What are Pensions? Pensions are money owed to former public employees as severance to their public service and work. Recipients of these benefits in Illinois include teachers, police, firefighters, state employees, judges, and more. Recipients start collecting this benefit at retirement. How Pensions Work Both the pension recipient and Illinois taxpayers pay into a specificContinue reading “Dissecting Illinois’ Public Pension Problem Part II: Modeling Pensions”
Author Archives: prairiestatepolicyllc
Dissecting Illinois’ Public Pension Issue: Part I
The State of Illinois has accumulated roughly $137 billion in public pension debt at the end of 2019. This is money owed to state employees who have retired as a severance to their public service and work. The massive amount of debt is an issue because as the underfunded liabilities grow, it will continue toContinue reading “Dissecting Illinois’ Public Pension Issue: Part I”
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?”
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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”
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”
Prairie State Policy 