Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth
Moody’s: Chicago laggard in economic growth
A new report by Moody’s Investors Service details Chicago’s weak economic growth and increasing government-worker pension obligations.
After months of gridlock, compromise rears its head in Springfield
After months of gridlock, compromise rears its head in Springfield
Good-faith negotiation and trust were foundational to all of the deals made, but some Statehouse Democrats pushed for extreme solutions while others were actively compromising.
Dems block plan to pay Illinois Lottery winners
Dems block plan to pay Illinois Lottery winners
Gov. Rauner and the Illinois House of Representatives support a bill to release lottery winnings, but Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are standing in the way. Now Illinois Lottery winners may not be paid until 2016.
House Democrats and Republicans still playing hardball
House Democrats and Republicans still playing hardball
Restoration of child-care cuts fails in Illinois House.
Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails
Under Illinois law, CTU must wait 4 months to strike after mediation fails
The Chicago Teachers Union cannot legally strike before completing several procedural steps, which would take four months following failed mediation with Chicago Public Schools; however, the union could flout the law and strike sooner in the hope of pressuring Chicago Public Schools to reach a deal quickly.
Veterans Day
Veterans Day
Rauner, business and labor agree on unemployment insurance changes
Rauner, business and labor agree on unemployment insurance changes
Changes to Illinois unemployment insurance law will strengthen deterrents against fraud, abuse and negligence; eliminate a $470 million tax increase and $300 million benefit reduction.
Quote of the day, November 10
Quote of the day, November 10
To keep a family from homelessness, Illinoisans give
To keep a family from homelessness, Illinoisans give
The Goodwins’ cry for help was met with overwhelming kindness.
Wage difference: Illinois is a hub for white-collar jobs, but blue-collar workers are better off in Indiana
Wage difference: Illinois is a hub for white-collar jobs, but blue-collar workers are better off in Indiana
Recent federal jobs data show that white-collar professionals are more numerous and earn more money in Illinois than in Indiana, but that Indiana, a Right-to-Work state, has more and better-paying jobs for blue-collar workers than does Illinois, which has forced unionization.
Meet me halfway
Meet me halfway
AFSCME’s hidden raises: A primer on government-worker salary schedules
AFSCME’s hidden raises: A primer on government-worker salary schedules
Under the union’s complicated salary formulas, yearly government-worker raises are higher than the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees would lead Illinoisans to believe.
Edgar’s pension ramp
Edgar’s pension ramp
7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling
7 pension reforms that Illinois can still enact despite the SB1 ruling
Although the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that altering pension benefits of current government workers violates the Illinois Constitution, there are still actions – from politicians voluntarily reforming their own pension system, to allowing municipal bankruptcy – that Illinois can take to set government-worker pensions on a more fiscally sound path.