According to the most recent Gallup survey, almost one-quarter of Americans believe that the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, has directly harmed them or their family. But that is only part of the story. A scant 14 percent believe that the law has helped them. These results might have important implications for bolstering political support...
Last October, the Illinois Supreme Court struck down the state’s “Amazon tax,” a state law that would have forced many online retailers to pay Illinois taxes regardless of whether they had any physical presence in the state. Now, despite this ruling, some legislators are trying to bring back this tax. The “Amazon tax” required Amazon...
In a step toward meaningful pension reform, Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin signed legislation that ends the state’s traditional pension retirement system for newly hired state employees in favor of a 401(k)-style retirement plan. Teachers and state workers designated “hazardous duty” including firefighters and law enforcement officers are exempt. And the legislation does not change the...
Perhaps there is good reason that Illinoisans don’t place much confidence and trust in their elected officials. A nonbinding resolution that would have called for oversight of federal ObamaCare Navigator funds being spent by the state couldn’t muster enough support to make it out of committee this month. State Rep. Darlene Senger’s resolution, House Resolution...
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, is coming under fire for providing poor care to veterans who rely on it. Wait lists for essential medical procedures have extended for months, and veterans of the armed forces have lost their lives as a result. Administrators at VA hospitals have made matters worse by faking...
A key portion of the Institute’s 10-Point Transparency Checklist, the posting of audits online, has made its way through the Illinois General Assembly. House Bill 5503 passed both Illinois House and Senate unanimously, and now awaits the governor’s signature. If signed into law by the governor, HB 5503, introduced by state Rep. Tom Demmer, R-Dixon,...
Illinois’ metropolitan statistical areas are a long way from jobs recovery, according to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The release shows that Danville, Decatur and Rockford are still plagued with double-digit joblessness. All 10 of Illinois’ metro areas have jobless rates above the national average. Despite economic improvement and jobless rates falling nationally,...
Rather than push for true Medicaid reform that might ensure patient access to high quality care and protect taxpayer dollars, Gov. Pat Quinn is about to sign legislation that will further prop up this failing system. As evidence of just how dysfunctional the system is, Auditor General William Holland reported that the state paid $12 million for dead...
On May 14, one day before the official start of Chicago Craft Beer Week, the Illinois Liquor Control Commission, or ILCC, proposed a harsh new cap on the amount of beer Illinois’ brew pubs would be allowed to sell. Under the proposed rules, a brew pub would not be allowed to sell more than 50,000...
There’s nothing like summer in Chicago – after months of winter weather, the city awakens and becomes a haven for residents and tourists alike. But travelers who come to the city take in its splendor at a high price, on top of what they pay for hotel rooms, dinner and entertainment. Out-of-towners shell out more...
Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle struck a pension deal for county employees earlier this month. The plan recently materialized into legislation that quickly moved through the Illinois Senate, but has not passed in the Illinois House. Preckwinkle’s plan fails to fundamentally reform pensions and may result in massive tax and fee increases, a reduction...
Illinois lawmakers have voted down a proposal that would have imposed a $0.01 per-ounce tax on soft drinks sold in the state of Illinois. According to the Illinois Manufacturers Association, the tax would have added $2.88 to the cost of a case of soft drinks. It would also have added to the already-heavy regulatory burden...
Illinois politicians passed a record income tax increase in January 2011. Part of the deal they made was to allow most of that tax hike to sunset in 2015. That deadline is quickly approaching – Illinois’ income tax rates are legally required to come down in nearly six months. Lawmakers should have been preparing for...
There are some in Illinois who continue to beat the drum for establishing a state-funded health insurance exchange as part of the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare. But mounting evidence from around the country now confirms that Illinois lawmakers were wise when they didn’t dive in to adopt a state-funded exchange. Fourteen states...