Monthly Archives: July 2020

Remember when Illinois Banned Branch Banking?

Topic: Finance Issue: Branch Banking in Illinois There was a period in Illinois history where banks could not freely establish branches at different locations, suppressing bank expansion and limiting consumers to only their local community bank to suffice financial needs. Illinois’ Constitution in 1870 prohibited branch banking unless the General Assembly voted by a three-fifthsContinue reading “Remember when Illinois Banned Branch Banking?”

Analyzing the Arguments For and Against Universal Basic Income

By: Quinn Newman, contributing writer Topic: Finance and Economics  Issue: Universal Basic Income Problem: The United States has experienced rising economic inequality over the last four decades. Between 1989 and 2013 median household income only grew by 9% with the wealthiest 1% of Americans owning 35% of the country’s wealth. Additionally, with the federal minimumContinue reading “Analyzing the Arguments For and Against Universal Basic Income”

House Bill 1438: Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act

The US has been slowly on the journey to legalizing recreational use of cannabis at a state level with Colorado and Washington being the first to pass such legislation in  2012. Since then, recreational cannabis has been legalized in a total of 10 states and the District of Columbia.  Background On May 31st, 2019, theContinue reading “House Bill 1438: Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act”

Expanding Educational Opportunity For Illinois Students: Analyzing House Bill 2691, the RISE Act

Topics: Politics and Legislation Introduction “Illinois will always be a welcoming state,” Gov. JB Pritzker declared as he signed bill into law at the University of Illinois at Chicago in the face of President Trump’s recent xenophobic policies and ICE raids this June. Sponsored by Rep. Lisa Hernandez, the RISE Act aims to make stateContinue reading “Expanding Educational Opportunity For Illinois Students: Analyzing House Bill 2691, the RISE Act”

A Look at House Bill 2495: The Base for Expanding Reproductive Rights in Illinois

By: Isabella Perez Topic: Politics and Legislation Introduction  Various legislative bodies in the Midwest have recently imposed laws that limit the ability of what women can and cannot do when it comes to their reproductive rights. In May 2019, the Missouri General Assembly passed House Bill 1226, similar to a recently passed Alabama law, whichContinue reading “A Look at House Bill 2495: The Base for Expanding Reproductive Rights in Illinois”