Illinois Rising

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is set to deliver his fourth budget address today, Feb. 2. Billions in federal relief funds temporarily helped state finances. But without key reforms, state debt will be back to where it was or worse. Adam Schuster joins the Policy Shop to walk through the simple solutions to fix Illinois’ budget.. for good.

When it comes to pensions, it’s unfair to shove more workers into a broken system while the General Assembly drags its feet on real reform. What if, while we continue working toward constitutional pension reform, we could give government workers the option for more flexibility in their retirement now? Adam Schuster joins the Policy Shop to explain what Tier 3 pension reform entails and why lawmakers should implement it this session.

According to U.S. Census Bureau estimates, Illinois has seen eight consecutive years of population decline. The official 2020 counts showed Illinois lost population for the first Census in history. It cost the state one congressional seat. One person leaves Illinois every 4 minutes and 18 seconds. Illinois is losing people and political power. Bryce Hill joins the Policy Shop to break down Illinois’ exodus: why are people leaving and how do we stop it?

Parents and students across the state have had their lives turned completely upside down by COVID-19 and ongoing public school closures. And it isn’t over yet. Amy Korte joins the Policy Shop to discuss the ins and outs of receiving an education during the pandemic, from the perils of Zoom learning to how classrooms affect academic outcomes. This episode comes as Chicago Public Schools and Chicago Teachers Union reaches a new resolution to resume in-person instruction.

When we look ahead at 2022, the year is full of potential. With a new legislative session beginning today, Illinois Policy is focused on policy solutions that can improve the lives and livelihoods of our Illinoisans around the state – including protecting unemployment insurance, expanding tax credit scholarships, repealing an auotmatic gas tax hike and more. Jordan Ryan shares with the Policy Shop what residents can expect to see during this year’s legislative session and what bills IPI is focused on getting passed.

On Jan. 1, hundreds of new bills will take effect in Illinois. Austin Berg shares stories about regular Illinoisans who worked to enact meaningful change in Springfield and had their bills successfully passed into law. These examples will inspire you to take action and make Illinois a better place, too.

Join Illinios Policy Institute Matt Paprocki in this episode of the Policy Shop to learn more about how the organization works for a better Illinois. The Illinois Policy has historically drawn the public attention of Springfield insiders and Matt shares what the Institute stands for.

Illinois’ tax credit scholarship and school choice program, the Invest in Kids Act, was almost cut last budget season as part of what Illinois Gov. Pritzker called closing ‘loopholes.’ Lawmakers extended the program through 2023 – which will help deliver more scholarships for families earning under $38,000 – but its future and the future of the families who rely on it are still in doubt. Amy Korte talks with The Policy Shop about the Invest in Kids program and how best to continue the fight for students.

Illinois has the highest unfunded pension liabilities in the nation with $144 billion in state pension debt. But, on top of that, local governments are accountable for another $75 billion in local government pension debt, which has fueled significant increases in property taxes over the last 20 years. Some Illinois cities are seeing this debt come to head, with declining services, worker layoffs, tax and fee hikes and more. The Policy Shop discusses the local pension crisis with Adam Schuster, explaining how pension debt hurts taxpayers in their communities.

Small businesses have been responsible for creating 70% of jobs in Illinois from 2011-2019. But why does our state treat them so terribly? Katie Anderson from Anderson’s Candy Shop joins The Policy Shop to discuss the challenges that small business owners face dealing with the state economy and with operating a business during the pandemic.

Illinois spends more on education to get worse student results compared with the rest of the nation. With 852 school districts, Illinois wastes tax dollars on excessive school district administration, depriving students and teachers of resources, who get the last piece of the education funding pie. The bureaucracy also drives up the cost of education for homeowners. Adam Schuster joins the Policy Shop to discuss how the bipartisan Classrooms First Act would better allocate education funs by allowing voters to reduce the number of school districts in their area.

At the national level, Americans are experiencing a phenomenon deemed “the Great Resignation,” because workers are quitting their jobs at record rates for better opportunities. But at home, Illinois is one of just eight states that has more unemployed people than job openings. On this episode of the Policy Shop, senior research analyst Bryce Hill explains what’s happening within the state’s economy and what the state can do to help workers find jobs.

Next November, Illinois voters will determine whether government unions here will expand the power they have over government at every level in the state – forever. Mailee Smith, staff attorney and director of labor policy, joins the Policy Shop to break down what’s in Amendment 1 and why it will lead to higher taxes and debt, less responsive government and further corruption.

Springfield and the chattering classes were abuzz last session over an ethics reform package that promised to end public corruption in the wake of longtime House Speaker Mike Madigan’s departure. Gov. J.B. Pritzker officially certified that bill, Senate Bill 539, on Oct. 8, and the reforms within it will be effective Jan. 1, 2022. The ethics package is an important first step, but much more remains to be done if we want to end Illinois’ systemic public corruption. In this episode of The Policy Shop, IPI experts discuss the solutions that will help prevent ongoing public corruption scandals and government mismanagement.

It’s veto session this month in the state capitol. What’s that? How does the legislative process work in Springfield? Jordan Ryan joins the Policy Shop to discuss how bills become a law and what taxpayers should watch in the sessions to come.