Illinois lags in easing entry regulations for professions
Illinois lags in easing entry regulations for professions
Nearly 25 percent of Illinois’ workforce requires government permission to work.
Madigan’s ditto machine
Madigan’s ditto machine
Rauner agrees to expand medical marijuana program for those with PTSD, terminal illnesses
Rauner agrees to expand medical marijuana program for those with PTSD, terminal illnesses
A compromise among Illinois’ legislative leaders will extend the length and scope of Illinois’ medical marijuana pilot program.
Removing barriers for ex-offenders: Occupational-licensing expansion bill passes Illinois Senate
Removing barriers for ex-offenders: Occupational-licensing expansion bill passes Illinois Senate
House Bill 5973 would help ex-offenders support themselves and their families by removing barriers for nonviolent ex-offenders who want to work in barbering, cosmetology, esthetics, hair braiding, nail services, roofing and funeral service.
Why Rauner should veto all of Madigan’s budget
Why Rauner should veto all of Madigan’s budget
Senate Bill 2048 isn’t a serious blueprint for the future of Illinois.
Madigan’s unbalanced budget doesn’t appropriate pay for state workers
Madigan’s unbalanced budget doesn’t appropriate pay for state workers
If AFSCME workers cannot be paid in the absence of a budget appropriation, pressure will be turned up on the governor to agree to the union’s unreasonable demands.
Madigan budget chicken
Madigan budget chicken
Anton McLean
Anton McLean
“All of my family members growing up were barbers, cosmetologists, jobs like like that. I learned to love being around people since they were always coming through my house to get a cut. “I love to cut hair, I love being around people. And enrolling in barber school was one of the first positive things...
$2 million per year in tax breaks buys 2,000 new Amazon jobs for Illinois
$2 million per year in tax breaks buys 2,000 new Amazon jobs for Illinois
Amazon’s new Joliet, Ill., facilities will bring needed jobs to the state, but special tax deals are not the way to improve Illinois’ sluggish jobs climate.
Illinois state politicians still waiting on paychecks because of refusal to pass balanced budget
Illinois state politicians still waiting on paychecks because of refusal to pass balanced budget
Latest budget proposal from House Democrats would almost certainly cause further delays in officials’ pay, as Gov. Bruce Rauner would likely veto the plan, which is unbalanced by $7 billion.
AFSCME analysis FAQ: Illinois state workers highest-paid in nation
AFSCME analysis FAQ: Illinois state workers highest-paid in nation
Illinois AFSCME workers enjoy yearly wages of nearly $60,000 when adjusted for cost of living, in addition to Cadillac health care benefits. Most Illinois state workers will also get free health insurance when they retire, and career state retirees receive $1.6 million in pension benefits on average.
Why Gov. Rauner should sign marijuana decriminalization into law
Why Gov. Rauner should sign marijuana decriminalization into law
Imposing civil fines instead of criminal penalties for marijuana possession is a smart first step toward changing how the state deals with low-level, nonviolent crimes.
Future of privacy: Lawsuit by Illinois residents focuses on Facebook facial-recognition technology
Future of privacy: Lawsuit by Illinois residents focuses on Facebook facial-recognition technology
The case against Facebook under Illinois’ Biometric Information Privacy Act raises questions about the protection of people’s most personal data, as well as the possibility of an explosion of lawsuits against companies that use certain biotechnology.
What happens next in Illinois AFSCME negotiations now that HB 580 has failed?
What happens next in Illinois AFSCME negotiations now that HB 580 has failed?
The state’s largest government-worker union has no strike fund, but refuses to agree to a contract taxpayers can afford.