Get out of jail free card
Get out of jail free card
Sometimes it
The real “Mediscare”
The real “Mediscare”
by Diane Cohen, general counsel with the Liberty Justice Center During last night’s debate, Vice President Joe Biden literally laughed off suggestions that ObamaCare sets up a death panel for Medicare recipients. This follows President Obama’s claim in the first debate that ObamaCare’s more than $700 billion cut to Medicare will not directly reduce Medicare benefits...
Fact checking Vice President Biden’s Medicare malarkey
Fact checking Vice President Biden’s Medicare malarkey
In last night’s Vice Presidential debate, you might have heard Vice President Biden claim that ObamaCare “saved $716 billion [from Medicare] and put it back — applied it to Medicare.” The only problem with this claim? It’s simply not true. As the Congressional Budget Office notes, ObamaCare is expected to cut $716 billion from the Medicare...
Doctors turning away Medicaid patients
Doctors turning away Medicaid patients
Illinois knows first-hand how well-intentioned Medicaid expansions bust budgets and worsen care for the very people Medicaid was meant to protect. Ballooning enrollment has forced the state to turn to low reimbursement rates and long payment delays to make ends meet. It’s no surprise that more and more doctors are being forced to turn away...
Four common myths about charter schools
Four common myths about charter schools
The Chicago Teacher
Gov. Quinn wastes $1.2 million every day he doesn’t reform retiree health benefits
Gov. Quinn wastes $1.2 million every day he doesn’t reform retiree health benefits
Earlier this year, Gov. Quinn signed into law Public Act 97-0695. That law turns over authority of setting health insurance premiums for retired state and university workers to the Governor’s office. Despite the fact that the bill was sent to the Governor more than four months ago, he has yet to exercise his new authority to...
CPS asks charter networks to save failing schools
CPS asks charter networks to save failing schools
According to a report in today’s Chicago Tribune, CPS officials have asked several charter operators if they would be willing to take over some of the 80 to 120 under-enrolled or poorly performing schools that the district is planning on closing next year. Among the names mentioned are the United Neighborhood Organization (UNO) and the Noble Network of Charter Schools....
Progressive income tax: Money grab disguised as tax reform
Progressive income tax: Money grab disguised as tax reform
The problem The same forces that helped Quinn land the governorship in 2010 and raise income taxes in 2011 are laying the groundwork for a progressive tax initiative. They want to make the temporary 2011 tax hike permanent and tax certain individuals at ever-higher marginal rates. This initiative, outlined in a February 2012 report, The...
Illinois’ business tax climate
Illinois’ business tax climate
Illinois’ poor public policies continue to hammer the state’s business climate. This week the Tax Foundation released its 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index, confirming the state’s worsening position. Illinois dropped a full 13 places, to 29th, from 16th just since 2011. Illinois now ranks worse than most of its neighbors. The Tax Foundation ranks states based on...
Illinois’ business tax climate
Illinois’ business tax climate
Illinois’ poor public policies continue to hammer the state’s business climate. This week the Tax Foundation released its 2013 State Business Tax Climate Index, confirming the state’s worsening position. Illinois dropped a full 13 places, to 29th, from 16th just since 2011. Illinois now ranks worse than most of its neighbors. The Tax Foundation ranks states based on...
Progressive income tax: Money grab disguised as tax reform
Progressive income tax: Money grab disguised as tax reform
The problem In an interview with Huffington Post, Gov. Pat Quinn said that Illinois needs a progressive income tax.1 “That’s one of my goals before I stop breathing and I sure hope we can get that done in Illinois. Sooner rather than later,” he told the interviewer. The same forces that helped Quinn land the...
Union cheap shots in Evergreen Park
Union cheap shots in Evergreen Park
While the teachers strike in Evergreen Park
Legislative update: Veto session
Legislative update: Veto session
In Illinois, there are two types of annual, statutorily-obligated legislative sessions. Regular Session: The General Assembly convenes its regular session in January and adjourns in May or June every year. During regular session, legislators vote on a myriad of bills, the movement of which is usually slow. Veto Session: When the legislature reconvenes for a two-week...
Top ten charters outperform top ten open enrollment, non-selective, traditional high schools in Chicago
Top ten charters outperform top ten open enrollment, non-selective, traditional high schools in Chicago
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. In Chicago that is. In Chicago’s traditional public schools, the teachers’ union was on strike. Parents were scrambling to find a safe place for their child to stay during what would otherwise be a school day. Some were taking time off, even at...