Cook County’s attempt to sin tax its way out of $267.5 million budget shortfall
Cook County’s attempt to sin tax its way out of $267.5 million budget shortfall
Cook County faces a projected $267.5 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2013. Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle has a solution: Fill the gap with higher taxes on cigarettes, guns, ammo, gambling and businesses. “We have structural problems that demand structural solutions” Preckwinkle said. The problems are structural, but Preckwinkle’s solutions are not. Tinkering with the tax...
By Benjamin VanMetre
Despite Evergreen Park union resistance, evaluations included in ratified contract
Despite Evergreen Park union resistance, evaluations included in ratified contract
A couple of weeks ago I noted that a performance incentive program for teachers and staff was one of the bones of contention in the Evergreen Park teacher strike. These proposed incentives were based on district-wide performance on the Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) exam, which measures students’ academic growth. The bonuses were tied to...
By Paul Kersey
Red light camera revenues seduce public officials
Red light camera revenues seduce public officials
Since the city of Chicago began Illinois
Even before record 67 percent tax hike, Illinois has 11th-highest tax burden nationwide
Even before record 67 percent tax hike, Illinois has 11th-highest tax burden nationwide
The Tax Foundation has reaffirmed Illinois’ status as a high-tax state in its newly released 2012 Annual State-Local Tax Burden Ranking. Based on the Census Bureau’s 2010 data, the report found that Illinois’ overall tax burden per resident is the 11th highest in the nation. Some highlights from the report include: At 10.2 percent, Illinois has...
By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
State workers break the rules, get a paid vacation
State workers break the rules, get a paid vacation
Overall, paid leave cost the state
The pretend power of the “do nothing” pension amendment
The pretend power of the “do nothing” pension amendment
Instead of telling voters that this amendment doesn't solve the problem, some opponents are making arguments that only serve to provide political cover to lawmakers who falsely claim they're fixing the pension crisis with Amendment 49.
By Jonathan Ingram
The cost of Quinn
The cost of Quinn
Gov. Quinn is not getting great press these days. The Cato Institute recently ranked him the worst governor in the nation. His approval rating stands at just 26 percent. And while Gov. Quinn may choose to ignore those messages, he may want to heed the warnings the financial markets continue to fire his way. Credit agencies have...
By Ted Dabrowski
Can Illinois afford another income tax hike?
Can Illinois afford another income tax hike?
Household incomes have plunged by 8.2% across the nation since President Obama took office. In the President’s old stomping grounds, median household income dropped by 2.6% just between 2010 and 2011. And now Gov. Quinn is working to take even more from families in Illinois through higher taxes. But there’s no room left in the family budget for another...
By Benjamin VanMetre
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) says “NO” to a federal bailout of state pensions
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) says “NO” to a federal bailout of state pensions
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) joined Carol Marin on WTTW’s Chicago Tonight to discuss the presidential election, partisan gridlock, and his own future in the Democratic Party. At the 9:15 mark Sen. Durbin says, “NO” to a federal bailout of state pensions.
By Chris Andriesen
The Unctuous, Impoverishing Bigotry Of Class Warfare
The Unctuous, Impoverishing Bigotry Of Class Warfare
Class warfare is a form of bigotry; it shouldn
By John Tillman
Dispelling the class size myth
Dispelling the class size myth
As teachers’ strikes continue to spread across Illinois, union officials are pushing back against criticisms that they are not doing enough to raise student achievement. One of the most common excuses they use to explain the lack of results – apart from claiming that low-income populations have too many issues to overcome, something the Institute showed is...
Six out of ten doctors would retire today if given the opportunity
Six out of ten doctors would retire today if given the opportunity
The Physicians Foundation has completed one of the largest and most comprehensive physician surveys ever conducted in the United States. Here are a few highlights.