Illinois’ comeback story starts here.
A weekly podcast tackling Illinois' most important issues.
This episode of The Policy Shop is by Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research. It’s all just numbers, right? $53.1 billion? Why, with 12.5 million Illinoisans, that will only cost a family of four about $17,000. A mere pittance for all the good done by the state politicians who generously spend other people’s...
This episode of The Policy Shop is by staff writer Patrick Andriesen and data scientist Jon Josko. Two recent measures of Chicago crime yielded a disturbing theme: Crimes are getting more violent; police are making fewer arrests. One of those crimes, a carjacking, left a Chicago Police officer dead. Officer Luis Huesca was shot 10...
This episode of The Policy Shop is by Bryce Hill, director of fiscal and economic research Illinois’ unemployment rate for Black workers last year was No. 2 in the U.S. Black Illinoisans faced average unemployment rates of 9.6% in 2023, compared to 5.5% for Black workers nationwide. That means Black Illinoisans were 75% more likely...
This episode of The Policy Shop is by staff writer Patrick Andriesen Ninety Illinois communities have decided they could use some extra revenue, so they let red-light camera companies install devices that from 2008 through last year issued $1.56 billion in tickets. At least 527 red-light cameras were in operation by 2022 after the state...
Faster than the 150th Kentucky Derby, faster than the upcoming Indianapolis 500, it’s the Springfield 78. This fast one was passed and signed by Gov. J.B. Pritzker in record time, and voters in 78 Illinois General Assembly districts likely found themselves without any races, and thus choices, for the November election. State lawmakers just made...
This episode of The Policy Shop is by writer Patrick Andriesen Two Chicago mayors have decried their city’s near-predatory use of traffic tickets. Yet those two Chicago mayors have effectively worked to increase ticket revenue. Beware the next politician promising “relief,” because it likely means even more cash taken from drivers who can ill-afford Chicago’s...
“Imagine community schools It’s easy if you try No academics to restrain us Above us, every other child. “Imagine all the students Livin’ out this lie Ah-hah-ha-ha-ha…” You may say Stacy Davis Gates is a dreamer, but she’s not the only one. The Chicago Teachers Union will make the district use a flawed school model....
This edition of The Policy Shop is by Director of Fiscal and Economic Research Bryce Hill. The Illinois Policy Institute was very clear about just how wrong Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson was to push a hike in the real estate transfer tax to generate $100 million to address homelessness and affordable housing. Bad idea, with great potential...
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