Frank Manzo IV
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Illinois shows how protecting workers’ rights is good policyOct 04, 2025 1:30 pm - Seven years ago, Illinois became ground zero in a generations-long fight over workers’ rights. The Supreme Court’s decision in Janus vs. AFSCME Council 31 imposed so-called “right-to-work” conditions on every public sector worker in the nation.
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Preapprenticeship is a policy innovation that works for IllinoisSep 06, 2025 1:19 pm - In Illinois, 98% of construction apprentices graduate from programs managed cooperatively between employers and trade unions. These programs offer proven career pathways, but they have not always been accessible to all residents.Preapprenticeship programs have emerged as a viable solution to this problem.
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Illinois is short 142,000 homes. Here’s how to fix that.Jun 27, 2025 9:45 am - Illinois faces a critical housing shortage that has increased home prices and rents, leaving many families unable to find or afford housing.
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Illinois’ motor fuel tax is working as intended: Fixing roads and keeping up with costsMay 17, 2025 1:28 pm - Every July 1 since 2019, Illinois’ motor fuel tax ticks upward with the rate of inflation. And every year, the same talking heads emerge attacking it as some evidence of broken government.
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Project Labor Agreements deliver on policymakers’ promises to taxpayers and workersApr 19, 2025 1:48 pm - With tariffs, market volatility, and mass government layoffs dominating headlines lately, much of our national economic discourse has centered around whether public policies and investments are maximizing value for taxpayers and opportunities for American workers.
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Illinois’ current sales tax system does not reflect a modern economyMar 26, 2025 9:23 am - Tax policy is a deeply misunderstood topic. In general, most people believe that “conservative” states levy fewer taxes than states with more “left-leaning” leadership.
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Tariffs could adversely affect Illinois’ businesses and familiesFeb 22, 2025 1:02 pm - A tariff is simply a sales tax on items brought into the United States from other countries. They are paid by companies that purchase the imports, who proceed to pass on the costs to consumers in the form of higher prices.
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Illinois can overcome its challenging budget realitiesJan 26, 2025 5:49 am - To overcome a challenging fiscal environment, Illinois should find operational efficiencies and continue its commitment to fiscally responsible budgeting while making necessary improvements to our transportation systems, addressing education needs, and continuing to improve pensions.
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Illinois is better prepared for the next recessionDec 29, 2024 5:15 am - For much of the past two decades, Illinois’ recession preparedness was wholly inadequate. But new research from the Illinois Economic Policy Institute and the Project for Middle Class Renewal at the University of Illinois reveals a major shift compared to where our state was during the last two major economic downturns — the Great Recession and the COVID-19 recession.
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Time running out for lawmakers to address public transit fiscal cliffOct 06, 2024 7:00 am - Efficient, accessible, and safe public transportation is essential to a robust Illinois economy. Our public transit systems connect workers to jobs, bring customers to co...
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