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Illinois Treasurer’s 100 Day Report
April 30, 2015
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Comment: Nice summary for us wonks about what the Treasurer does, but give us a break with the title: “A Financial Roadmap to the American Dream – Providing tools for Success to Working Families.”
Illinois lawmakers outline coal-friendly proposal – Quad-City Times
April 30, 2015
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Supporters claim the legislation would create 8,000 new jobs, save electric ratepayers as much as $700 million per year and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Unfunded Mandates Are What Keeps Illinois Mayors Up At Night – WP Original
April 30, 2015
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By: Nancy Mathieson* When a group of local mayors met at Congressman Bob Dold’s (IL-10) recent roundtable discussion, it didn’t take long for them to realize they already had a consensus about their most worrisome issue. (Hint: it’s not rising property taxes.) What keeps these mayors up at night is the proliferation of unfunded mandates: new regulations that require local governments to perform certain actions with no additional funding. According to the Illinois Municipal League, state lawmakers have introduced a total of 59 unfunded mandates during the 2015 legislative session (see study). The mandates fall into the
Chicago GOP Chairman resigns, endorses Chris Cleveland as successor – Illinois Review
April 30, 2015
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Ethanol producer tops off Burke’s political fund – Opinion – Sun-Times
April 30, 2015
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Rahm, please scrape this parasite off.
Governor’s Budget Cuts Include Reducing and Eliminating Statutory Transfers – The Civic Federation
April 30, 2015
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The Potential Insolvency of Chicago Public Schools and the Stickiness of Credit Ratings — Medium
April 30, 2015
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Another great piece from Kristi Culpepper, “The Bond Girl.”
Broke, CPS will not offer one-year extension to teachers’ contract – Sun-Times
April 30, 2015
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The district said it not only can’t afford to pay an extra $105 million in raises but also wants the CTU to help lobby Springfield for pension reform.
Puerto Rico on the Brink – New York Times
April 30, 2015
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Comment: Note that one option discussed is a simple amendment to the U.S. Bankruptcy Code that would allow Puerto Rico to file. The same option is a last-ditch option for Illinois, and it would trump the state constitution’s pension protection clause.
Liberals form Chris Kennedy-chaired Illinois think tank – Crain’s
April 30, 2015
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It’s called Innovation Illinois. Comment: A more innovative name would have been nice, in light of the Innovate Illinois Advisory Council, that already exists.
Democrats highlight potential obstacles in Rauner budget – Associated Press
April 30, 2015
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Chicago Zeroes in on Debt Practices – with $200 million more debt – The Bond Buyer
April 30, 2015
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But don’t blame Rahm for this. Blame Daley.
O’Hare to Downtown in Less Than 10? Vertiport Chicago Makes It Possible – DNAinfo.com Chicago
April 30, 2015
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Chicago kills rats with big data, predictive analytics – Fortune
April 30, 2015
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Comment: We inherited and squandered a far better solution, the right to vote.
Illinois County Does Booming Business in Asbestos Lawsuits – ABC News
April 30, 2015
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Gov. Rauner Proclaims Innovation Day, Gathers Tech Groups – Press Release
April 30, 2015
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How a strong dollar hurts Chicago’s industrial conglomerates – Crain’s
April 30, 2015
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Chicago’s biggest industrial conglomerates are lurching into 2015 with pinched revenue and a grimmer outlook for the rest of the year.
Illinois harbors hundreds of hidden pension crises – Illinois Policy
April 30, 2015
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They might not make headlines, but Illinois is home to hundreds of government-worker pension systems in horrible shape.