Fewer than two in 10 teachers in Illinois say they’re completely ready for Common Core, despite Illinois being in its 4th year of the new learning standards.
About Benjamin Yount
Illinois Voters Favor Term Limits According to New Poll
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – There are nearly 80 news faces in the Illinois statehouse since voters chose a governor four years ago, but even that’s not enough turnover to satisfy most voters in the state. A new poll from the Paul Simon Public Policy Institute shows that 79 percent of voters support term limits of […]
Illinois Lawmakers Consider Taking Over High School Sports
Why are Illinois lawmakers considering taking over high school sports in the state? There are four million reasons.
89 Percent of Illinois Voters Say Corruption is a Problem
A recent Paul Simon Public Policy Institute shows that 89% of Illinois voters believes that corruption is a problem in state government.
In Illinois, Shoot First, Enroll in Obamacare Later
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – In two weeks, nearly 22,000 Illinois residents have applied online for a permit to carry a gun, according to the State Police. About 61,000 have selected an insurance plan through the state’s Obamacare website, according to numbers from the state. In three months. Of the 21,794 people who have applied for […]
For Most Illinois Workers, There’s Already No Minimum Wage
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – There are thousands of workers in Illinois working today for far less than the state’s required $8.25 an hour minimum wage. But these are not poor laborers trapped by tyrannical bosses. In many cases they are young, well-educated professionals who are happy to have their jobs. “There no doubt are some […]
Illinois Taxpayers Paying Billions to ‘Manage’ Debt
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – Illinois taxpayers realize the state is buried in debt. Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension systems alone owe at least $130 billion, but now comes a new warning about the high cost of simply managing that debt. In her latest fiscal report, Illinois Comptroller Judy Baar Topinka warns that Illinois will see billion dollar […]
Is Illinois the Land of Lawsuits?
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – Illinois’ reputation for jackpot justice has landed three Illinois counties on the latest Judicial Hellhole report. The annual report from them American Tort Reform Foundation ranks states and jurisdictions ripe for lawsuit abuse. California tops the report’s Hellhole list, followed by New York, Louisiana and West Virginia. Illinois is fifth on […]
Labor Union Wins: Illinois Ends Private Medicaid Review
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – Illinois has fired the private company that found 40 percent of Medicaid enrollees in the state shouldn’t be in the system. Now, the state will hire hundreds of unionized, public employees to do the job. Gov. Pat Quinn signed an agreement with the state’s largest public employee union, the American Federation […]
Illinois Lawmakers (Almost) Agree With Taxpayers About Pensions
(Watchdog.org) Springfield, IL – Illinois lawmakers have finally come to accept what most taxpayers in the state have known for years. “Illinois pension systems are just too rich to be afforded,” Democratic House Speaker Mike Madigan said Tuesday as lawmakers began on a path to pension reform. Madigan said Illinois cannot guarantee unionized, public employees […]