Official Illinois progressive tax explainer ranges from misleading to wrong

By Adam Schuster

09/18/2020

Progressive income tax proponents put factually inaccurate and misleading claims into a constitutionally required pamphlet intended to inform voters about a proposed amendment.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

Illinois Tollway shows how political promises are easily broken

By Ben Szalinski

09/17/2020

Illinois tolls were supposed to be temporary. A progressive tax is only supposed to hurt 3% of Illinoisans. Political promises mean little in Illinois.

TAGS: fair tax, Illinois Tollway, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

How do I vote by mail in Illinois?

By Mindy Ruckman

09/16/2020

Lawmakers passed a new vote by mail law for 2020. Here’s a breakdown.

TAGS: election, fair tax, progressive tax, votre by mail

When Illinois politicians call taxes ‘temporary’ or ‘fair,’ they won’t be

By Ben Szalinski

09/16/2020

Illinois lawmakers make many promises about tax increases. Then they break those promises.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

Lawmaker who voted for ‘fair tax’ pleads guilty to tax fraud

By Vincent Caruso

09/16/2020

Five key supporters of the progressive tax in the Illinois General Assembly are facing corruption probes. Four have been charged. Three have resigned.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, fair tax, Terry Link

Transportation spending shows ‘fair tax’ ripe for waste

By Ben Szalinski

09/15/2020

Politicians pledged to rebuild decaying roads and bridges if taxpayers paid just a little bit more, but too often the funds were misused and the promises meant little.

TAGS: fair tax, gas tax, JB Pritzker, waste

Sen. Terry Link latest ‘fair tax’ supporter to resign amid corruption charge

By Ben Szalinski

09/14/2020

Five key supporters of the progressive tax in the Illinois General Assembly are facing corruption probes. Four have been charged. Three have resigned.

TAGS: bribery, corruption, fair tax, federal investigation, Mike Madigan, Terry Link

Reality check on 5 false claims used to boost Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/27/2020

Voters can expect to be bombarded by claims about the ‘fair tax’ until Nov. 3 – but what are the facts? Proponents have made misleading claims in hopes of convincing Illinoisans to do away with the flat tax.

TAGS: fair tax, flat tax, income inequality, income tax, JB Pritzker, progressive income tax, taxes

Progressive income tax study guide

By Orphe Divounguy, Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

08/27/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls it the “fair tax.” Opponents say it’s a “blank check” for irresponsible spending. Here’s what you need to know.

TAGS: ballot referendums, California, Connecticut, corporate income tax, fair tax, general election, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, income tax, JB Pritzker, middle class, outmigration, Springfield

What Illinoisans need to know about the progressive income tax

By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill

08/27/2020

Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls his $3.7 billion income tax hike a “fair tax.” But opponents have criticized the constitutional amendment as a blank check for House Speaker Mike Madigan and other state lawmakers, courtesy of Illinois taxpayers.

TAGS: fair tax, graduated income tax, Illinois Constitution, income tax, JB Pritzker, municipal pensions, pension guarantee, pensions, progressive income tax, property taxes, taxes

Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions

Illinois’ pension crisis has been a growing problem for decades, and its negative effects on state residents are well documented.1 Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and related government shutdown orders threaten to bring that long-running crisis closer to its breaking point. The state’s five pension systems collectively held nearly $139 billion of debt at...

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Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions

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Joanne Troesch

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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