State Policy Groups

Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - For The Good Of Illinois - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Michael Madigan - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois, Tell Speaker Madigan to Open the Books!‏

April 1, 2010 by

From Adam Andrzejewski’s For the Good of Illinois…

On March 24, House Leader Tom Cross joined me in calling for a forensic audit of state spending. House Resolution 1057 requires the Auditor General to begin a forensic audit of state spending covering the Blagojevich/Quinn administrations.

We introduced HR 1057 with four goals in mind:

  • Stop Governor Quinn’s Income Tax Hike
  • Cut Spending
  • Eliminate Waste
  • End Corruption

In 2007, Auditor General William Holland issued a report indicating that the State of Illinois “…does not have a comprehensive, consistent inventory of programs.” This report highlighted that state government is so cumbersome and disorganized it could not prepare a list of programs it funds and operates on a daily basis.

Speaker Madigan, Open The Books!
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Illinois, Tell Speaker Madigan to Open the Books!‏”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Working for the man‏

April 1, 2010 by

A “First Step”
If you thought the passage of the expansive new health care bill was a pretty big deal, you might want to hold on to your hat. On the “Today” show, President Obama recently told Matt Lauer that it was simply a “first step.” You can watch by clicking here.

Workin’ For the Man…
Each year, the Tax Foundation releases the dates of Tax Freedom Day, which reveals how many days of the year we spend working to pay off state, federal, and local taxes. Here in Illinois, it falls on Sunday, April 11, meaning we work 101 out of 365 days just to pay taxes. Ouch.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Working for the man‏”

Chicago - Sam Adams Alliance - Warner Todd Huston

Sam Adams Alliance: 2010 Sammies Winners Announced‏

March 30, 2010 by

From the Sam Adams Alliance…

Sam Adams Alliance is excited to announce the winners of the 3rd annual Sammies award ceremony. The awards honor activism in six categories, and the awardees were chosen following a months-long contest and nationwide search.

The theme of this year’s Sammies, “We Are All Activists Now”, draws inspiration from the last year’s historic burst of political engagement, manifest in tea parties, town halls, and a surge of citizen leadership at the state and local levels.
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Sam Adams Alliance: 2010 Sammies Winners Announced‏”

Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - GOP - Government - Health - House of Representatives - Illinois - Nancy Pelosi - President - Sam Adams Alliance - Senate - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Bigger danger of healthcare bill: the arrogance of Congress

March 28, 2010 by

-By Eric O’Keefe

Health care supporters in Congress clearly defied the will of voters. Will we hold them accountable?

We may never fully know the damage that will be done by the massive health care bill Congress passed on Sunday, but one thing is certain: It will lead to lower-quality care at higher costs.

Dozens of new health boards will come on line in the next few years, as bureaucrats gradually take control of our health care system. Who knows how many bright college students will decide to avoid medical careers because they don’t want to follow orders from these bureaucrats?
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Bigger danger of healthcare bill: the arrogance of Congress”

Anti-Americanism - Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Jobs - Liberals - Pat Brady - Pensions - Public Employees Unions - SEIU - Socialism - State Government - Taxes - Teachers Unions - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

Fox News Chicago Digging Deeper on Illinois Pension Mess

March 26, 2010 by 1 Comment

-By Warner Todd Huston

My friend Lennie Jarratt was featured on Fox News Chicago last night. The subject was the $85 billion dollar deficit that the Illinois finds its public employee pensions confronted with. Fox News reports that every Illinois citizen would have to fork over $6,600 to instantly solve the problem. And what has caused this problem? Unions.

Lennie has some great lines in this piece and he’s right on. He is right that education in America has become “legalized theft.” Here are some of his main points:

  • Getting a public sector job is like hitting the lottery
  • The way schools levy is legal theft
  • We have the highest property taxes in the Midwest
  • Nearly all of the top 50 public sector pensions in IL are educators
  • Killing jobs and forcing people to leave the state further cutting state revenue
  • Within 4-6 years most public sector retirees are making more than when working

Illinois isn’t the only state in this union-made morass. Nearly every state in the union is in this mess.
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Fox News Chicago Digging Deeper on Illinois Pension Mess”

Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Education - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - Liberals - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois: Landmark School Choice Bill Could Get Vote Soon

March 24, 2010 by

From the Illinois Policy Institute…

SB 2494 passed out of committee just moments ago. This bill, sponsored by the Rev. Sen. James Meeks, would create a pilot school voucher program for students in struggling Chicago public schools.

This new power for parents promises that many children can enroll in schools that are better able to meet their needs. It promises that surrounding public schools will improve, and it promises that everyone in Illinois, as taxpayers, will benefit.

This is landmark school choice policy in the making.
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Illinois: Landmark School Choice Bill Could Get Vote Soon”

Budget - Chicago - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Free Trade - Government - Jobs - New Jersey - Public Employees Unions - Socialism - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Unions - Warner Todd Huston

New Jersey Legislators Should Know the FACTS Before Budget Vote

March 24, 2010 by

From Truth In Accounting…

Truth In Accounting Issues New Jersey’s “Financial State of the State”

Today, the Institute for Truth in Accounting released New Jersey’s “Financial State of the State.” The numbers are not good and they are getting worse every day. The state’s bills as of June 30, 2009 were $143 billion and the state had already used $33 billion of assets that were supposed to be set aside to met established legal and contractual obligations. To pay bills and obligations past legislators should have already covered current and future, taxpayers will have to come up with $176 billion—$66,200 per family.

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New Jersey Legislators Should Know the FACTS Before Budget Vote”

Americans For Prosperity - Barack Obama - Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Government - House of Representatives - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Melissa Bean - President - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Tea Party Protest at Illinois Rep. Bean’s Office

March 20, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I attended a gathering of Americans protesting both for and against Obamacare in front of Illinois Rep. Melissa Bean’s Schaumburg offices this afternoon, though those protesting against Obamacare far out numbered those in favor of it I have to say. It is also amazing that anyone came out as cold and snowy as it was!

I suppose there were just over 100 folks out with their Gadsen flags, American flags, and both professionally printed and homemade signs with their favorite slogans upon them. One fellow even showed up with his tricorn hat and a pitchfork!
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Tea Party Protest at Illinois Rep. Bean’s Office”

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Economy/Finances - Illinois - Sam Adams Alliance - State Central Committee - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

Sam Adams Alliance: Reading the Tea Leaves

March 18, 2010 by

From the Sam Adams Alliance…

Two weeks ago, Sam Adams Alliance released a groundbreaking study on the Tea Party movement. Our report, The Early Adopters: Reading the Tea Leaves offers the first-ever insights into the Tea Party movement that include a survey sample made up entirely of recognized Tea Party leaders.

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Sam Adams Alliance: Reading the Tea Leaves”

Americans For Prosperity - Budget - Economy/Finances - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston - Wisconsin

3rd Annual AFP Defending the Amer. Dream Summit, Wisconsin – Final Report

March 14, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

Well, I am back home from attending the AFP Defending the American Dream Summit. The speakers were inspiring and the panel on which I sat during one of the break out sessions was really fun.

A word about what this whole thing was is apropos here. It was attended by some 4,000 folks, all regular every day folks, most from Wisconsin. Not all were necessarily AFP members as it was open to the public. A lot of different tea party groups also had representatives in attendance. There were some few vendors of buttons, T-Shirts and the like, but selling things was in no way the main point of this thing. The speakers and the message was preeminent. This was a true grassroots gathering.

The announcement was made that AFP Wisconsin had grown to 58,000 Wisconsiners and ranked as the second largest grassroots political organization in the state second only to the Wisconsin teachers union.

I guess my only complaint was that they tried to shoehorn so many speakers all into the 10AM to 11:30 AM slot. Here is the list of speakers we heard from…
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3rd Annual AFP Defending the Amer. Dream Summit, Wisconsin – Final Report”

Americans For Prosperity - Budget - Constitution - Economy/Finances - Taxes - Tea Party - Uncategorized - Warner Todd Huston - Wisconsin

3rd Annual AFP Defending the Amer. Dream Summit, Wisconsin – Opening Festivities

March 12, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I am here in Beautiful Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin for the AFP Defending the American Dream Summit… or I assume it’ll be beautiful once the drab days of Winter are over, anyway. I haven’t been to the Dells since about 1973, so things have changed a tad since I was last here.

Tonight, after registration closed for the evening, we had a nice little cocktail party, I mingled a little and heard from a few of the respected speakers from whom we’ll hear more tomorrow.

Grover Norquist from Americans for Tax Reform spoke on the evils of taxes and government spending, then Lord Christopher Monkton came to the podium and gave us a wonderfully droll address of which I’ll say more in a moment. We had the pleasure of hearing a word or two from the Wall Street Journal’s John Fund. Then we heard from the ubiquitous Joe Wurzelbacher, otherwise known as “Joe the Plumber.” Finally we heard a few words from AFP big cheese Tim Phillips.
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3rd Annual AFP Defending the Amer. Dream Summit, Wisconsin – Opening Festivities”

Americans For Prosperity - Warner Todd Huston - Wisconsin

3rd Annual Defending the American Dream Summit

March 12, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

I will be leaving soon to attend the American for Prosperity’s 3rd Annual Defending the American Dream Summit in beautiful Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin.

It is a two day conference with all sorts of great speakers, sessions and panels. I was asked to be a panelist on the “RightOnLine – New Media” panel so if you’re attending come on over to “break out session A” and let’s shake hands and exchange pleasantries!

Thanks to Erik Telford for setting it all up for me.

Budget - Business - Capitalism - Free Trade - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Illinois State Government - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: 33%!

March 11, 2010 by

The Tax Drumbeat Begins
There’s no debate that Illinois is a financial disaster—and in yesterday’s state budget address, Governor Pat Quinn proposed his preferred solution: a 33% income tax increase, plus increased spending. Institute CEO John Tillman appeared on Chicago Tonight to talk about Springfield’s real problems—and solutions that don’t involve emptying taxpayers’ pockets.
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Ill. Policy Institute: 33%!”

Budget - Democrats/Leftists - Economy/Finances - Elections - Government - Illinois - Illinois State Government - Liberals - Pat Quinn - State Government - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

Truth in Accounting: Governor – You Can’t Balance Illinois’ Budget By Borrowing Money

March 10, 2010 by

From Truth in Accounting…

Institute for Truth in Accounting Issues Guide to Honest Budgeting

March 11, 2010 — To help citizens determine if Gov. Pat Quinn’s budget is truly balanced the Institute for Truth in Accounting has published “Are We Unbalanced? – A Guide to Reviewing Governments’ Budgets”.
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Truth in Accounting: Governor – You Can’t Balance Illinois’ Budget By Borrowing Money”

Budget - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Sam Adams Alliance - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Fifty Plus One‏

March 4, 2010 by

Fifty Plus One
As nationalized health care teeters on the brink in Congress, it’s worth looking back at President Obama’s previous statements on the “fifty plus one” strategy. You might be surprised to learn that he wasn’t a big fan of it back then—but then again, you might not. You can click the video above to watch.

Common-Sense Reforms for 2010
Illinois is in a fiscal meltdown—so how can we begin to right the ship? Today, the Illinois Policy Institute released its 2010 Economic Reform Agenda, a series of common-sense reforms for our state. You can learn more about the six first steps to better state government here.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Fifty Plus One‏”

Budget - Free Trade - Illinois - Liberals - Sam Adams Alliance - State Government - Taxes - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

What have you heard about the Tea Parties?

March 2, 2010 by

This is a new video from the Sam Adams Alliance…

Most of us have had some experience with the Tea Party movement over the past year. Maybe you attended or organized a rally, watched one on t.v., or saw the media coverage given to these protests. You may have formed an opinion of this group of people through experience, or through the lens of others’ opinions, good or bad.

Recent attention to this movement has again revived, with the election of Scott Brown and growing media attention.

In January, SAM had the opportunity to conduct extensive market research with leaders of the Tea Parties, both through questionnaires and through in-depth one-on-one interviews.

What we found challenges much of the information currently on the market.

Now see what the activists themselves had to say about the Tea Parties: their motivations, their fears, and who they support for president in 2012.

Barack Obama - Budget - Business - Communism - Congress - Conservatives - Democrats/Leftists - GOP - Health - House of Representatives - Liberals - Republicans - Senate - Socialism - Taxes - The Heritage Foundation - Warner Todd Huston

Four Key Minutes from Obama’s Failed Healthcare Summit

March 1, 2010 by

A great video from the Heritage Foundation that shows how the Republicans really made Obama look the fool at his healthcare summit last week.

My favorite is Louise Slaughter (D, NY) who was all upset that a women in here district was “wearing her dead sister’s teeth” because the woman could not afford dental care. But, guess what Louise? Your idiotic example is meaningless to this healthcare discussion because Obamacare DOES NOT COVER DENTISTS! Obamacare would not solve your constituent’s false teeth crisis!

Budget - Chicago - Cook County - Democrats/Leftists - Government - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - Liberals - Pat Quinn - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Jake Gets Out of Jail‏

February 26, 2010 by

Going Nuclear
What a difference five years makes. Back then, when Republicans were toying with the notion of ramming a bill through Congress, it was a “naked power grab” and a constitutional crisis. Today, however, such a move is apparently okey-dokey. You can watch the painful evidence by clicking on the video above.


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Ill. Policy Institute: Jake Gets Out of Jail‏”

Americans For Prosperity - Budget - Business - Chicago - Illinois - Liberals - Pat Quinn - State Government - Stimulus - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Americans for Prosperity: A Message to Governor Quinn‏

February 25, 2010 by 1 Comment

Americans for Prosperity applauds Governor Quinn for opening an online comment portal offering the general public an opportunity to view and comment on the states budget dilemma.

On March 10, 2010 Governor Quinn will be making his annual budget address. Governor Quinn has made it clear that he believes the only way out of the states financial mess is to raise our taxes.

Americans for Prosperity strongly disagrees!
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Americans for Prosperity: A Message to Governor Quinn‏”

Education - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois School Choice—and the Institute—in the Wall Street Journal‏

February 23, 2010 by

In case you missed it, today’s Wall Street Journal carried an excellent column highlighting the efforts of the Illinois Policy Institute and the Rev. Senator James Meeks to promote a school voucher program—a program that will give families stuck in Chicago’s worst schools a chance for a better education and a safer learning environment.

The venue was a sold-out lunch put on by the Illinois Policy Institute (IPI). The result? Something new in Windy City politics: a powerful black Democrat reaching out to a free-market think tank to force reform on the city’s most hidebound institution—the Chicago public schools…

A few years back, Barack Obama named him someone he looked to for “spiritual counsel.” Now the man they call “the Reverend Senator” has done the unthinkable: He’s introduced a bill to provide vouchers for as many as 42,000 students now languishing in Chicago’s worst public schools. He tells me he thinks he can get enough Democrats on his coalition to get it through.

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Illinois School Choice—and the Institute—in the Wall Street Journal‏”

Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Getting Rich…off Taxpayers‏

February 22, 2010 by

Every time the government gets bigger, someone’s getting rich…but it certainly isn’t taxpayers, entrepreneurs, and consumers. Goldman Sachs, GE, Pfizer, the United Auto Workers—the same “special interests” Barack Obama lambasted on the campaign trail—are profiting handsomely from the big government policies now dominating Washington.

Join us on Wednesday, February 24 for an evening with Tim Carney, Washington Examiner columnist and author of “Obamanomics: How Barack Obama Is Bankrupting You and Enriching His Wall Street Friends, Corporate Lobbyists, and Union Bosses.”

Date: Wednesday, February 24
Time: 5:30-7:30 pm
Place: 190 South LaSalle Street, 40th Floor, Chicago
Cost: $30 per ticket (includes drinks and appetizers)

LA Times columnist and bestselling author Jonah Goldberg calls Obamanomics “an indispensable field guide to the Obama years.” Join us on the 24th to learn more. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.

For more information or to RSVP, contact Katie Truesdell at 312-346-5700, ext. 207 or katie@illinoispolicy.org.

Blogging - Computers - Illinois - Inernet - Sam Adams Alliance - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Sam Adams Alliance: The Sammies April 16

February 22, 2010 by

Sam Adams Alliance is proud to announce that we will be hosting the Sammies April 16, 2010, at the Chicago Cultural Center with special guest Andrew Breitbart.

The last year has been one of the most active and visible for citizen leaders who support free markets and individual liberty. Join us for dinner, drinks, and conversation as we honor the very best at our third-annual awards show in downtown Chicago. Purchase your tickets today: http://thesammies.com/attend/.

WHAT: The Sammies
WHEN: Friday, April 16, 2010
WHERE: The Chicago Cultural Center / 78 E. Washington Street, Chicago, IL
WHO: Andrew Breitbart, and all of this year’s Sammies winners

PURCHASE TICKETS: http://bit.ly/csL0YQ

Better Government Association - Chicago - Cook County - Cook County Board - Crime - Democrats/Leftists - Elections - Illinois - Liberals - Mayor Richard Daley - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Chicago’s Corruption Tax

February 20, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

A new study has been released by the University of Illinois in conjunction with the Better Government Association that details Cook County’s disgusting history of political neer-do-wells calling it a true “culture of corruption.” (Download .pdf of report)

“More than 140 people have been convicted of corruption in county-related cases since 1970,” the study finds.

Featured are tales of bribes, ghost payrolls, sweetheart deals, rip-offs, and the “wholesale subversion of the judicial system.”

“This rogue’s gallery of corrupt individuals is just the tip of the iceberg,” said the BGA’s Andy Shaw, “because, for every one of those convicted, there may be a dozen or more people who narrowly escape the justice system, not to mention all the clout-related conflicts of interest. It is truly a ‘culture of corruption.’”

Sadly, it doesn’t seem to be getting any better but kudos to the BGA for publishing the study. It goes to show how much of a failure our county government is.
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Chicago’s Corruption Tax”

Budget - Illinois - State Government - Taxes - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

Legislation Calls For An End To Budget Shenanigans

February 19, 2010 by

From the folks at Truth in Accounting:

Pew Study Confirms Urgent Need For Truth in Accounting Act

Contact: Darlene Porteus 847-835-5200 – dporteus@truthinaccounting.org

February 18, 2010 — On February 3rd State Representative Mike Tryon (IL-64th District) introduced the Truth in Accounting Act of 2010. The proposed legislation, which was written with the help of the Institute for Truth in Accounting, calls for increased disclosure during the state budgeting process.
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Legislation Calls For An End To Budget Shenanigans”

Business - Capitalism - Constitution - Free Trade - Illinois - Illinois Alliance For Growth - Illinois Policy Institute - Sam Adams Alliance - State Government - Tea Party - Warner Todd Huston

NYT Article: Tea Partying in Chicago

February 19, 2010 by

-By Warner Todd Huston

The NYT had a nice write up on Chicago’s own American Liberty Alliance and its leader Eric Odom. This piece also discusses several other conservative efforts in and around Chicago. Groups like Hartland Institute, the Sam Adams Alliance, and Ed Lasky’s American Thinker also based out of Chicago.

It is interesting to note that some very strong conservative ideas are coming out of this bluest of blue states where politics is rough and disassociated from any control by voters. Odom makes that point, too, when discussing his move here from Nevada.

“You come from Nevada, where you have the entire Legislature on your cellphone,” Mr. Odom said. “It is a small government compared to here, where it is all union-run and it is a huge bureaucracy, and there is no way you’re going to get meetings with anybody.”

But there is hope, folks. With people like Ed Laskey, Odom and groups like the ALA, Sam Adams Alliance, Illinois Policy Institute, Illinois Alliance for Growth, and The Heartland Institute, as well as the local chapter of Americans for Growth we do have a fighting chance.
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NYT Article: Tea Partying in Chicago”

Budget - Business - Free Trade - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - State Government - Warner Todd Huston

Illinois Policy Institute: 6 Percent

February 18, 2010 by

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!
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Illinois Policy Institute: 6 Percent”

Chicago - Illinois - Truth in Accounting - Warner Todd Huston

Truth In Accounting Update

February 17, 2010 by

From the Truth in Accounting folks…

Illinois Budget Transparency Group Makes Recommendations to Springfield Legislators

This past fall, Sheila Weinberg and Ralf Seiffe met with the Illinois House Bi-Partisan Task Force on Budget Reform in Springfield to discuss the views of the Illinois Budget Transparency Group on ways to refine the calculation of Illinois’ annual budget.
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Truth In Accounting Update”

Budget - Capitalism - Chicago - Illinois - Illinois Policy Institute - State Government - Taxes - Warner Todd Huston

Ill. Policy Institute: Fishy Business?‏

February 11, 2010 by

Institute Releases Piglet Book
When the state government is flat broke, should it be funding fishing demonstrations? How about car racing, folk dancing, or a Batman-themed gala? This week, the Illinois Policy Institute released its 2010 Piglet Book, highlighting $350 million in questionable state spending. Access the full report here, or watch John Tillman dish out the porky details on Fox News Chicago by clicking the video above.
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Ill. Policy Institute: Fishy Business?‏”