ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE: John Tillman: Statement on he Janus V. AFSCME Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court issued a landmark decision in Janus v. AFSCME, confirming that forced union fees are unconstitutional.
Illinois Policy Institute News
IL Supreme Court: Government can't use change in law to deny info requests filed before law changed
The Illinois Supreme Court has overruled lower court judges who had decided an Illinois state agency could wait until after a law is changed to use the change in the law to deny a public information request submitted before the law changed.
Retirement income tax could boost IL bucks, but also spawn court challenges, exodus of retirees
With Illinois' budget woes continuing, one Democratic candidate for governor has suggested taxing retirement income, But such a proposal could lead to a mass exodus of retirees from the state, as well as court challenges exempting the state's public worker retirees from paying any such tax, under the state constitution's pension protections.
Ex-Rauner communications chief sues governor, demands emails about abortion law, other topics
The woman who briefly served as one of the heads of Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's communications team is suing his office, demanding the release of emails relating to controversial abortion legislation and other politically-charged topics.
Budget won't pull IL out of financial straits; Residents can 'look forward' to more taxes, U of C prof says
Illinois ended its two-year budget hiatus earlier this month, but the state's financial plan still lacks the essentials needed to sustain it over the long term, according to a University of Chicago professor.
Bill that would limit liability in employing ex-offenders stalls in Illinois House of Representatives
Legislation that would have made it less risky for employers to hire ex-offenders is now delayed in the Illinois House of Representatives.
New Illinois Policy Institute book suggests 12 constitutional amendments to fix IL's problems
As Illinois’ financial, political and legal troubles continue to mount, a new book, issued by one of the state’s leading voices for reform, suggests the questions facing the state can largely be answered by amending the state’s constitution.
Illinois now ringed by right-to-work states after Missouri joins trend
This month, Illinois found itself surrounded by right-to-work (RTW) states when Missouri's new Republican governor completed the encirclement by signing into law legislation that riled the state’s unions.
Pension payments likely to continue even in case of Illinois government shutdown
What could happen with pension payments in the aftermath of a government shutdown is the “law school hypothetical from hell,” said one labor lawyer in the wake of the Illinois attorney general's legal play to break the budget impasse.
Partial impasse declaration partial wins for taxpayers, union; more talks to come
The state has entered unfamiliar territory after an administrative law judge determined Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner and the largest state employee union have reached a partial impasse in contract negotiations, said an attorney who focuses on labor relations for the Illinois Policy Institute.
Logging In: Growing class actions use IL biometric privacy law to target social media titans, many others
Illinois' unique law to protect biometric privacy has already had an impact, as several of social media's giants have been hit with class action lawsuits alleging their photo sharing policies ran afoul of it. But in coming years, those actions could rope in a growing number of businesses of many sizes, as judges have begun to determine the statute, enacted in 2008, could have implications far beyond even social media or Illinois' state borders.
History not a guide for possible Chicago Public Schools bankruptcy
Even as Illinois' governor has openly discussed the possibility the Chicago Public Schools could seek bankruptcy protection, a municipal bankruptcy expert has noted only four school districts have declared Chapter 9 bankruptcy in the past 62 years, and two of those abandoned the process.
Some pushing bankruptcy as solution to troubled Illinois public budgets
In Illinois, increasing pension obligations are consuming more of its taxpayers’ dollars, pushing cities and towns to cut core services and raise property taxes just to keep up with the payments, policy experts say.
Madigan comes up short on SB 1229 override
House Speaker Mike Madigan said on multiple occasions he had the votes to override the governor’s veto.
Key to real pension reform is HB3303
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