Matt Paprocki
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Why occupational licensing reform can boost Illinois businessNov 24, 2024 6:00 am - In Illinois, nearly 1 in 4 workers requires an occupational license to perform more than 100 different professions. With one of the most restrictive licensing systems in the country, Illinois has lost 135,000 jobs and $15 billion in economic activity.
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How ‘millionaire’s tax’ ballot question hides a business tax hikeOct 20, 2024 6:02 am - The proposed tax promises property tax relief by hitting millionaires. But “millionaires” in Illinois more often than not are entrepreneurs, S-corps, partnerships, LLCs, farmers and sole proprietors.
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Suburbs shouldn’t impose their own grocery taxesSep 29, 2024 5:13 am - Gov. JB Pritzker attempted some political theater this spring when he and the General Assembly eliminated the statewide grocery tax. It was a hollow victory for taxpayers.
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Does Illinois have a path to public pension reform?Sep 08, 2024 5:12 am - Illinois’ worst-in-the-nation pension crisis shouldn’t come as a surprise. For years economists have been sounding the alarm that Illinois’ pension problem is growing from financially painful to potentially unsolvable.
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Trust pros to help cut red tape, build more suburban housingJul 31, 2024 9:24 am - As Cook County property taxes hit Aug. 1, businesses and residents inevitably will see tax hikes. These rising bills, along with burdensome government regulations, make I...
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Good business starts with good educationJul 07, 2024 5:04 am - The state of education in Illinois is nothing short of a crisis — only 29% of our third-grade students are meeting reading proficiency standards, according to state data....
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Rushed pension reform will hurt businesses, residentsJun 09, 2024 5:39 am - Last month, the Illinois General Assembly passed a $53.1 billion budget, the state’s largest ever and $400 million higher than Gov. J.B. Pritzker pushed for in February. ...
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Vehicle for corruption: Red-light cameras cost more than $100 ticketMay 11, 2024 10:59 pm - For years, red-light cameras have been hurting Illinoisans, ticketing unsuspecting drivers in a way that prioritizes profits over other considerations. We’ve all grown ac...
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Why we need to be wise about how we help our impoverished neighborsApr 14, 2024 6:00 am - In college, a group of my friends volunteered at the new homeless center in South Bend, Indiana. We worked in the kids’ room where we babysat for parents as they ran err...
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What suburban businesses, residents need to know about governor’s budgetMar 17, 2024 5:30 am - Gov. J.B. Pritzker recently touted his fiscal year 2025 budget plan in the annual State of the State address. Spoiler alert: Pritzker’s $52.7 billion budget, the largest...