Illinoisans work 119 days to pay for government
Illinoisans work 119 days to pay for government
Illinoisans must work from Jan. 1 until April 29 to pay the taxes they owe to federal, state and local governments.
Illinois to allow trained ex-offenders to apply for barbering and cosmetology licenses before they leave prison
Illinois to allow trained ex-offenders to apply for barbering and cosmetology licenses before they leave prison
By allowing offenders to submit applications for barbering licenses within six months before release from prison, Illinois will reduce wait times for licensing – and reduce the likelihood those ex-offenders will return to crime. But more reforms are needed.
Save the bobcats
Save the bobcats
Illinois gas tax hike
Illinois gas tax hike
3 Illinois Policy Action bills advance out of committee before April deadline
3 Illinois Policy Action bills advance out of committee before April deadline
Local government transparency, local government consolidation and criminal justice reform gain traction despite politicized legislature.
Bill to ban sale of bobcat pelts heads to Illinois Senate
Bill to ban sale of bobcat pelts heads to Illinois Senate
In the midst of the state’s budget, pension and out-migration crises, an Illinois politician has introduced SB 2143 to ban the sale of bobcat pelts, as well as the trapping of these animals.
The fall of Illinois manufacturing
The fall of Illinois manufacturing
Since the state's recession bottom, Illinois has regained less than 5 percent of its manufacturing jobs — the worst rate of recovery among all neighboring states.
How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment
How business-liability reform can help encourage ex-offender employment
With the right liability reforms, Illinois can protect businesses and make them more likely to give ex-offenders a chance at employment.
Illinois bill allows courts to ban social media and demand access to accounts for juveniles charged with crimes
Illinois bill allows courts to ban social media and demand access to accounts for juveniles charged with crimes
Senate Bill 2871 would give courts in Illinois the ability to ban juveniles’ access to social media and require them to turn over passwords to law-enforcement officials.
Chicago students receive more state funding than the average Illinois student
Chicago students receive more state funding than the average Illinois student
Chicago Public Schools CEO Forrest Claypool has claimed that Chicago students are discriminated against under the state's education funding formula. But the numbers show the opposite: Chicago has received more than its fair share of education funding from the state.
What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis
What’s driving Illinois’ $111 billion pension crisis
Retirement ages, COLAs and out-of-sync pension payouts
Ex-offenders need to work to stay out of the system – but Illinois’ occupational-licensing rules keep many out of careers
Ex-offenders need to work to stay out of the system – but Illinois’ occupational-licensing rules keep many out of careers
To get ex-offenders back to work and reduce crime, Illinois needs to lift restrictions on the right to earn a living .
Illinois Supreme Court ruling could give state workers more retirement options
Illinois Supreme Court ruling could give state workers more retirement options
Concept of “consideration” allows state workers to negotiate for new benefits and could pave a path toward pension reform.