Illinois’ sobering ‘sin taxes’ are among the nation’s highest this New Year’s

12/23/2020

Excise taxes have failed to improve Illinoisans’ health while creating an undue burden for those with the least. But lawmakers have yet to kick the habit.

TAGS: alcohol tax, cigarette tax, gas tax, sin taxes

9 new Illinois taxes totaling $1.7B take effect Jan. 1

By Adam Schuster

12/15/2019

Nearly half of the 20 tax and fee hikes passed to support a record $40 billion state budget and $45 billion infrastructure plan hit on New Year’s Day.

TAGS: cannabis, cigarette tax, economy, electric car, electric vehicle, gas tax, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, Illinois Constitution, JB Pritzker, marijuana, motor fuel tax, New Year's Day, online sales tax, parking garages, parking tax, progressive income tax, registration fee, spending, spending cap, Springfield, tax hikes, tax increase, taxes, trade-in tax, vehicle registration

Bad Santa: Sobering ‘sin taxes’ in Illinois among nation’s highest

By Vincent Caruso

12/12/2019

Excise taxes have failed to rehabilitate Illinois’ failing fiscal health. But lawmakers have yet to kick the habit.

TAGS: alcohol tax, amusement tax, cigarette tax, excise tax, soda tax, taxes

Illinois becomes 1st state in Midwest to raise tobacco age to 21

07/08/2019

A new state law prohibits Illinois store owners from selling tobacco products and e-cigarettes to residents under the age of 21.

TAGS: cigarette tax, e-cigarettes, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Illinois taxpayers to face $2.1B in new taxes on July 1

06/27/2019

Starting this July, Illinoisans will pay higher taxes on gasoline, cigarettes, video gaming and more.

TAGS: cigarette tax, gambling, gas tax, JB Pritzker, managed care, real estate, taxes

Illinois’ cigarette tax to become one of nation’s highest

06/06/2019

A $1 cigarette tax hike included in Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s infrastructure plan will make Illinois’ tax on cigarette packs among the highest in the nation.

TAGS: cigarette tax, JB Pritzker, taxes

Illinoisans will see state gas tax double starting July 1

By Austin Berg

06/02/2019

Illinoisans will pay more for gas, vehicle registration, cigarettes and parking after a bipartisan vote for $45 billion in new capital spending.

TAGS: cigarette tax, gas tax, JB Pritzker, parking tax, taxes, vehicle registration

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

Illinois lawmakers rekindle efforts to raise tobacco purchase age to 21

By Vincent Caruso

01/29/2019

Lawmakers in the Illinois House of Representatives failed to override former Gov. Bruce Rauner’s veto of the “Tobacco 21” bill in November. Gov. Pritzker’s administration has signaled support.

TAGS: cigarette tax, JB Pritzker, tobacco, Tobacco 21

Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

America’s War on Poverty has been an abject failure. Nearly $12 trillion and 60 years later, official poverty rates remain basically unchanged. While the nation waged a well-intentioned assault on poverty, it inadvertently launched a far more sinister war: on dignity. While attempting to eradicate poverty, America created countless government welfare programs. In doing so,...

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Center for Poverty Solutions: How to better assess poverty in Chicago and America

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Wilbert Adams Jr.

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students