Ted was on Upstream Ideas last week discussing how millions of Illinois residents remain dependent on government through programs like food stamps and Medicaid.
Nationally, food stamp enrollment has finally returned to 2010 levels. In Illinois, food stamp enrollment in Illinois is still up 17 percent – stuck at 1.9 million people.
The state’s goal should be to encourage people to get off food stamps by encouraging jobs and a stronger economy. Instead, Illinois encourages dependency.
Read more about this story here: Illinois lags nation, neighbors in getting residents off food stamps
With $162 billion more from taxpayers, couldn’t you deliver a few bond upgrades, too
Audio and summary 
A largely unasked question is becoming glaring: Is Illinois doing all it should to use artificial intelligence to make government cost less and work better? So far, the evidence says no.