Illinois Policy Institute

16Feb/100

I am excited to be officially joining the Illinois Policy Institute, effective today.

Founded in 2002, the Institute has enjoyed tremendous growth and success advancing liberty-based public policy initiatives in Illinois.

The Institute houses a number of projects geared towards turning Illinois into a beacon of liberty in the Midwest. In addition to robust policy centers, the Institute is home to a cutting-edge transparency project, a "Liberty Leaders" grassroots force, and much more.

I'm very excited to be joining this impressive team.

Check out our latest policy publication, the 2010 Illinois Piglet Booklet. A joint venture with Citizens Against Government Waste, the booklet details just some of the wasteful spending of Illinois taxpayer dollars:

$6,500 for a tub of live bass. The state paid for fishing seminars and demonstrations using a 4,000 gallon, 40-foot long tank filled with live fish.
$353,165 for car racing. The state is funding Raceway Associates, which partners with big-time  races like the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500, as well as a massive construction grant for Atkinson  Motorsports Park in northwestern Illinois.
$10,000 for a Batman gala. Your tax  dollars funded a star-studded party for “Dark Knight” director Christopher Nolan.
$1,100 for Hawaiian party props. Your  money made its way to Island Enterprises, a company providing “everything for luaus and Hawaiian themed events from dancers to music to props and apparel.”
$78,066 for quail promotion. The state is funding Quail Unlimited, which is “dedicated to the wise use and management of America’s wild quail, doves, upland game birds and other forms of wildlife.”