Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Health care
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
9:35pm
Wed Feb 27

Unemployment Report: Legislative Focus Needs To Be On Job Creation, Not Austerity

Unemployment rates are not expected to improve for white, Latino and African American workers through 2013, according to a new report from the Economic Policy Institute, prompting a recommendation for legislators that focus more on job creation.

“In the fourth quarter of 2012, nationwide unemployment rates were 6.3 percent for whites, 9.8 percent for Hispanics, and 14 percent for blacks. These elevated rates are projected to remain essentially unchanged at the end of 2013,” the report reads.

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
1:07am
Wed Feb 27

Robin Kelly Wins Illinois' 2nd Congressional District Primary Election (VIDEO)

Former State Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson has won the Illinois 2nd Congressional District's primary election Tuesday to become the Democratic nominee in the race to fill the seat left vacant by disgraced former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.

Kelly will run in the district’s April 9 general election to replace Jackson Jr., who pled guilty last week to misusing some $750,000 in campaign funds.

With more than half of the district's 545 precincts reporting, Kelly won the special primary with 54 percent of the vote. Major contenders during Kelly’s campaign were Democratic candidates former congresswoman Debbie Halvorson and Chicago Ald. Anthony Beale (9th).

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
11:23am
Tue Feb 26

Education, Social Services At Risk Due To Lawmakers' Refusal To Truly Address Illinois Pension Crisis

If Illinois lawmakers do not address the state’s growing pension crisis, essential investments in education, health care, and human services will continue to be cut, according to a recent report (PDF) from the Fiscal Policy Center at Voices For Illinois Children.

“All Illinois residents—including the youngest among us — are paying the price for Illinois’ decades-long failure to make adequate contributions to the state-funded pension plans,” the report, titled “Pension Funding Crisis Worsens” (PDF) reads. “The General Assembly is well aware of the harmful effects of rising pension costs on the rest of the budget. However, progress toward a solution has stalled — making the situation worse.”

Read more »

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
2:37pm
Wed Feb 20
3 comments

Gingrich, Axelrod Talk Politics, Demographics & The Future Of The Republican Party

Politics

In front of a more than 600-person audience, former speaker of the house and Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich sat down for a 90-minute conversation with former White House senior adviser, President Obama’s 2012 campaign manager, and new MSNBC correspondent David Axelrod at the University of Chicago’s Institute of Politics last night. Progress Illinois was there for the candid discussion.

Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
5:45pm
Tue Feb 19

New Report Calls For Medicaid Expansion Legislation To Pass In Illinois

In a February report called 'Closing the Medicaid Coverage Gap', Voices For Illinois Children announced its support for the Affordable Care Act’s Medicaid expansion.

When the U.S. Supreme Court endorsed the fundamental legality of the Affordable Care Act in June, it left open the option for states to decide on various aspects of participation, including the Medicaid expansion.

“Illinois should take advantage of a unique opportunity to offer health care coverage to hundreds of thousands of low-income residents,” the report reads. “Given that the federal government will provide nearly all of the funding, extending Medicaid eligibility is a very good bargain for Illinois. We can’t afford to pass up this valuable opportunity.”

Read more »