Pensions vs. schools
Pensions vs. schools
Since 2009, 89 cents of every new dollar for education goes to teacher pensions
West Virginia takes first step toward becoming 26th Right-to-Work state
West Virginia takes first step toward becoming 26th Right-to-Work state
West Virginia’s Senate has passed legislation to protect a worker’s right to choose to join a union, or to opt out entirely.
Rauner bringing Illinois government into 21st century with new tech agency
Rauner bringing Illinois government into 21st century with new tech agency
The Illinois Department of Innovation and Technology will tackle one of the state’s most important management problems – an outdated IT system that wastes taxpayer money.
Illinois employers give warnings of at least 500 layoffs
Illinois employers give warnings of at least 500 layoffs
Illinois businesses gave notice of impending layoffs in December as the state ended 2015 with fewer jobs than it had at the start of the year.
Chicago Public Schools: Down and out
Chicago Public Schools: Down and out
Illinois lost 16,300 jobs on net in December 2015, down 3,000 jobs on the year
Illinois lost 16,300 jobs on net in December 2015, down 3,000 jobs on the year
The state unemployment rate jumped to 5.9 percent from 5.7 percent, driven by an increase of 18,300 Illinoisans who are unemployed. Illinois also has 178,000 fewer people working compared to before the Great Recession.
CTU president concedes possibility of CPS ending annual multimillion-dollar practice of teacher ‘pension pickups’
CTU president concedes possibility of CPS ending annual multimillion-dollar practice of teacher ‘pension pickups’
CTU President Karen Lewis has acknowledged that CPS is in dire straits – and that her union may have to make concessions in contract negotiations, including ending the practice of the school district – meaning taxpayers – picking up the majority of teacher contributions toward pensions, which has cost $1.3 billion since 2006.
Al Panico
Al Panico
I have a loyalty to my company and my people because they’ve been loyal to me and the company for many, many years.
Rauner reaffirms commitment to criminal-justice reform
Rauner reaffirms commitment to criminal-justice reform
Gov. Bruce Rauner highlights the continued need for criminal-justice reform to save taxpayer dollars and restore opportunity. To get there, Illinois must embrace reforms that enable ex-offenders to provide for themselves and their families once they’ve served their sentences.
The $53 million boogeyman: Illinois’ financial woes due to decades of mismanagement, not 7 months of gridlock
The $53 million boogeyman: Illinois’ financial woes due to decades of mismanagement, not 7 months of gridlock
Illinois paid $53 million more to borrow money through its Jan. 14 bond sale than it would have paid had politicians not let the state’s debt and government-worker pension obligations spiral out of control, while driving out taxpaying residents and businesses through tax hikes and costly regulations.
Bankruptcy talk hits Chicago: Illinois governor proposes bankruptcy for Chicago Public Schools
Bankruptcy talk hits Chicago: Illinois governor proposes bankruptcy for Chicago Public Schools
Gov. Bruce Rauner and Republican state lawmakers have proposed bankruptcy for Chicago Public Schools; Mayor Rahm Emanuel has rejected the idea of bankruptcy, repeating his demand that Illinois taxpayers bail out the struggling school district.
Rauner making moves on pension reform
Rauner making moves on pension reform
On Jan. 21 Gov. Bruce Rauner reignited reform talks surrounding Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis.
Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations
Emanuel cracks down on Airbnb through new tax and regulations
Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s proposed 2 percent tax and new regulations would harm Chicagoans trying to make ends meet by renting out space in their homes, as well as tourists looking for less expensive lodging.
2011 income-tax hike turned Illinois into a top 5 state for total tax burden, new study shows
2011 income-tax hike turned Illinois into a top 5 state for total tax burden, new study shows
Illinoisans handed over a larger portion of their earnings to state and local governments than did taxpayers in 45 lower-tax states in fiscal year 2012, according to a new Tax Foundation study.