Prairie State Wire

Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman recently reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to uprooting the state’s current political system in a message to supporters highlighting the organization’s work over the past year.

“If you live in Illinois as I do, you know that reforming our state is not for the faint of heart,” Tillman wrote. “Entrenched politicians – like Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan – have rigged state government to benefit themselves and their special interests. Uprooting this decades-old system is not easy. But that’s exactly what we’re doing here at the Illinois Policy Institute.”

Tillman noted that the institute was instrumental in helping to overturn the Cook County tax on sweetened beverages in the fall, as well as in supporting the Janus v American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) case that will be heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in a few months. The case stands to institute right-to-work policy for government workers throughout the country, Tillman said.

Illinois Policy Institute CEO John Tillman

Tillman also highlighted the group’s intensive work to counter the state budget passed in July. While the measure and its corresponding tax hike went through, the institute led efforts to promote citizen engagement with lawmakers against the law.

“As a result of this record engagement, more than 30 state lawmakers have already either resigned their seats or will not be holding on to their seats in the next General Assembly,” Tillman wrote. “This is an exodus unlike anything Springfield insiders have ever seen. And most importantly, it’s a sign that power is shifting back to where it belongs: the people.”