-- Connecting the dots between our economy, government and business --
Rauner calls immigration bill ‘very reasonable’ – Chicago Tribune
August 18, 2017
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Comment: Rauner is right. It’s mostly just a codification of court rulings already made.
Chicago Charters Seek To Grow As CPS Enrollment Declines – WBEZ
August 18, 2017
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As enrollment declines in Chicago Public Schools, 11 local charter school networks are seeking the Chicago Board of Education’s permission to add another 2,300 students over the next several years.
Harvey firefighters’ pension on ‘collision course’ with bankruptcy, appeals court says – Chicago Tribune
August 18, 2017
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“Harvey has set up a collision course over a period of many years where the beneficiaries of their firefighters’ Pension Fund are being paid substantially out of the money that the firefighters have themselves contributed to the Pension Fund and the money the Pension Fund earns from investments…” the court wrote. “In essence, Harvey is robbing Peter to pay Paul, but what happens when Peter retires?”
Comment: Pensions are bleeding out all across the state. Excess will morph into hardship, as we have been warning for years, especially in cities and towns that are themselves broke, like Harvey.
Suits linked to Rutherford sex charges cost public $515K – Sun-TImes
August 18, 2017
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Illinois residents face Obamacare rate hikes of up to 43 percent next year – INN
August 18, 2017
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Public Pensions Interest Group Says: Your Money Creates More Value With Us! – Stump
August 18, 2017
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“Spewing faulty research commissioned by misguided public unions the National Conference of Public Employee Retirement Systems (NCPERS) has taken to playing the Frank Drebin role,” wrote pension actuary John Bury. We’ve seen similar quack research on the economic impact of public pensions from the CTBA and unions here in Illinois.
Illinois school admin costs top heavy and could get heavier under SB1 – INN
August 18, 2017
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A review by the Metropolitan Planning Council (MPC) of 2014 general administration costs for Illinois schools showed an average per pupil cost of $518. MPC said that’s the second highest in the country.
That’s higher than New York’s $341 per pupil cost, more than four times Texas’ $129 per pupil cost and more than five times California’s per pupil cost of $95 and Florida’s $78 per pupil cost. MPC says Illinois’ more than 850 school districts dwarfs Florida’s 67 regular public school districts and that doesn’t include Illinois’ regional and special education districts.
Cook County: Soda tax no longer runs afoul of food stamp rules – Chicago Tribune
August 18, 2017
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Cook County officials say they’ve solved a problem with the new sweetened beverage tax that put roughly $87 million in funding used to run the federal food stamp program in Illinois at risk of being withheld.
Cook County retailers report beverage sales decline – Chicago Sun-TImes
August 18, 2017
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Comment: Try not to take it out on the retailers. This is a big hit on them, especially the small guys. If you’ve stopped buying taxed beverages try to make it up on something else.
Moody’s warns delay of state funding for Illinois schools a ‘credit negative’ – Illinois Policy
August 18, 2017
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School funding is locked up due to the current fight in Springfield over the state’s new education funding formula and the bailout of Chicago Public Schools it contains.
Chump Media: Why Sham Votes Happen In Springfield – WP Original
August 18, 2017
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The Wall Street Journal and FOX Business are among those who botched this one worst.
Durkin says House mocked education needs with sham vote – North Cook News
August 18, 2017
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Comment: You wouldn’t know that from many irresponsible headlines who reported the vote as if it was meaningful and not theater. We’ll have our own story up on that shortly.
Trucking company relocating from Illinois to northwest Indiana, adding 500 jobs – FOX59
August 18, 2017
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HMD Trucking is currently located in Chicago Ridge, Illinois and hauls freight all across the country.
The new facility in Gary will include a 9,000-square-foot office building for their administrative team and a 26,000-square-foot space for truck and trailer maintenance, repair and warehouse.
Who’s running more and more big local companies? Foreigners. – Crain’s
August 18, 2017
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The past three years have seen an influx of CEOs from abroad. Stefano Pessina took charge of Walgreens in early 2015; Briton Steve Easterbrook to succeeded American Don Thompson at McDonald’s; Brazilian Bernardo Hees became CEO of Kraft Heinz, with the merger of Kraft Foods and H.J. Heinz; Rosemont-based food distribution giant US Foods tapped Canadian Pietro Satriano; Brazil native Jose Almeida took over Deerfield-based Baxter International; and Chicago-based Archer Daniels Midland promoted Argentina-born Juan Luciano to the top job.
Mayor Emanuel rejects call to rename Washington, Jackson parks – Fox32
August 18, 2017
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Drury pushes fiscal fixes in governor campaign – Pantagraph
August 18, 2017
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Comment: An Illinois Dem who stood up to Madigan and asks how much things cost? Oh, the humanity.
Three Takeaways From Springfield’s (In)Action On School Funding – WBEZ
August 18, 2017
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New Group to Promote Humane Farming, Expose Animal Cruelty in Illinois – WTTW
August 18, 2017
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