Explore our content

All types | All dates | All authors
Economy
Quick Hit
by Ashlee Rezin
6:25pm
Mon Mar 18

Dems Blast Ryan Budget Citing Excessive Cuts, Negative Impact On Minority Communities

Saying it willingly accepts “mindless” cuts of the sequester, the budget proposal from U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan (R, WI-1), chairman of the House Budget Committee, guarantees the loss of 2 million jobs and favors wealthy Americans at the expense of average middle class families, according to U.S. Reps. Xavier Becerra (D, CA-34) and Donna Edwards (D, MD-4).

“This is Romney’s comeback, we see him in the letters and words of the Ryan Republican budget,” said Becerra on a Center for American Progress conference call Monday morning. “This is essentially the budget that Republican candidates Ryan and Romney ran on, and they were rejected by the voters because it favors the very wealthy at the expense of the middle class.”

Read more »

Quick Hit
by Ellyn Fortino
4:59pm
Mon Mar 18

Duckworth, Lipinski Back Bill To Help Families Cope With Disability-Related Expenses

U.S. Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D, IL-8) announced her co-sponsorship of the bipartisan Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act today, which would allow individuals with disabilities to have tax-deferred savings accounts in order to fund health care, housing and other essential expenses.

The ABLE Act, introduced in the Senate, S. 313, and House, H.R. 647, in February, aims to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to create the tax-free accounts.

“Disabled Americans deserve every opportunity to achieve their dreams,” Duckworth said in a statement today. “The bipartisan ABLE Act would allow disabled Americans to invest in saving accounts without having it count against their federal benefits.”

Read more »

PI Original
by Ashlee Rezin
6:10pm
Tue Mar 12
2 comments

Marriage Equality Could Be A Major Boost For Illinois' Struggling Economy

Economy

For a state that is in dire fiscal circumstances, passing the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act in Illinois, which would legalize same-sex marriage, would generate between $54 million and $103 million in new spending over the first three years, according to a new report.