Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike
Chicago prepares for yet another telephone tax hike
Chicagoans already pay the highest in the nation 911 surcharge and a newly passed bill would raise that rate even higher.
Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country
Illinoisans pay the fourth-highest wireless taxes in the country
Illinoisans already pay the nation’s fourth-highest wireless taxes. But a new bill awaiting Gov. Bruce Rauner’s signature would make this burden even heavier.
Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform
Illinois Senate’s education finance bill bails out Chicago, fails at reform
Senate Bill 1 provides a $215 million annual pension bailout and other carve-outs worth hundreds of millions of dollars to CPS.
Amended cursive writing mandate passes Illinois Senate
Amended cursive writing mandate passes Illinois Senate
A Senate amendment would require public elementary schools to teach cursive writing, while the original House bill would extend the handwriting instruction mandate to all Illinois public elementary and high schools.
Bill preventing pension double dipping awaits Rauner’s signature
Bill preventing pension double dipping awaits Rauner’s signature
House Bill 418 would prevent retired police officers from double dipping in the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund, which has placed a burden on taxpayers at the local level.
St. Clair, Madison counties home to multimillion-dollar property tax slush funds
St. Clair, Madison counties home to multimillion-dollar property tax slush funds
Property taxes are set to increase in Madison and St. Clair counties, and local taxpayers should know that through TIF districts, politicians divert tax dollars that could go toward schools, libraries and public services to separate accounts that foster a lack of transparency and accountability.
Illinois owes over $250 billion in pension debt
Illinois owes over $250 billion in pension debt
Moody’s Investors Service cited Illinois’ $250 billion in pension debt and the lengthy budget impasse as reasons for its one-notch credit downgrade.
Fact-checking Madigan: Rauner’s agenda is packed with budgetary items
Fact-checking Madigan: Rauner’s agenda is packed with budgetary items
Though Illinois Democrats insist Gov. Bruce Rauner’s reform agenda has nothing to do with the state’s budget, Rauner’s original proposed spending reforms would allow the state to balance its budget without hitting up taxpayers for more revenue.
Illinois has the lowest credit rating on record for a U.S. state
Illinois has the lowest credit rating on record for a U.S. state
S&P cited Illinois lawmakers’ failure to pass a budget and the lengthy budget impasse as reasons for its one-notch credit downgrade. Over the years, Illinois’ state credit rating has been downgraded multiple times due to massive spending and excessive borrowing.
Illinois should make public university tuition more affordable – not subsidize inflated costs with tax dollars
Illinois should make public university tuition more affordable – not subsidize inflated costs with tax dollars
House Bill 1316 would force taxpayers to help fill the gap between high tuition costs and student affordability. The bill would increase government spending, but undermine Illinois’ public colleges and universities' incentive to lower tuition costs to compete for students.
Illinois fiscal collapse began long before the 2-year budget impasse
Illinois fiscal collapse began long before the 2-year budget impasse
Illinois’ budgetary mess preceded Gov. Bruce Rauner’s tenure, with years of gimmicks, borrowing and broken promises.
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to require truth-in-labeling for catfish
Illinois lawmakers pass legislation to require truth-in-labeling for catfish
With legislative session winding down and several items critical to taxpayers yet to be tackled, lawmakers passed a bill regulating the sale of catfish in restaurants.
Illinois income tax hike to 5% opens door for a progressive tax hike
Illinois income tax hike to 5% opens door for a progressive tax hike
An income tax hike to 5 percent makes a call for a progressive tax system during the 2018 gubernatorial race a much easier sell.
Illinois has higher gas prices than national average, all neighboring states, heading into Memorial Day weekend
Illinois has higher gas prices than national average, all neighboring states, heading into Memorial Day weekend
Motorists in Chicago face higher gas prices than the national and state average, due in part to the multiple layers of taxes heaped upon by state, county and local government.