* Press release…
The Illinois Policy Institute promoted its executive vice president, Matt Paprocki, to president of the nonprofit research organization. John Tillman will remain chairman and CEO of the Institute.
Paprocki will also serve as chairman of the recently formed Illinois Policy PAC. IPPAC gives taxpayers a platform with lawmakers and decision-makers in Springfield, and provides them the same kind of legislative access unions, corporations and other special interests have enjoyed for decades. As a nonpartisan, independent committee, the PAC supports Democrats and Republicans willing to fight for Illinois taxpayers. PAC activity can be viewed at illinoissunshine.org.
Statement from Matt Paprocki:
“The Illinois Policy Institute is the only research organization that helps taxpayers understand how public policy affects their lives and gives them a voice in Springfield. We are a team of economists, policy experts, communicators and leaders. I am proud and honored to work with an amazing team.
“We are thankful to have thousands of donors and hundreds of thousands of Illinois citizens who support our work because they believe in our mission. Our team provides taxpayers with a voice that can compete with the special interests that have long dominated in Springfield.
“I was a staffer in the legislature for seven years before joining the Illinois Policy Institute, and I always admired the Institute’s ability to fight for what’s right – not what’s easy. I will steward what John and the team have built, and will honor the Illinois Policy Institute’s founding vision: To fight for policies that empower people, not government. To do that, we need to build bridges. Our democracy works best when we work together and that will be a principle that drives me forward in all our work in Springfield and around the state.”
Statement from John Tillman:
“This evolution in our leadership structure properly reflects the great work Matt has done to lead our team on the daily fight to advance fiscal responsibility, criminal justice reform and, more broadly, a reform agenda that will put Illinois back on the track to prosperity for all of its citizens. Further, Matt’s role with the Illinois Policy PAC will help the team better advance our agenda with leaders on both sides of the aisle who share our common interest in reforms that put the people of Illinois first instead of special interests.”
I respect Matt and wish him well. He was behind the group’s push to find bipartisan sponsors for their bills this past spring, which was encouraging to see. And it’s also worth noting that Tillman went out of his way to say that the Institute was not formally part of his lawsuit to invalidate billions of dollars in state bonds.
We’ll see how this new PAC does. Its top contributor so far is the Government Accountability Alliance, which appears to be Tillman’s umbrella group for his various organizations.
- Seeking context - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:18 am:
Do we know if there’s any relation to Bishop Paprocki?
- Give Me A Break - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:19 am:
Wow, I thought the Bishop got a new gig. Would probably fit right in there.
- Not again - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:20 am:
Hope they start working on bike lane expansions to accommodate tandems.
- Bertrum Cates - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:21 am:
= Do we know if there’s any relation to Bishop Paprocki? =
There is no relation. Poor guy gets that question all of the time.
I like Matt. I am happy for him.
- Token Conservative - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:24 am:
Matt is a good, smart guy. Hopefully he can put a less extreme face on IPI.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:24 am:
Until the phony ends, it’s a warm body in the same seat.
The IPI was first touted with Schneider and Shaw as those “bringing back” the ILGOP… until IPI wasn’t… so there’s that phony going about.
As of right now?
If reporting half of a story and ignoring what is trying to be said was a sport, IPI would be champions of the world.
That’s who they are. Will it change?
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:26 am:
“To do that, we need to build bridges.”
Lol, yeah, right. Building bridges by waging a war against AFSCME and trying to nonstop union-bust. That’s going over well with political opponents. Building bridges with phony government and tax grievances of the rich and privileged, who’ve done great in higher-income Illinois and Chicago metro, with its great business opportunities. Building bridges through propaganda.
Maybe the IPI wants to attract all those imaginary Democrats Rauner said privately supported him.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:31 am:
===I will steward what John and the team have built, and will honor the Illinois Policy Institute’s founding vision===
1) Try to stir up anger and distain for organized labor
2) Push that the state is bankrupt and ignore the state constitution while doing so
3) Pretend the use of the word “Taxpayers” isn’t a dog whistle.
Those things? LOL
- Anyone Remember - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:32 am:
As a former staffer, perhaps he can identify the agency that AFSCME kept from automating with computers? /s
- Soo... - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:32 am:
=That’s who they are. Will it change?=
I wouldn’t place any bets on that….
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:36 am:
===Further, Matt’s role with the Illinois Policy PAC will help the team better advance our agenda with leaders on both sides of the aisle===
Someone wrote that.. and thought…
“Maybe no one will remember Raunerism and my role in it trying to destroy Illinois”
The more I read, this announcement makes The Onion read like passive satire, lol
- CEA - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:42 am:
Great news for Illinois’ downtrodden billionares, whose suffering the IPI works tirelessly to alleviate.
- Lester Holt’s Mustache - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 10:50 am:
Yes, yes, following the Institute’s vision, blah blah blah - but where does he stand on allowing Dick Durbin to receive communion? That’s the real question here
- Da Big Bad Wolf - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 11:38 am:
==The Illinois Policy Institute is the only research organization that helps taxpayers understand how public policy affects their lives and gives them a voice in Springfield.==
Except for the Paul Simon Institute, the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability, the Illinois Economic Research Policy Institute, the Project for Middle Class Renewal, or the Civic Lab.
Or do you mean the only research organization that sends out press releases by the pound?
- Can it be? - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 11:51 am:
…There is a lot of cleaning up to do for the new “IP.” Are they serious? Will they change their tone?
Re-Branding is great. Except when it’s not really re-branding. Time will ultimately tell. Can an old dog learn new tricks?
- Rocky - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 12:15 pm:
Yes the I.P really helped change our minds about Rauner…
- DougChicago - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 12:36 pm:
A nice fellow. But a true believing lulu. IPI needs to die off if the Illinois GOP wants any sort of resurgence.
This just isn’t a conservative state. Even on tax issues the people who actually pay them on a net basis — portions of the city and suburbs — reward those who increase them.
Downstaters seem to be anti-tax but they are big time net tax eaters so their position in the end is just whacko.
Some sort of polite good management group needs to emerge that advocates at the very least trying to spend tax dollars less like drunken sailors. That might sell in Illinois but that ain’t IPI.
Maybe Uncle Dickie Uileihn will smarten up one of these days and cut them off.
- Loan Ranger - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 2:47 pm:
Nice to see a golden horseshoe winner at the head of the Illinois Policy Institute.
- Oswego Willy - Thursday, Sep 5, 19 @ 2:53 pm:
I’m expecting this new leadership to move away from documentaries about Madigan (that then led to Madigan having his largest majority… ever) and helping pick members of the Illinois state Senate, to maybe… doing a documentary about bad policy choices and picking wrong horses…
Sorry… IPI is non-partisan.