August 24, 2014 | Wirepoints

Illinois exchange on three insurers’ radar for 2015 – Chicago Tribune

August 24, 2014 No Comments

The entry of UnitedHealthcare, the state’s second-largest insurer, could alone help suppress costs in Illinois. Centene Corp., under its IlliniCare Health banner, plans to partner with hospitals that traditionally served low-income residents. Assurant Health, plans to offer exchange-based products in Illinois for the first time in 2015. http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-obamacare-year-2-0822-biz-20140821-story.html#page=1

‘Rigorous’ meetings for CTA pension officials — in Hawaii, Vegas – BGA

August 24, 2014 No Comments

The CTA’s retirement plan and health care trust spent close to $60,000 since 2010 to travel to places such as Honolulu, New Orleans, San Diego and Las Vegas for pension-related conferences. http://politics.suntimes.com/article/chicago/%E2%80%98rigorous%E2%80%99-meetings-cta-pension-officials-%E2%80%94-hawaii-vegas/sun-08242014-1116am

Upsets brewing in the February City Council election – Crain’s Chicago Business

August 24, 2014 No Comments

With Emanuel’s popularity sagging, some observers question his influence in several wards, even with a campaign war chest in excess of $8 million. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140816/ISSUE01/308169985?template=mobile

Money talks and it says: Chicago’s still a good bet – Opinion – Crain’s Chicago Business

August 24, 2014 No Comments

Comment: Note that this is about commercial and residential real estate investment in Chicago only, as we, too, have said is undeterred by fiscal problems. Industrial and capital investment in Illinois, however, is a different story. http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/20140823/ISSUE07/308239992/money-talks-and-it-says-chicagos-still-a-good-bet

Debate continues over success of health coverage signups in Illinois – State Journal-Register

August 24, 2014 No Comments

http://www.sj-r.com/article/20140823/NEWS/140829751/11680/BUSINESS

Another survey gives Illinois an ‘F’ on small business friendlieness – Thumbtack/Kauffman Foundation

August 24, 2014 No Comments

http://www.thumbtack.com/il/#/2014/1

Opinion: Patronage Charges May Prove Quinn’s Undoing – NBC Chicago

August 24, 2014 No Comments

http://www.nbcchicago.com/blogs/ward-room/Opinion-Patronage-Charges-May-Prove-Quinns-Undoing-272305891.html

Not even fiddling while Illinois burns – WP Original

August 24, 2014 7 Comments

An escalating pension crisis, a wasted summer, and The March of Folly. By: Mark Glennon* The fate of Illinois will not be determined by most of this summer’s headline issues, important as some of them are. It will be determined by how the pension crisis is resolved — or not resolved. Hundreds of billions of dollars owed with very little available for payment have crippled all the myriad levels of government in Illinois, and some 200,000 public pensioners who either need or want their money (depending on their circumstances) will be facing cuts. And the crisis