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”
Author Archives: prairiestatepolicyllc
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”
The U.S. Census’ Impact on Federal Funding for Illinois and Municipalities
By: Ryley Bruun, Writer Topic: Finance Issue: The Financial Impact of the U.S. Census on Illinois Problem: Communities that have a low participation rate taking the U.S. Census will not receive as much financial aid from the federal government compared to communities with higher rates. This can create a vicious cycle where historically underinvested areasContinue reading “The U.S. Census’ Impact on Federal Funding for Illinois and Municipalities”
Changing Societal Norms and Culture Requires Reexamining Our History
[On race and society] By: Christopher Ryan Crisanti Published: June 21, 2020 The murder of George Floyd has provoked discussion of racism and social justice into other areas of society, such as sports and pop culture. While some contend this is inappropriate or unnecessary, the reality is that change is only possible through reshaping societalContinue reading “Changing Societal Norms and Culture Requires Reexamining Our History”
Illinois FY 2021 Budget
Revenue *P.A. 101-0008 Revenues refer to anticipated revenue effective January 1, 2021 from the adjustment of individual and corporate tax rates if SJRCA 1 is adopted by the people of Illinois.
Illinois’ Sales Tax Structure
The State’s Tax Reliance on Goods Overview The State of Illinois primarily taxes goods as opposed to services. Currently, the state taxes 17 services with 12 coming from public utilities. This narrow base is poor to adapting to changing in the economic climate because it becomes overly dependent on taxes from only a few services belonging toContinue reading “Illinois’ Sales Tax Structure”
Examining Aldermanic Menu Money
Topic: Public Management Background The city of Chicago’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) was created roughly twenty years ago via ordinance signed by then mayor Richard M. Daley. The program provides each alderman from the city’s 50 wards with a specific amount of money to use for capital improvement projects, such as sidewalk repairs, fixing streetContinue reading “Examining Aldermanic Menu Money”
Two Not-So-Complex Ideas to Help Fight Poverty and Enhance Economic Mobility
By: Christopher Ryan Crisanti [On economics] Take a trip to the loop on an average workday and you will be distraught to find many individuals who are homeless. Further, travel just fifteen minutes to our region’s many neighborhoods and you will find a similar economic prevalence, where the middle class are struggling to make endsContinue reading “Two Not-So-Complex Ideas to Help Fight Poverty and Enhance Economic Mobility”
Prairie State Policy 