Mario Conforti
Mario Conforti
"Inflation has definitely been our biggest challenge for the last 18 months or so. Prices have been going up on everything."
Illinois teachers unions back measure promising $2,149 property tax hike
Illinois teachers unions back measure promising $2,149 property tax hike
Teachers unions tout support for a constitutional amendment that threatens to raise property taxes over $2,149. Illinoisans already pay the nation’s second-highest property taxes.
Ep. 44: How Amendment 1 would raise your property taxes
Ep. 44: How Amendment 1 would raise your property taxes
Voters will decide the fate of Amendment 1 on Nov. 8; the first time Illinoisans have an opportunity to vote against rising property taxes. Austin Berg joins the Policy Shop to explain why Amendment 1 would cause homeowners to experience a $2,000 property tax hike. Learn more by subscribing to the Policy Shop newsletter at...
Chicago Teachers Union school closures, strikes hold back K-12 chess champs
Chicago Teachers Union school closures, strikes hold back K-12 chess champs
Students on Joe Ocol’s chess teams already face life challenges, but the Chicago Teachers Union adds to them by repeatedly threatening their historic successes. Voters face a choice Nov. 8 to either strengthen union militancy or put students first.
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
Call it Independence Day – the meaning matters
We too often call it the “Fourth of July” and lose sight of its true meaning – independence. Independence from tyranny and the freedom to pursue life, liberty and happiness.
Taxpayers funded 84% of public employee pensions in 2020
Taxpayers funded 84% of public employee pensions in 2020
Taxpayer contributions accounted for 56% of the money that flowed into Illinois’ pension funds in 2000. Two decades later, residents funded 84% of public employees’ retirements, yet pension debt is still growing.
Supermarkets, gas stations forced to advertise Pritzker tax ‘relief’ July 1
Supermarkets, gas stations forced to advertise Pritzker tax ‘relief’ July 1
July 1 marks the start of the suspended state grocery tax and delay in the automatic gas tax hike. Both industries are required by law to display signs reminding customers of the suspensions, but only gas stations face $500-a-day fines if they fail to comply.
New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County
New minimum wages in effect July 1 for Chicago, Cook County
Minimum wages for Chicago and Cook County are increasing July 1. Inflation has rapidly outpaced wage growth, cutting the average Illinoisan’s pay by $2,200.
Independence Day: Illinois’ fireworks ban
Independence Day: Illinois’ fireworks ban
Illinois drivers pay $35 more to fill up on gas than one year ago
Illinois drivers pay $35 more to fill up on gas than one year ago
Drivers are now paying $35 more to fill-up on regular gasoline and $65 more for diesel than they were a year ago. Gas taxes eat more than one-fifth of every tank.
Illinois drivers pay 54 cents more per gallon than rest of U.S. ahead of July 4 travel
Illinois drivers pay 54 cents more per gallon than rest of U.S. ahead of July 4 travel
Independence Day travel will return to pre-pandemic levels this weekend, reminding Illinoisans they pay the most for gas in the Midwest thanks to high taxes.
Charles Ross
Charles Ross
"The high taxes here hurt lower- and middle-income families and small businesses.”
Food poisoning: Businesses are sick of Illinois
Food poisoning: Businesses are sick of Illinois
Illinois gas stations display Pritzker gas tax hikes to counter election propaganda
Illinois gas stations display Pritzker gas tax hikes to counter election propaganda
Illinois gas station owners lost their legal fight over the requirement to advertise the delay in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s annual gas tax hike. Stations now will post the mandated signs July 1, but are also telling drivers how much state leaders raised the gas taxes.