Southern Illinois voters oppose putting Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment on the ballot

By Austin Berg

05/25/2019

Southern Illinoisans want their representative to vote “no” on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive tax constitutional amendment. This preference extends beyond GOP voters, with independents also showing strong opposition.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, Nathan Reitz, progressive income tax, taxes

Pritzker says he will not engage in horse-trading to win support for tax hikes

By Adam Schuster

05/25/2019

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will not selectively hand out infrastructure projects as a way to buy support for proposals to increase taxes and fees, should he stick to his word.

TAGS: capital project, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Illinois House committee passes progressive income tax rates without public notice

By Bryce Hill, Austin Berg

05/25/2019

In a party-line vote that even fellow lawmakers were unaware of, Illinois House Democrats passed out of committee a progressive income tax rate structure that would take effect should Gov. J.B. Pritzker succeed in scrapping Illinois’ constitutional flat income tax protection.

TAGS: corporate income tax, fair tax, graduated income tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, Margo McDermed, Michael Zalewski, progressive income tax, taxes

Gas prices spike ahead of Memorial Day weekend, as future tax hikes loom

By Joe Barnas

05/25/2019

A nationwide gas price surge reached its peak just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, with Illinois gas prices sitting above the national average.

TAGS: capital project, gas tax, JB Pritzker, transportation

Pritzker’s 19 different tax and fee hikes total $6.9 billion

By Adam Schuster

05/24/2019

Between the push for a graduated income tax, his budget address and newly released capital plan, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed an onslaught of backdoor tax hikes on all Illinoisans.

TAGS: cigarette tax, fair tax, gas tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, plastic bag tax, progressive income tax, sports betting, sports gambling, taxes, vehicle registration

Pritzker’s proposed tax and fee hikes on average Illinoisans total more than those on ‘the rich’

By Austin Berg

05/24/2019

The upward march of Illinois’ core cost drivers – pensions and government worker health insurance – cannot be paid for by tax hikes on small groups. Without reform, tax hike proposals on all Illinoisans will continue flowing from the Statehouse.

TAGS: cigarette tax, fair tax, gas tax, income tax, JB Pritzker, plastic bag tax, progressive income tax, taxes

Moody’s report: Illinois one of two states unprepared for next recession

By Adam Schuster

05/21/2019

Financial stress testing shows Illinois and New Jersey are the most unprepared for the next recession. Both states lack sufficient rainy day funds and struggle with large pension debt.

TAGS: debt, Moody's Investor Service, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, recession, revenue

House committee approves Pritzker progressive tax amendment

By Vincent Caruso

05/20/2019

The Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would scrap taxpayers’ sole protection against endless income tax hikes.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Chicago’s new mayor inherits taxpayers facing biggest public debts of nation’s top 10 cities

By Joe Barnas

05/18/2019

Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $119,110 worth of unfunded state, city, county and other local government debt. Many of the pensions driving those debts become Lori Lightfoot’s problem on Monday.

TAGS: Chicago, debt, Lori Lightfoot, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, property taxes, Rahm Emanuel, taxes

Bipartisan township consolidation bill heads to Pritzker’s desk

By Joe Barnas

05/17/2019

Former Gov. Bruce Rauner vetoed a bill that would have made it easier for McHenry County residents to consolidate their townships. Renewed bipartisan support has sent it back to the governor’s desk, now occupied by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.

TAGS: consolidation, local government consolidation, property taxes, taxes