2018 December Issue

By DENNIS GRUBAUGH    The most significant tax law change since 1986 has CPAs and taxpayers calculating ways to adjust for what is likely to be a busy tax season.    The interest was obvious at a special year-end tax-planning seminar held this past month by Scheffel Boyle CPAs: The event packed the house at the N.O.…

  By DENNIS GRUBAUGH    East St. Louis area officials are on a mission to build alliances between small businesses and potential government resources.    Entrepreneurs and others got a rare opportunity to find out what’s potentially available to them during a fall event sponsored by the Illinois Small Business Development Center for the Metro East and…

By MELISSA MESKE    Throughout history, uprisings by employees over unsafe working environments, inequity in pay, racial and age discrimination and sexual harassment have repeatedly been met with labor negotiations, increased opportunities, better policies and improved practices.     Today’s workplace, however, is seeing a transition that just might be its greatest challenge to fairness and equality…

Yes. Responsiveness to voters, not extending careers, should guide those who run for office By JIM COXWORTH    Absolutely, Illinois needs legislative term limits. One of the largest problems with important legislative positions in state government is that they tend to attract those who are interested in power and money. While these officials are elected to…

Not in terms of the evidence, which shows such limits lead to weaker legislatures, stronger governors By CHRISTOPHER Z. MOONEY    State legislative term limits has been one of the most popular American government innovations in a century. Since 1990, dozens of states and localities across the country have adopted this reform. While some state supreme…

    IBJ: Are you settling in?        Bailey: Not really. I started June 1 for a four-year term. I’m still business manager of the Steamfitters’ union, too, and was president of the Illinois Pipe Trades Association for the state, but I stepped down from there (Nov. 2). That’s one less job I’ve got.        IBJ:…