by Mark Cavers Last week, the Illinois Policy Institute partnered with the Manhattan Institute to release a poll measuring the public’s mood on a wide range of issues including: Pensions, the state’s budget, the economy, taxes, unions, and collective bargaining. According to our poll, 63% of people still oppose the tax hikes that were passed in January. Even more...
by Michael Wille With the CPS graduation rate hovering around 55%, you would think that teachers would be supportive of giving kids more time in the classroom. After all, according to a new website started by CPS to promote the longer school day, 14 of 15 studies have confirmed positive results between lengthening time in the classroom...
by Emily Dietrich Yesterday’s headline in the Chicago Tribune, “Illinois Among Worst States to do Business,” encapsulates what’s been on the minds of countless job creators and job seekers across the state. A new study by the Development Counsellors International reports that of the 322 U.S. corporate executives surveyed, nearly one quarter viewed Illinois as having one of...
by Kristina Rasmussen Warren Buffett recently took to the opinion pages of the New York Times to decry America’s unfair tax system. According to his calculations, his effective tax rate is around 17 percent while his the people in his office pay effective rates averaging 36 percent. His solution? Washington should hike his taxes. And yours, while they’re...
by Emily Dietrich Saturday was Constitution Day. Signed on September 17, 1787, the U.S. Constitution remains the oldest constitution in effect today. After 224 years, the constitution has weathered the test of time by providing a firm foundation for American democracy. Reinforcing the platform of the U.S. Constitution is America’s core principles. These principles –...
For a second month in a row, Illinois holds the unenviable position of leading the nation in negative jobs data. This month, the bad news is in the number of unemployed Illinoisans. Data released Sept. 15 by the Bureau Labor of Statistics showed that more people became unemployed last month in Illinois than in any...
by Emily Dietrich President Obama presented a $450 billion proposal to a joint session of Congress last week. He instructed lawmakers: “Pass this bill, and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and the dignity of a summer job next year. And their parents – their parents – low-income Americans who...
by Mark Cavers The Village of Orland Park scored a perfect 100% on a local government transparency audit conducted by the Illinois Policy Institute last week. Under the proactive leadership of Mayor Dan McLaughlin, Trustee Jim Dodge, Village Manager Paul Grimes, Deputy Clerk Joe La Margo and Senior Secretary Nancy Melinauskas, the Village of Orland Park became the first...
by Jonathan Ingram Do you think Obamacare should be repealed? If you do, you’re not alone. Public opposition to Obamacare remains as high as ever. According to the most recent survey by Rasmussen Reports, 57 percent of likely voters favor repealing the law. What’s more, 54 percent believe repeal is likely, which is the highest level of...
by Emily Dietrich President Obama convened a joint session of Congress Thursday night to unveil his latest jobs proposal. Almost immediately, lawmakers and political pundits levied harsh criticism. Leftists expressed fear that the President’s proposal isn’t “bold” enough. The purported $450 billion price tag doesn’t come near the $1 trillion in spending some have agitated...
by Emily Dietrich After Illinois lost almost 25,000 jobs in July, lawmakers should do everything in their power to unleash entrepreneurs. Instead of stifling job creators with onerous laws, entrepreneurs should be released into the marketplace to compete, innovate, and create jobs. The Institute of Justice Clinic on Entrepreneurship’s new grassroots campaign My Streets! My Eats! recently spotlighted...
by Kristina Rasmussen Two headlines caught my attention this morning. Headline #1: Wood County [Wisconsin] budget starts with surplus For the first time in 10 years, Wood County will enter the budget process with a surplus. The state’s budget repair bill enacted this year requires public employee contributions of 5.8 percent to retirement plans. … Looks like...
by John Tillman The liberty movement lost a great friend when Ralf Seiffe died unexpectedly yesterday morning. Ralf was truly one of life’s unique characters that come along all too rarely. Ralf was a joyful lover of life, people, history, culture and, of course, liberty. Ralf was a fountain of creativity. He always had a...
by Kristina Rasmussen The next time you make a major purchase online, keep your eye on the tax bill. Thanks to a little-known aspect of Illinois’s tax code, shipping charges may be subject to sales taxes. That’s right, you could be getting taxed on shipping. Today’s Chicago Tribune highlights how sales taxes must be applied on shipping fees above...