory in the first round of impasse proceedings between the state and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, as the administrative law judge’s ruling puts the state closer to implementing its last contract offer to state AFSCME workers.
Rahm’s crackdown on food trucks
Rahm’s crackdown on food trucks
California court rules that pensions can be reformed going forward
California court rules that pensions can be reformed going forward
Unlike the Illinois Supreme Court’s protection of the status quo, a California appeals court is allowing a pension reform law to move forward and potentially reduce that state’s pension burden.
Illinois bill backlog expected to hit $14 billion
Illinois bill backlog expected to hit $14 billion
Illinois’ unpaid bills could reach new highs by summer 2017.
Illinois death tax hits family farms where it hurts
Illinois death tax hits family farms where it hurts
Illinois’ estate tax only generates about $300 million in revenue, while potentially costing the state more than $1.5 billion in annual GDP growth.
Number of six-figure Chicago pensioners has tripled in last 4 years
Number of six-figure Chicago pensioners has tripled in last 4 years
More government workers are taking home massive yearly pension payments as Chicagoans are battered by tax hikes.
Chicago Police Department cannot avoid requests for private emails under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act
Chicago Police Department cannot avoid requests for private emails under Illinois’ Freedom of Information Act
According to a ruling from Illinois’ attorney general, government employees cannot conceal work-related communication on private email, despite the Chicago Police Department’s arguments for it.
Rauner signs bill to discourage incarceration for low-level offenders with no prior violent convictions
Rauner signs bill to discourage incarceration for low-level offenders with no prior violent convictions
Gov. Bruce Rauner has signed into law Senate Bill 3164, which requires a court to review a presentencing report and explain why incarceration is appropriate prior to imposing a prison sentence on a Class 3 or Class 4 felony offender with no prior violent convictions.
The Illinois Insider’s Club
The Illinois Insider’s Club
Rauner signs juvenile justice reforms into law
Rauner signs juvenile justice reforms into law
The governor signed two bills designed to improve outcomes for Illinois youth who become involved with the criminal justice system.
Taxpayers forced to pay $421 million more for teacher pensions
Taxpayers forced to pay $421 million more for teacher pensions
The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s actuarial changes will drive up taxpayer contributions by $421 million in 2017. These latest changes prove Illinois’ pension math doesn’t work.
Understanding the stalled contract negotiations between the state and AFSCME
Understanding the stalled contract negotiations between the state and AFSCME
An administrative law judge could issue a decision as early as Sept. 1 on whether Illinois state workers and the governor are at an impasse in contract negotiations. Here’s a rundown of the proceedings between Illinois’ largest government-worker union and the state, as well as their potential impact on residents and state employees.