Policy

Good government depends on citizens who demand it, but too many of us are disengaged, and that’s the challenge we face if we hope to restore our democracy.

Mayor’s plan to privatize 3-1-1 center should be put on hold until City Council adopts a privatization ordinance to protect taxpayers, and maybe longer.

Can Twizzlers jump-start stalled IL budget talks and prevent a government shutdown? One freshman lawmakers says, tongue-in-cheek, nothing else is working so it’s worth a try. 

It’s time for IL lawmakers to stop the “Padded Pension Posse” from hunting for more of our hard-earned tax dollars. Rein them in by ending pension abuse now.

Pace keeps driving off the good government road, so maybe it’s time to save tax dollars by rolling the suburban bus agency into Metra and creating one suburban transit operation, like Chicago has with the CTA. 

Time for state lawmakers to end the use of private emails accounts for government business before it gets completely out of hand.

Food for thought: Chicago has fewer food trucks than many other big cities. Is a tough ordinance responsible?

Charlie Wheeler’s column, for “Illinois Issues” magazine, suggests a “split-the-difference” approach to bridging the gap between the hardened positions that prevent meaningful negotiations over Rauner’s pro-business “turnaround agenda” and the legislative leaders’ budget priorities.