A Novel Approach to Budget Planning
In the last few years, the federal government and many state governments have used a similar approach to dealing with the economic downturn: higher taxes and more government spending. Governor Quinn’s proposed tax hikes and his $31 billion Illinois Jobs …
Taxpayer-funded Lobbying
Do you know how much you’re paying for lobbyists?
Sunshine Review has released a paper about taxpayer-funded lobbying in Illinois, reporting information about lobbying contracts and membership in taxpayer-funded lobbying associations. Taxpayer-funded lobbying associations are groups funded at least …
Stimulus Working for You?
Section 1604 of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (AARA) specifically prohibits funds from flowing to certain entertainment and recreation projects.
Does a casino, aquarium, zoo, golf course, or swimming pool sound like recreation or entertainment to you?…
Teachers, Unions, and Transparency
From S.T. Karnick at The American Culture:
In case you missed it, LA Times reporters Jason Felch, Jason Song and Doug Smith used California’s public records law to obtain seven years of math and English test scores from the
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Locksmiths Take Home $54K Salaries
The State of Illinois hired 33 locksmiths in calendar year 2008 for $1,786,125 in combined total wages
$2.5M for State Clinical Psychologists
The State of Illinois hired 33 clinical psychologists in calendar year 2008 for $2,516,451 in combined total wages.
Summertime Blues
According to the Chicago Tribune, a new Congressional report called “Summertime Blues” shows stimulus funding has gone to buy iPods for high school students, cell phones for smokers trying to quit, and advertising for the stimulus itself.
Electricians Cost State $7 Million
The State of Illinois hired 107 electricians in fiscal year 2008 for $7,370,091 in combined total wages.
State Nutritionists Make 6.3% More than Private Sector Counterparts
The Illinois Department of Human Services hired ten nutritionists in fiscal year 2008 for $543,117 in combined total wages. The average salary for a nutritionist was $54,311 while the highest paid nutritionist took home a $65,165 salary.
New Searchable Database for Cook County Lobbyists
Cook County will now provide a searchable online database regarding lobbyists’ activities, according to the Daily Herald.
