Not So Stimulating
One year after the infamous $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, how’s that much-touted economic stimulus working out? According to even the most optimistic reports, not so well, and only 6 percent of Americans believe it has created jobs. ABC News has a quick summary of the gigantic government spending blowout and its long-term impact—or lack thereof—on jobs.
Who’s Getting Rich From Big Government?
Join Us Next Thursday…
Speaking of government largesse, we’ll be hosting “Obamanomics” author Tim Carney next Thursday evening for an evening of cocktails, appetizers, and engaging discussion. Bestselling author Jonah Goldberg calls Carney’s book an “indispensable field guide to the Obama years”—RSVP today to save your seat!
Bring It On
The rest of the nation may cower in the face of the next big blizzard, but Chicago can be proud—the city’s street clearing work earned an “A” in last snowstorm. The Institute’s latest report, “After the Snow”, earned media coverage across the nation. You can read it here.
What Do Community Organizers
Do, Anyway?
Jerry Agar is back after spending a week in Haiti, where he worked with Bright Hope Ministries to help local nonprofits get back on their feet. You can read his update on the hardworking community organizers who are rebuilding after Haiti’s devastating earthquake here.
And the $1,320,000 Winner Is…
According to our new government transparency website, it’s the Illinois chapter of the AFL-CIO. You can read more about government grants to the state chapter of the nation’s largest federation of labor unions at our new transparency website, IllinoisOpenGov.org.