We’ve previously reported on SB 2194, which imposes new taxes on tobacco products and hospitals. Of course, cigarette taxes can’t fix the structural problems of Medicaid. Last week, the bill passed the House 60-52, with eighteen Republicans voting for the tax hike. Moments ago, the Illinois Senate concurred with the House 31-27, sending the bill to the Governor’s...
Read an opinion piece by the Institute's Lawrence McQuillan
The Institute's John Tillman was referenced in this opinion piece in The Wall Street Journal
For decades, the state has subsidized the pension costs of teachers working for local school districts. The practice requires the state to pay the employer share of teacher benefits that accrue each year, even though teachers are not state employees. That set-up has destroyed spending accountability across the state. Local school districts have been doling...
The Illinois House just passed SB 2194, which imposes new taxes on tobacco products and hospitals. We’ve previously explained why cigarette taxes can’t fix the structural problems in the Medicaid program. A total of eighteen Republicans signed on to the tax hike, including Mike Bost, Dan Brady, Franco Coladipietro, Jim Durkin, Kent Gaffney, Renée Kosel, David Leitch, Donald Moffitt, Rosemary Mulligan,Chris Nybo, JoAnn Osmond, Robert Pritchard, Dennis Reboletti, Chapin Rose, Jim Sacia, Darlene...
Recently, Sen. Bill Brady suggested that local pension accountability would lead to property tax increases (Pension imbalance, May 13, 2012). Not true. The state already increased everyone’s income taxes to pay for pensions. Cutting state expenses will allow for lower taxes. If the state doesn’t reduce pension costs, then other education spending will face cuts....
The Institute's Kristina Rasmussen discussed whether state legislators should cut their pay on FOX St. Louis
The Center for Tax and Budget Accountability (CTBA) wants taxes raised on hard-working Illinoisans by at least $2.4 billion annually through a progressive personal income tax, which taxes individual income at ever-higher marginal tax rates. Currently, Illinois has a flat 5 percent income tax. In a recent report, the CTBA argues for this tax hike by...
The Institute's John Tillman discusses whether or not teachers are actually paying their share of their pension costs.
The Institute's John Tillman appeared on ABC 7 to discuss our latest pension report, Playing Favorites.
The Institute's pension report was featured in this editorial in the Rockford Register Star.
by Peter White, Liberty Justice Center Yesterday morning I sat in the Daley Center and listened as Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero struck down Illinois’ internet affiliate tax law and, in so doing, handed victory to thousands of internet entrepreneurs across the state. While the outcome of the case will rest ultimately with...
This morning, Cook County Circuit Judge Robert Lopez Cepero struck down the online affiliate tax (Public Act 096-1544). The law required out-of-state online retailers such as Amazon.com to collect and remit sales taxes on purchases made by Illinois residents if the online retailer maintained a physical presence in Illinois. The law was signed by Gov....
In 2012, Illinoisans will have to work 114 days to earn enough to pay their combined federal, state and local tax bill – seven days longer than the average of all the states. The Tax Foundation released their annual “Tax Freedom Day” report, which determines how long residents must work to pay off all tax...