Illinois passed a record-breaking income tax hike 3 years ago. Here’s where the money went.

By Adam Schuster

07/05/2020

Income taxes rose 32% for individuals and 33% for corporations in 2017, raising Illinois’ total tax burden to at least sixth highest from 10th highest. More than $1.2 billion went to pensions and debt.

TAGS: fair tax, income tax, JB Pritzker

If Illinois passes progressive income tax, retirement tax comes next

By Austin Berg

07/03/2020

Passing the progressive tax would empower state lawmakers to go after seniors’ retirement income.

TAGS: fair tax, retirement tax

Pritzker fact check: Do most other states really have a ‘fair tax’?

By Adam Schuster

07/01/2020

In more than half of progressive tax states, the middle class pays the maximum state income tax rate.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker

‘Fair tax’ paves the way to taxing retirement income in Illinois

By Adam Schuster

04/15/2020

By granting broad new taxing authority to Springfield, the progressive income tax amendment makes a retirement income tax much more likely – a fact some supporters have acknowledged publicly.

TAGS: fair tax, outmigration, progressive income tax, retirement tax

Why Illinois lawmakers can and should withdraw the progressive income tax hike

By Bryce Hill

04/09/2020

State lawmakers in 2019 passed a progressive income tax amendment at the behest of Gov. J.B. Pritzker. Now that coronavirus has ravaged the state’s small business community, they should withdraw the amendment.

TAGS: corporate income tax, Don Harmon, fair tax, graduated income tax, Illinois Constitution, progressive income tax, small business

Pension reform is more popular than Pritzker, and other Illinois polling data that may surprise you

By Austin Berg

03/12/2020

Three points stick out in recently released numbers: First, J.B. Pritzker is not a popular governor. Second, pollsters need to get real about the “fair tax” fantasy. And third, pension reform draws a diverse base of support, except at the Statehouse

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, Paul Simon Public Policy Institute, pensions, progressive income tax

Illinois property taxes rank No. 2 in the nation for third year running

By Brad Weisenstein

03/02/2020

Property taxes in Illinois are nearly double the national average. Until state lawmakers trim down thousands of local governments and pursue pension reform, those bills wills remain high.

TAGS: fair tax, home values, income tax, JB Pritzker, local government consolidation, pensions, property taxes, school district efficiency

‘Fair tax’ would cost Illinois 56K jobs

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

02/26/2020

Progressive income tax would essentially wipe out all 2019 employment gains in Illinois, and then some.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, JB Pritzker, jobs, labor force participation rate, metro areas, pensions, population, progressive income tax, tax hikes, unemployment

Pritzker’s accounting gimmicks can’t fix pension crisis, but real reform can

By Adam Schuster

02/21/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker previously floated a pension plan that included pawning-off state assets, taking on more high-interest debt and reducing pension funding before walking back the plan amid criticism. Here’s a real solution.

TAGS: bonds, budget, COLA: cost of living adjustment, credit rating, fair tax, Illinois Constitution, Illinois Department of Revenue, JB Pritzker, Moody's Investor Service, pensions, progressive income tax, Standard & Poor's

Illinoisans most likely to move out would see higher taxes under Pritzker plan

By Bryce Hill

02/14/2020

Other states show how a progressive income tax would likely make the Illinois exodus worse, pushing jobs and tax revenue out of Illinois.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, outmigration