Want more transparency? Union says “no”
Want more transparency? Union says “no”
For the second time in as many months, AFSCME opposed a measure that would bring more transparency to Illinois.
Institute on ABC 7: Playing Favorites
Institute on ABC 7: Playing Favorites
The Institute's John Tillman appeared on ABC 7 to discuss our latest pension report, Playing Favorites.
Institute in Rockford Register Star: Report on pensions worth studying
Institute in Rockford Register Star: Report on pensions worth studying
The Institute's pension report was featured in this editorial in the Rockford Register Star.
Playing favorites: Education pension spending favors wealthy, suburban schools
Playing favorites: Education pension spending favors wealthy, suburban schools
The problem State education funding is designed to ensure a base amount of money is available to every student in Illinois. To that end, the state strives to send more money to poor districts and less money to districts with a healthy property tax base. But a bird’s eye view of Illinois education spending reveals...
Institute stands with legislators to prevent corruption
Institute stands with legislators to prevent corruption
In the wake of allegations that the city of Dixon’s comptroller stole over $53 million from the city, the Institute is working with Republicans in the Illinois Senate to pass legislation that will prevent this kind of fraud from happening elsewhere. This morning, Brian Costin, the Institute’s Director of Government Reform, stood with State Sens. Dan...
Playing favorites: Education pension spending favors wealthy, suburban schools
Playing favorites: Education pension spending favors wealthy, suburban schools
The problem State education funding is designed to ensure a base amount of money is available to every student in Illinois. To that end, the state strives to send more money to poor districts and less money to districts with a healthy property tax base. But a bird’s eye view of Illinois education spending reveals...
Online affiliate tax: Struck down
Online affiliate tax: Struck down
by Peter White, Liberty Justice Center Yesterday morning I sat in the Daley Center and listened as Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero struck down Illinois’ internet affiliate tax law and, in so doing, handed victory to thousands of internet entrepreneurs across the state. While the outcome of the case will rest ultimately with...
More than 1,000 students rally for charter schools in Springfield
More than 1,000 students rally for charter schools in Springfield
by Michael Wille Last week, the Illinois Network of Charter Schools hosted its annual “Have Your Say Day” at the Capitol. More than 1,000 students from across Chicago boarded buses at Soldier Field and traveled to Springfield to rallyand meet with legislators. Their demands? Simple. Support HB 5225, which provides equal funding for charter schools across the...
A Victory for Liberty: Judge strikes down Illinois online affiliate marketing tax
A Victory for Liberty: Judge strikes down Illinois online affiliate marketing tax
This morning, Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero struck down the online affiliate tax (Public Act 096-1544). The law required out-of-state online retailers such as Amazon.com to collect and remit sales taxes on purchases made by Illinois residents if the online retailer maintained a physical presence in Illinois. The law was signed by Gov....
Medicaid math: Why tax hikes aren’t spending cuts
Medicaid math: Why tax hikes aren’t spending cuts
In February, Gov. Quinn told lawmakers that in order to rescue Illinois
Gov. Quinn’s plan for Medicaid: hike taxes and cut access to care
Gov. Quinn’s plan for Medicaid: hike taxes and cut access to care
Moments ago, Gov. Quinn released his plan to cut Medicaid spending by $2.7 billion. So what does that plan actually look like? It looks like a tax hike coupled with even worse access to care for the poor. Sen. Dale Righter and Rep. Patti Bellock have both voiced opposition to the Governor’s plan, and the Medicaid working...
Dixon fails Local Transparency Audit, Comptroller accused of stealing $53 million
Dixon fails Local Transparency Audit, Comptroller accused of stealing $53 million
Illinois has long been known for corruption of government. Recently, a national public corruption study from University of Illinois-Chicago ranked the Northern District of Illinois as the most corrupt area in the nation. So it’s hardly shocking when we hear of another public corruption case. But the latest case of public corruption from the city of Dixon,...
Illinoisans must work longer than others to pay their tax bills
Illinoisans must work longer than others to pay their tax bills
In 2012, Illinoisans will have to work 114 days to earn enough to pay their combined federal, state and local tax bill – seven days longer than the average of all the states. The Tax Foundation released their annual “Tax Freedom Day” report, which determines how long residents must work to pay off all tax...
Cigarette taxes can’t fix Medicaid
Cigarette taxes can’t fix Medicaid
It looks like Gov. Quinn may be pinning his hopes of finding Medicaid savings by raising cigarette taxes. This isn’t the first time Gov. Quinn has floated his $1-per-pack tax hike on cigarettes. So I was glad to see that Sen. Dale Righter and Rep. Patti Bellock, members of the Medicaid reform working group, have voiced their opposition to...