Illinois is No. 1 in government units, keeping property taxes sky high

By Dylan Sharkey

05/22/2022

Illinois has 6,032 local governments, the most in the nation by a wide margin – and that excludes 859 school districts. It’s the main reason Illinoisans pay the nation’s second-highest property taxes.

TAGS: Citizens Empowerment Act, local government consolidation, property taxes

Illinois diaper tax costs families $120 per year

By Dylan Sharkey

05/16/2022

Illinois is one of the states that taxes diapers, costing a family about $120 a year. Gov. J.B. Pritzker and 32 other governors are being asked to dispose of their diaper taxes.

TAGS: diaper tax, Illinois

Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high

By Dylan Sharkey

05/09/2022

The second-highest motor fuel tax in the nation keeps Illinois’ gas prices the highest in the Midwest. Diesel hits a record as the average gas price moves close to a record.

TAGS: gas prices, Illinois

Working mom: Pritzker gas tax ploy assumes Illinoisans ‘stupid’

By Ann Miller

05/06/2022

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s campaign gimmick to delay his next gas tax increase assumes Illinois drivers have a short memory. One working mom says her $72 fill-up is a regular reminder of just how many taxes Pritzker has imposed.

TAGS: gas prices, gas station, gas tax, JB Pritzker, pensions, taxes

Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks

By Justin Carlson

05/03/2022

While Illinois settles for Pritzker’s temporary relief that mostly expires after the November election, its neighbor states are making long-term changes to help grow their economies.

TAGS: Illinois, Midwest, taxes

Pritzker defends forcing gas station owners to put his propaganda on pumps

By Patrick Andriesen

04/28/2022

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said making filling stations advertise his temporary gas tax suspension or pay $500 a day in fines was not forced political speech. But an association of 500 small petroleum businesses is suing because they believe otherwise.

TAGS: gas prices, JB Pritzker

Lightfoot orders her name on $12.5M in gas, transit cards

By Patrick Andriesen

04/21/2022

Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s name will be on 150,000 prepaid gas and transit cards she plans to raffle off to Chicagoans. She’s trying again after aldermen initially rejected the $12.5 million proposal as an election stunt.

TAGS: Chicago, gas prices, Lori Lightfoot

Illinois lawmakers increase salaries to 4th highest in U.S.

By Patrick Andriesen

04/20/2022

Springfield lawmakers will be the fourth-highest paid legislators in the nation after giving themselves a $2,700 raise in the 2023 state budget. Lawmakers’ salaries have increased 8% since Gov. J.B. Pritzker took office.

TAGS: Illinois, lawmaker pay

Illinois’ half-baked marijuana legalization costs state $600M

By Adam Schuster

04/20/2022

A complex system of high taxes and restrictive licensing undermines the goals of marijuana legalization proponents – leaving $600 million in potential revenue uncollected while helping the illegal drug trade.

TAGS: JB Pritzker, marijuana, taxes

Illinois’ 2nd-highest gas taxes drive motorists, business across state lines

By Patrick Andriesen

04/19/2022

Drivers save 45 cents a gallon on gas by filling up at a station across the state line in Missouri, thanks to Illinois boosting gas taxes to No. 2 in the U.S. Gas station owners said Illinois drivers are filling up in other states.

TAGS: gas tax, JB Pritzker