Brent Retherford
Brent Retherford
"This state is so wasteful and broken, and it just feels like politicians don’t care about us.”
Illinois is No. 1 in government units, keeping property taxes sky high
Illinois is No. 1 in government units, keeping property taxes sky high
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.
Illinois diaper tax costs families $120 per year
Illinois diaper tax costs families $120 per year
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.
Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high
Illinois gas taxes help push prices near all-time high
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.
Working mom: Pritzker gas tax ploy assumes Illinoisans ‘stupid’
Working mom: Pritzker gas tax ploy assumes Illinoisans ‘stupid’
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.
Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks
Neighbor states pursue real tax reform as Pritzker offers election-year gimmicks
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.
Gina Williams
Gina Williams
Pritzker gas taxes add to $72 fill-up to get kids to sports
Pritzker defends forcing gas station owners to put his propaganda on pumps
Pritzker defends forcing gas station owners to put his propaganda on pumps
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.
Lightfoot orders her name on $12.5M in gas, transit cards
Lightfoot orders her name on $12.5M in gas, transit cards
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.
Illinois lawmakers increase salaries to 4th highest in U.S.
Illinois lawmakers increase salaries to 4th highest in U.S.
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.
Illinois’ half-baked marijuana legalization costs state $600M
Illinois’ half-baked marijuana legalization costs state $600M
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.
Illinois’ 2nd-highest gas taxes drive motorists, business across state lines
Illinois’ 2nd-highest gas taxes drive motorists, business across state lines
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.
New Illinois law forces gas stations to campaign for Pritzker
New Illinois law forces gas stations to campaign for Pritzker
The content of the signs isn’t quite as important as the message being delivered to Illinois’ gas station owners: “Push our campaign agenda, or we’ll treat you like a criminal and fine you $500 per day.”
Fact check: Pritzker’s gas tax delay doesn’t ‘lower prices’
Fact check: Pritzker’s gas tax delay doesn’t ‘lower prices’
In his latest re-election ad, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker touted his election-year tax relief as lowering prices for families. He failed to mention his plan expires shortly after the election and that he imposed thousands in new taxes as his term began.