Advocates for a progressive income tax claim to offer relief for middle-class families. But that doesn’t jive with real proposals in Springfield or lawmakers’ spending habits.

A recent study confirms what too many Illinoisans have discovered firsthand: that they’re among the most overburdened taxpayers in the country.

The $3.6 billion tax hike would cost the typical Illinois family $665 in additional income taxes.

A new resolution would put lawmakers on the record for supporting or opposing a tax structure that would likely lead to massive tax hikes on Illinois' middle class.

Scrapping Illinois' constitutionally protected flat income tax would remove one of the only pro-taxpayer policies the Land of Lincoln has left.

As the state continuously spends more than residents can afford, taxpayers in Rock Island County have seen little income growth.

Fixing what ails the state requires Illinoisans of all political stripes to be honest about how they got here.

State spending grew 25 percent faster than Illinoisans' personal income from 2005-2015.

Spending has consistently outpaced state tax revenues in Illinois for more than a decade. To avoid future tax hikes, Illinois must impose real fiscal discipline on state lawmakers.