Illinois Policy Institute
Recent News About Illinois Policy Institute
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Think tank: AFSCME an '800-pound gorilla' that bullies state, taxpayers
Terming the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) an “800-pound gorilla at the negotiating table,” the Illinois Policy Institute recently examined the relationship between the union and Illinois workers, suggesting that the balance of power tends to tilt toward the union.
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Think-tank analysts scold Madigan for not wanting to release tax returns
The co-founders of a Chicago-based conservative public-policy think tank recently challenged an assertion by House Speaker Mike Madigan's (D-Chicago) spokesman that Madigan shouldn't have to release his tax returns as Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner has done.
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Critics say teacher pension pickups oppress taxpayers
One of the biggest wins for the Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) when it scored a victory through a new four-year contract is that pension pickups were preserved; but what is good for teachers is not always what is good for everyone else as the plan stands to cost taxpayers a fortune.
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Analyst: Illinois must create less-hostile tax climate to retain residents, businesses
Illinois needs to diversify its tax base and make changes to become more competitive if it wants to stem the tide of people leaving the state, an analyst for an independent policy organization said during a recent radio show interview.
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Analyst: Legislators love constitutional amendments -- that don't affect them
On Tuesday, voters in Illinois will vote on a constitutional amendment aimed at locking away transportation funds and preventing those funds from being spent for other purposes -- a measure that has opponents.
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Illinois taxpayers must demand that legislators reform pension system, analyst says
Illinois taxpayers need to send a clear message to the General Assembly to work with the governor and tackle the state's trillions of dollars in unfunded pension liabilities, the president of a government advisory group said during a recent radio interview.
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If Illinois Dems win big, they risk owning way more than just victory
While online campaigning and phone polling are changing the way elections happen, Democrats in Springfield may find themselves in an unfamiliar position if they should win a super-majority next week, a Chicago-area political reporter said during a radio interview.
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Study linking legislator pay to fundraising may prompt calls for pay cuts
A newly released study that indicates higher-paid legislators spend more time fundraising than legislating prompted a conservative think-tank founder to ponder whether Illinois voters should consider reducing legislator pay.
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State's pension-debt crisis lingers as solutions seem to remain elusive
Illinois' public pension crisis has been bumped out of the headlines by the Nov. 8 presidential election and other attention-grabbers, but the crisis hasn't gone away, the vice president of a Chicago-based conservative think tank said in a recent article.
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State losing young workers in record numbers
Calling it a sign of economic and political crises, the Illinois Policy Institute said the state is losing residents much faster than its neighbors.
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Proposal for per-mile tax on Illinois drivers creates challenges
Illinois Senate President John Cullerton’s proposal to tax Illinois drivers based on road usage may generate more revenue to maintain the state’s roads, but such a complex task may prove immensely difficult to implement and sustain.
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Expert offers potential solutions in wake of Chicago's credit downgrade
With the city of Chicago receiving yet another credit rating downgrade on March 28, Illinois Policy Institute Vice President Ted Dabrowski recently offered his advice on how the Windy City can rebound.
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Lincolnshire board passes right-to-work plan, Grujanac only dissenting vote
The village board voted in favor of an ordinance Monday that makes Lincolnshire the first municipality in the state to enact a right-to-work plan.