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State budget
PI Original
by Angela Caputo
5:15pm
Mon Dec 7, 2009

An "Affront" To Reality

State Legislature

After "balancing" the state's budget, in part, by pushing $3.2
billion worth of bills off until next year, Illinois lawmakers left
Springfield over the summer crossing their fingers that the economy
would rebound quickly and stave off the obvious need for an income tax
...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
3:37pm
Mon Dec 7, 2009

IL-GOV: McKenna And Dillard Cite Tort Reform As A Budget Solution

IL-Governor

Republican gubernatorial candidates Andy McKenna and Kirk Dillard are claiming that stronger tort reform laws in Illinois would drive down health care costs and alleviate the budget deficit.

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
12:34pm
Thu Dec 3, 2009

More Revisionist History From Dillard

IL-Governor

As he makes his rounds on the gubernatorial campaign trail, State
Sen. Kirk Dillard (R-Hinsdale) loves to tout his "executive experience"
as former Gov. Jim Edgar's chief of staff. And there's no
accomplishment he loves to brag about more than his experience helping
...

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
3:44pm
Wed Dec 2, 2009
3 comments

The Local Benefits Of A State Income Tax Hike

State budget

The state of Illinois isn't the only taxing body reeling from dwindling revenue these days. Declining sales, property, and gaming receipts are blowing holes in municipal budgets across Illinois.  As a result, local officials are struggling to maintain basic ...

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
12:28pm
Wed Nov 25, 2009

Study: Tax Increase Is Illinois' Only Option

State Legislature

The Institute of Government and Public Affairs is preparing a report that calls for "a two-pronged plan" to raise revenue by hiking the state's income tax rate and expanding sales taxes to services.

PI Original
by Angela Caputo
2:12pm
Tue Nov 24, 2009

Our Starving Human Services

State budget

In their opposition to raising the state income tax, conservatives love to talk about Illinois' "bloated" government.  Of course, they conveniently overlook the fact that we are one of the lowest spending states nationwide and that we are ranked near dead last in the ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
1:32pm
Mon Nov 23, 2009

The Consensus On The Stimulus

State budget

Now that roughly one-quarter of the money allocated in President
Obama's stimulus plan has flown out the door, a consensus among
economists about the effectiveness of the package is emerging. The New York Times' reports:

The legislation, a variety of economists say...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
5:16pm
Fri Nov 20, 2009
1 comment

Finding A Way To Pay

Health Care

The backlog of payments to Medicaid providers is a serious problem in Illinois. When these notoriously low
reimbursements to primary care physicians administering care to
Medicaid patients don't arrive on time, it makes the doctors
increasingly reluctant to treat that ...

PI Original
by Adam Doster
1:44pm
Wed Nov 18, 2009
14 comments

Task Force Urges New Revenue To Relieve State Pension Debt

Pensions

Earlier this week, the State Journal-Register asked the candidates contending for their respective Illinois gubernatorial party nominations a series of questions about state pension system. According to the paper, most called it their "high" or "highest&quot...