Proft: Republicans Should Take the Lead to Recall Rahm
We have a recall mechanism for Illinois’ governor. Why shouldn’t we have one for Chicago’s mayor? More former governors are convicted felons, yes. But that doesn’t mean as many former mayors weren’t just as deserving.
Read Full ArticleTeachers Union Votes to Protect Power
A teachers strike is never about children. It is about the special interests of adults. In Chicago and elsewhere, the teachers unions are in the business of winning better salaries and benefits, protecting job security, pressuring for restrictive work rules and otherwise advancing the occupational interests of their members. The children are at best an afterthought, at worst cannon fodder, in political and contractual battles among those who divvy up power.
Read Full ArticleWhen Teachers Threaten a Strike, Call Their Bluff
Someone has to put a marker down… Our K-12 school systems cannot go on forever in current form. The math is inexorable even if the will is weak.
Read Full ArticleAnother Day, Another Indictment
Families are suffering. Businesses face fixed uncertainty. Taxpayers are leaving in droves. At no time have independent thought, political courage and social risk been more necessary. To have any hope of seeing the kind of structural change that is needed, we have to change our leadership.
Read Full ArticleMadigan’s Losing Game
House Speaker Michael Madigan, in cooperation with the state’s most powerful public sector union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), is working to strip the Governor of his bargaining powers as he negotiates a major government union contract on behalf of hardworking taxpayers. A majority of Illinoisans elected Governor Rauner to represent their families and businesses in Springfield. Therefore, he is the one who should negotiate with unions, not an unelected arbitrator. Illinoisans deserve a solution that balances the interests of the families and businesses who fund government with the interests of the government workers who administer core services. Legislators who vote to override the Governor’s veto diminish our representation in Springfield.
Read Full Article2014 Veto Session Issues
The following are descriptions of the top ten bills Illinois Opportunity Project will be tracking during 2014 Veto Session (11/19/2014 – 11/21/2014)
Read Full ArticleFreshman Legislators Make It Personal on Pension Reform
At the very moment when Illinois is facing a pension crisis, we are pleased to see that some Illinois legislators are leading by example—and out of their own pockets.
Read Full Article
