Institute of Government and Public Affairs

The long term budgetary effects of the pension reform bills

Kelsey McCoy — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:43:00 +0000

As the General Assembly readies to meet in Springfield on Wednesday for a special session dedicated to pension reform, questions remain about how the two main reform proposals (SB1 and SB2404) will affect the state’s long-term fiscal picture.

Emerging leaders in Illinois named 2013 Edgar Fellows

jimpaul — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 19:54:55 +0000

Outstanding men and women from throughout Illinois have been chosen as 2013 Edgar Fellows in the second year of an initiative sponsored by the University of Illinois and its Institute of Government and Public Affairs (IGPA) to foster cooperation across regional, political and ethnic lines to address challenges the state faces in the years and decades ahead.

Flash Index up slightly in May; Unemployment continues to impede growth

jimpaul — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 14:48:40 +0000

After climbing by more than a full point in April, the University of Illinois Flash Index held relatively steady in May, rising just one-tenth of a point to 105.9.

The National Picture on Public Pensions

Kelsey McCoy — Fri, 10 May 2013 20:41:43 +0000

Illinois lawmakers are debating two proposals that would alter the retirement plans of current state employees, teachers, university employees and the General Assembly. IGPA released a report that provides a compilation of data on the changes to current employees' retirement contribution rates and post-retirement cost of living adjustments (COLAs) that have been enacted in the United States since 2009.

2013 Family Impact Seminar takes a close look at reducing disparities in safe sleep practices and infant care

Kelsey McCoy — Thu, 09 May 2013 15:24:12 +0000

On Friday, April 26, more than 60 health practitioners and researchers attended the 2013 Family Impact Seminar. Guarding All Children in Sleep: New Ideas for Reducing Disparities in Safe Sleep Practices brought together researchers from across the country, and a keynote speaker from New Zealand, to discuss ways to end preventable infant death through public education.

U of I Flash Index Rose Sharply in April, Reflects Stronger than Usual Tax Receipts for 2012

Kelsey McCoy — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:59:56 +0000

The Flash Index rose sharply in April, to 105.8 from its 104.7 level in March. The April reading is the highest since August 2007—several months before the onset of the Great Recession.

Illinois Economic Review from REAL shows continued job growth in state

jimpaul — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 13:48:35 +0000

Analaysts at the Regional Economics Applications Laboratory say the number of jobs in Illinois continues to grow. Data in the latest Illinois Economic Review show that Illinois has added more than 60,000 jobs since February 2012, however there is still much ground to recover. The state still has 198,000 fewer jobs than it did at the beginning of the recession in December 2007.

Immigration Ambivalence in Suburbia

Kelsey McCoy — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:16:57 +0000

As national leaders approach compromise on federal immigration reform, IGPA researchers are examining important local-level trends related to the growth of the immigrant population.

Four finalists to make faculty/staff visits in search for new IGPA Director

jimpaul — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 19:27:51 +0000

Four finalists have been selected in the search for a new director for the Institute of Government and Public Affairs. The four finalists will visit with IGPA faculty, staff and key stakeholders during the month of April, according to Dr. Michael Pagano, dean of the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and chair of the search committee.

Flash Index plateaus in March at 104.7

Kelsey McCoy — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:45:45 +0000

The U of I Flash Index dropped slightly again in March to 104.7 from its 104.8 level last month. The index has reached a plateau in the 104.6 to 104.9 range the past four months after nearly three years of consistent increases.