Daily Must Reads for the week of January 2
Daily Must Reads for the week of January 2
Suggested reading for the week of January 2.
Pensions vs. schools
Pensions vs. schools
This three-part series by the Illinois Policy Institute specifically focuses on the impact rising retirement costs will have on education funding at various levels.
Pensions vs. schools: Chicago Public Schools
Pensions vs. schools: Chicago Public Schools
CPS pension costs rising faster than state aid can keep up.
Institute on WTAX Springfield: Pensions vs. schools
Institute on WTAX Springfield: Pensions vs. schools
Collin Hitt talks about the Institute's Pensions vs. schools report series.
Pensions vs. schools: Downstate and suburban PK-12 education
Pensions vs. schools: Downstate and suburban PK-12 education
The problem Illinois is facing a fiscal crisis. The expense of retirement benefits is overwhelming many areas of the state budget. Lawmakers have known of this situation for years, but thus far have not adopted a comprehensive solution. The state faces an $85 billion unfunded liability to its pensions systems. It owes another $45 billion...
How refreshing: “Missouri Legislature opens with no-tax-hike pledges”
How refreshing: “Missouri Legislature opens with no-tax-hike pledges”
A fresh start with the right priorities.
Institute in Crain’s: Cost of teacher pensions swamping classroom needs
Institute in Crain’s: Cost of teacher pensions swamping classroom needs
The Institute's Pensions vs. schools: Higher education report was featured in Crain's Chicago Business.
Pensions vs. schools: Higher education
Pensions vs. schools: Higher education
The problem Illinois is facing a fiscal crisis. The expense of retirement benefits is overwhelming many areas of the state budget. Lawmakers have known of this situation for years, but thus far have not adopted a comprehensive solution. The state faces an $85 billion unfunded liability to its pensions systems. It owes another $45 billion...
State union contract had called for two more rounds of raises at start of 2012
State union contract had called for two more rounds of raises at start of 2012
Gov. Quinn and the unions are still bickering over money for state raises, but the contract had called for two raises at the start of 2012.
Scrooge the investor, job creator
Scrooge the investor, job creator
by Kristina Rasmussen Jim Lacey provides a much-needed new perspective on Ebenezer Scrooge over at NRO: More than anything else, Scrooge’s investments created jobs. A man with the wealth Dickens implies Scrooge possesses was probably making investments that employed many thousands of workers. History tells us that these “men of business” also reaped most of the rewards....
Rebooting transparency
Rebooting transparency
by Mark Cavers This article, along with other original stories, first appeared in the Institute’s quarterly magazine, the Compass. The Illinois Policy Institute released a report in November exposing how the state was removing salary information from its designated transparency website. We are happy to announce that the state has returned the information to the portal. The state...
2012: What’s next for Illinois citizens post-redistricting?
2012: What’s next for Illinois citizens post-redistricting?
by Brian Costin According to the Illinois State Constitution,“In the year following each Federal decennial census year, the General Assembly by law shall redistrict the Legislative Districts and the Representative Districts.” The redistricting process in Illinois has always been a hyper-political process subject to vast criticism, and this year’s redistricting process is no exception. However, the Illinois...
Illinois legislators sweat the small stuff
Illinois legislators sweat the small stuff
by Kristina Rasmussen Illinois has trouble. Big trouble. Our public pension system is one market crash away from disaster. Our unemployment numbers are over 10 percent. People are hightailing it for greener pastures. You’d think Illinois legislators would focus on turning this state around with bold reforms. Think again. Even as the Illinois General Assembly failed to address the pension crisis,...
Durbin can’t have it both ways
Durbin can’t have it both ways
by Kristina Rasmussen U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin (D) is hitting the media circuit raising concerns about stalled efforts to extend a temporary payroll tax holiday, warning that without action Illinois families will see their paychecks shrink: “A hundred and sixty million workers across America, 12 days from now, will see their payroll tax go up,” said Senator...