Caitlin Nordahl Stories | Dupage Policy Journal

Health department honors first responders as 'true heroes'

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 4, 2017

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is honoring the state’s paramedics, police, firefighters and other first responders for their commitments to Illinois’ communities during National Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Week, which ends on Saturday.

Workers' comp a tiny piece of puzzling priorities in Illinois, law firm argues

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 4, 2017

Illinois has a lot bigger problems to worry about than workers' compensation issues, a Chicago law firm argued recently, pointing to massive debt, business departures and taxpayers being left behind as much more pressing issues.

Davis says health care act offers more hope to those with pre-existing conditions

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 4, 2017

People dealing with pre-existing conditions will not only be covered by the Affordable Health Care Act (AHCA), they will be covered by insurance they can actually afford, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL) said recently.

Madigan rep says Democratic gubernatorial candidates toe the line on tax increase

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 1, 2017

All of the Democrats hoping to unseat Gov. Bruce Rauner in 2018 are backing Speaker of the House Michael Madigan's budget goal of raising taxes rather than enacting reforms, a Madigan spokesman told the Chicago Tribune recently.

High court sides with school group in financial transparency case

By Caitlin Nordahl | Jun 1, 2017

The Illinois High School Association, a non-profit organization that runs high school sports competitions, is not subject to the same transparency requirements as public institutions, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled on May 18.

All play and no work -- yet legislators still draw paychecks, policy pro argues

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 28, 2017

Lawmakers have spent very little time in their seats, but at least they got to have play time, Austin Berg wrote on the Illinois Policy Institute website recently.

Rauner says veto threat not going away until property tax relief shows up

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 28, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner took to social media recently to remind lawmakers what he has been saying for months: Expect a veto if any budget plan passes the General Assembly without taking property taxes into account.

Bending to Madigan will further break the state, Rauner contends

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 28, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner fired back at Senate President John Cullerton and his recent column in State Journal-Register, urging him to take aim at Illinois' true nemesis.

Minimum wage hike forecast as devastating blow to lllinois business, economy

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 28, 2017

Increasing Illinois' minimum wage to $15 an hour would be devastating to small businesses and cost the state 93,000 jobs, the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Research Center forecast recently.

Anchor store closures said to leave many communities adrift financially

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 24, 2017

When a major department store closes in a mall, it can do a lot more than leave an empty space in the shopping experience: It can leave a big hole in local revenue projections as well, the Better Government Association (BGA) argued recently.

Watchdogs: Who's Joe, and why did Mautino pay him $12,487?

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 22, 2017

As a state lawmaker, Frank Mautino paid nearly $12,500 in campaign fund cash to a man named Joe without keeping any supporting receipts, according to a government oversight group.

Tax analyst: Illinoisans crushed under weight of sales, income, property taxes

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 22, 2017

Illinoisans pay more in total taxes than anyone else in the nation, so any thoughts about adding to that burden need to be forgotten, a tax analyst argued recently.

Rauner argues for progress on balanced budget in op-ed piece

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 21, 2017

Gov. Bruce Rauner sees some cracks in the Democratic wall but worries that time is running out on a true breakthrough, according to an op-ed article he wrote for the State Journal-Register that was published on May 15.

Wojcicki Jimenez cheers passage of bill to expand veteran courts

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 21, 2017

Rep. Sara Wojcicki Jimenez (R-Leland Grove) touted the recent passage of Senate Bill 1238 as a way to make it easier for veterans to receive the services they need rather than getting lost in the judicial system.

Home repair tax could drive nail into Illinois economy's coffin, expert warns

By Caitlin Nordahl | May 21, 2017

Rather than trying to build back the crumbling Illinois economy, a proposed tax would add a new disincentive for anyone considering moving to the state and make it more likely that those already here would get out as soon as possible, the Illinois Policy Institute argued on its website recently.