Archive for Wasteful Spending
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Who Brings Home the Pork from Washington?
With the release of the 2010 Capital Bill Piglet Book highlighting wasteful spending by the state, I was curious to see what kind of wasteful spending was taking place at the federal level on behalf of Illinois.
This information was …
State Government Spends $300,000 on Polar Play Zone
The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity authorized a $300,000 grant to the Shedd Aquarium Society for a Polar Play Zone Exhibit. According to the DCEO, the funds were used to assist in the development of the exhibit design …
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?…
Chicago to FOIA: Drop Dead.
The Beachwood Reporter discusses the City of Chicago’s less than stellar response to FOIA requests from the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, which recently released its annual lobbying survey. The survey reported counties and public agencies paid lobbyists nearly …
Medicaid Transparency Passes Both Houses
Medicaid Transparency (HB5241) has passed both Houses and now awaits a signature from the Governor. The Institute’s Kristina Rasmussen testified in support of this legislation, explaining how it would provide the following:
- Offer government administrators a valuable tool
…
Alert: Sunshine Commission Passes Both Houses
Great news from Springfield today:
The Sunshine Commission Act, introduced by Rep. David Reis and picked up by Senator Matt Murphy, has passed both houses. The Sunshine Commission, a central part of the Institute’s Economic Reform Agenda for …
Raises in Chicago Public Schools or Not?
Check out this revealing (and entertaining) story by Chicago Reader’s Ben Joravsky about the maze of Chicago Public Schools spending and the difficulties in figuring out exactly where all the tax dollars are going and why.
Joravsky’s piece, “A …
Cook County Check Register Live
Want to find out how Cook County is spending your tax dollars?
Check out its check register here and see where your tax dollars are going.
ABC 7′s I-Team found some interesting expenses of note, such as $6,243.75 to CROE …
If Companies Won’t Do Business with Illinois, What’s Next?
Shore Galleries Inc. refused to ship bullets to the Illinois Department of Corrections unless the state paid the vendor upfront, according to a report from the Herald Review today. Currently, the state owes the Lincolnwood firm $6,000, and they don’t …
