The Illinois Economic Policy Institute (ILEPI) is a labor-union-funded think tank founded in 2013, that advocates increasing worker wages on publicly funded projects, ¹ increasing minimum wages, ² implementing wind and solar energy infrastructure, ³ expanding unions, ⁴ and implementing a progressive tax system in Illinois. ⁵

It is largely funded by unions including the American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO), Chicago Federation of Labor Workforce and Community Initiative, United Association, the International Union of Operating Engineers 139, the Joint Labor Management Work Preservation Fund, and the Labor Management Union Carpentry Cooperation Promotion Fund. ⁶

Wages

The Illinois Economic Policy Institute supports the implementation of prevailing wage mandates, which functionally require the use of unionized contractors on government projects. ILEPI supports prevailing wages because they can increase the number of local contractors hired for projects which helps to keep tax dollars in those communities and estimates that approximately 3,000 Illinois constriction workers will be able to become homeowners. It also claims that “prevailing wages reduce racial income inequality by 53% in the construction sector, and 7% overall.”  ¹

ILEPI also supports increasing the Illinois state minimum wage to $15 with adjustments for inflation being made annually. It speculates that worker turnover rates will fall and estimates that the state will be able collect $380 million more in taxes annually. ²

Energy

Illinois Economic Policy Institute advocates for the replacement of oil and gas energy sources with weather-dependent wind and solar energy sources stating, “A sustainable economy depends upon affordable energy, and Illinois’ commitment to transition to 100% renewable energy by 2050 promotes environmental and public health, supports disadvantaged communities, and boosts the economy.” ³ It also showed public support for the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) when it passed in 2021. This act implements progressive environmental regulations with the goals of Illinois energy coming from only wind and solar sources by 2050, having at least 1 million electric vehicles on the roads of Illinois by 2030, and focusing on hiring ethnic minority individuals for the new environmental jobs. ³

Unions

Illinois Economic Policy Institute supports the enrollment in and expansion of labor unions. It opposes right-to-work laws claiming that they “restrict the ability of workers to join together and collectively bargain” ⁴ because such laws do not require non-member employees to pay union dues. ILEPI supported the passing of a 2022 ballot measure guaranteeing a number of union powers, including banning right-to-work laws in Illinois. ⁷

Taxes

Illinois Economic Policy Institute opposes the flat income tax rate in Illinois and favors a progressive tax system which increases rates for higher-income individuals. It supports the implementation of a millionaires tax, which would automatically add an extra percentage tax on people with income over $1 million. It also supports expanding the Earned Income Credit and increasing state funding for public schools through higher property taxes. It also supports the growth of the cannabis industry in Illinois so that the state can take tax revenue from marijuana sales. ⁵

1. “Prevailing Wage.” Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://illinoisepi.org/focus-areas/prevailing-wage/.
2.  “Minimum Wage.” Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://illinoisepi.org/focus-areas/minimum-wage/.
3. “Clean Energy.” Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://illinoisepi.org/focus-areas/clean-energy/.
4. “Workers’ Rights.” Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://illinoisepi.org/workers-rights/.
5. “Taxes.” Illinois Economic Policy Institute. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://illinoisepi.org/focus-areas/illinois-taxes/.
6. “Illinois Economic Policy Institute.” ProPublica. Accessed July 11, 2025. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/full_text_search?sort=name&form%5B%5D=IRS990ScheduleI&q=46-3360695&submit=Apply.
7. Straka, Ben. “Right to Work – What Is It, and More Importantly, What Isn’t It?” Freedom Foundation, May 8, 2018. https://www.freedomfoundation.com/labor/right-to-work-what-is-it-and-more-importantly-what-isnt-it/#:~:text=In%20most%20cases%2C%20the%20default,protections%20to%20public%20employees%20nationwide.