Illinois lawmakers champion crowdfunding bill
Illinois lawmakers champion crowdfunding bill
This is an important step in outpacing neighboring states, and for embracing an innovative, entrepreneurial culture in Illinois.
Bloomington and other Illinois cities should welcome ridesharing
Bloomington and other Illinois cities should welcome ridesharing
There’s no good reason for Bloomington's government to stand between drivers who want to offer this service and would-be customers who want to take advantage of it.
Illinois lawmaker introduces bill to kill death tax
Illinois lawmaker introduces bill to kill death tax
Dollar for dollar, the death tax is likely the most economically harmful tax levied in Illinois.
Rauner’s budget defunds cronyism, embraces growth
Rauner’s budget defunds cronyism, embraces growth
The governor’s agenda should be cause for optimism across the state: competitiveness, not cronyism, is the right path forward to spark an Illinois comeback.
Right-to-Work states have lower minority unemployment
Right-to-Work states have lower minority unemployment
Illinois is home to a number of policies that reduce the opportunities of minorities, especially men. Forced unionism is one of them.
John and Joey prosper while Little Jimmy gets left behind: Naperville denies permit for a third food cart
John and Joey prosper while Little Jimmy gets left behind: Naperville denies permit for a third food cart
Despite a unanimous recommendation of approval, the Naperville City Council voted to deny Little Jimmy’s Italian Ice a permit to operate a food cart in Naperville, while allowing John’s Rib House and Joey’s Red Hots to continue to operate.
Missing the boat on Right to Work
Missing the boat on Right to Work
The Illinois Chamber of Commerce seems to hold contradictory opinions when it comes to economic opportunity.
5 signs Illinois’ economy is failing, and 5 ways to fix it
5 signs Illinois’ economy is failing, and 5 ways to fix it
The people of Illinois – workers, entrepreneurs and business owners – have been held back by policy errors that have plagued the state for decades. But with the proper policy framework, the state can come back to life and lead the Midwest.
The 3 most powerful lessons learned from the 2011 tax hikes
The 3 most powerful lessons learned from the 2011 tax hikes
Since the January 2011 tax hikes, Illinois’ recovery slowed down, the rest of the Midwest sped up and the rest of the U.S. significantly accelerated. The Great Lakes states performed in lockstep with how well they fostered the free-enterprise system.
After 2 historic months of jobs growth, Illinois still lagging
After 2 historic months of jobs growth, Illinois still lagging
The two months since the election have been the Land of Lincoln’s best stretch of employment growth in the post-recession era. But the state’s sudden job-creation steam will run out without a healthy fuel of economic-reform policies.
Act locally: Right-to-Work zones can spark IL comeback
Act locally: Right-to-Work zones can spark IL comeback
For Illinois’ downstate communities that have felt the pain of out-migration and need to revitalize their industrial base, a local Right-to-Work ordinance can be their first step to a comeback.
Illinois’ best jobs month of the year, 2014 wrap up
Illinois’ best jobs month of the year, 2014 wrap up
An encouraging December helped pull the Land of Lincoln out of last place in the Midwest for 2014 jobs growth.
Amazon tax revenues provide opportunity to repeal the death tax
Amazon tax revenues provide opportunity to repeal the death tax
The Amazon tax is estimated to bring in more than $200 million in additional annual tax revenue to the state, an amount that is likely to grow. This provides a perfect opportunity to repeal Illinois’ death tax to offset the new revenue growth.
Out-migration is breaking Illinois budgets
Out-migration is breaking Illinois budgets
Twenty years of flight have wreaked havoc on state and local budgets, causing an estimated $7.6 billion in tax-revenue losses annually. Any long-term fix to Illinois’ budget crisis must address the state’s out-migration crisis.