Illinois’ tax code already protects the poor and middle class from paying as high a rate as billionaires, meaning the ‘fair tax’ is really about lawmaker taxing power.
Reality check on 5 false claims used to boost Pritzker’s ‘fair tax’
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.
Pritzker claims statewide economic growth, but these Illinois metro areas are shedding jobs
Despite Gov. J.B. Pritzker touting growth in “every major region,” Illinois shed jobs in three metropolitan areas and lagged the national average in seven more.
Slowest-growing states have progressive income taxes
Fewer people want to live in states with progressive income taxes. So after 6 straight years of population loss, why would Illinois want to join them?
Illinois personal income growth 2nd lowest in U.S. since Great Recession
Only Mississippi has fared worse than Illinois in personal income growth since the Great Recession hit at the end of 2007. Analysis shows state income taxes matter.
Illinois saw nation’s worst population loss during the decade
Illinois suffered its sixth consecutive year of population decline in 2019, driven entirely by residents leaving for other states.
The Illinois tax trick that’s years in the making
Illinois politicians will continue to hail a progressive income tax as a quick fix to the state’s poor spending habits. Don’t be tricked.
Illinois has a dirty little secret buried in its tax history
Illinois has a dirty little secret buried in its tax history – the first income tax approved in Illinois was a progressive tax. Fortunately, the progressive tax was ruled unconstitutional and was never implemented. But now the threat of a progressive tax hike is back again. Originally, Illinois didn’t have an income tax. When the...
Fighting the progressive tax in Illinois
Fighting the progressive tax in Illinois The battle to raise taxes again is underway in Illinois. Politicians and special interest groups across the state have put a plan in motion to implement yet another income tax hike in Illinois – one that targets the state’s working- and middle-class residents. Politicians already pushed through a record...
Despite the many problems Illinois faces, there is much to be thankful for
Working at free market think tank in Illinois, it’s easy to get discouraged by bad policies. Despite the many problems Illinois faces, there is much to be thankful for. In the spirit of Thanksgiving, here are some of the things we are most thankful for this year: Illinois’ flat income tax. Illinois’ current flat tax...