Budget Solutions 2010:  Balancing the Budget Without Tax Hikes          

Our state is in a financial mess, but are Governor Quinn's tax hikes or “doomsday” budget cuts necessary to balance the Illinois budget?  The Illinois Policy Institute's latest report, Budget Solutions 2010, shows a variety of ways to balance the budget without tax hikes.  We offer a menu of options to curb out-of-control spending, along with reforms to make state government more efficient, accountable, and transparent. 

Click here to see our Budget Solutions Report.

Institute Issues New Report on Charter School Authorization Reform

Hundreds of communities and neighborhoods throughout Illinois are badly in need of better schools. In those communities it should be a realistic option for innovative educators to create new school choices for students and their families. This report suggests the creation of an independent authorization entity which would allow successful charter schools to open in communities that have previously been left out of the charter school movement.

Click here to read our full report.

  Institute Issues New Reports on Charter Schools and Graduation Rates

A performance report of downstate and suburban charter schools shows the growing success of the "charter school movement." A comparision between charter school and traditional public school graduation rates shows one thing- this state needs more charter schools.

Click here to read more about our graduation rates report.

Click here to read more about the success of charter schools in Illinois.

The Compass Spring 2009 edition is here!  

The Institute's quarterly magazine features a recap of recent events, interviews with Liberty Leaders, a media impact report, and more information on how you can get involved. 

Download the latest edition of the Compass here ( PDF file).

Over the past few weeks, the U.S. government has been busy issuing "stress tests" to determine whether the nation's largest banks are solvent. Today, the Illinois Policy Institute decided to join in by releasing it's very own "stress test." There's one catch: It's not for troubled banks.

It's for the government itself. You can check out our short, sweet, and to-the-point stress test here. Consider it your very own one page Ponzi scheme detector! However, when you're reading it, try not to pull out your hair. Rogaine isn't covered under the Medicaid prescription drug benefit...yet.

 Read our full report here.