Repeal Day: Prohibition ended 86 years ago, but Illinois’ alcohol taxes, regulations remain sobering

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2019

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. Illinois, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Associated Beer Distributors of Illinois, bootlegging, brewery, Bruce Rauner, capital plan, Chicago, cocktail, craft beer, distillery, Hospitality Business Association of Chicago, Illinois, Illinois General Assembly, JB Pritzker, licensure, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, midwest, over-regulation, prohibition, regulation, repeal, Sara Feigenholtz, soda tax, taproom, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle, trade, vape ban, vaping, Wine & Spirits Distributors of Illinois, winery

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

By Vincent Caruso

12/19/2018

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

Repeal Day: Illinois’ sobering alcohol taxes, regulations a reminder of Prohibition

By Vincent Caruso

12/05/2018

With the ratification of the 21st Amendment, 1933 marked the end of Prohibition in the United States. The Land of Lincoln, however, has continued to serve a cocktail of prohibitive regulations on alcoholic beverages.

TAGS: alcohol tax, Liquor Control Act, liquor laws, soda tax, taxes

Coke County: Townships overwhelmingly reject bringing back soda tax

By Joe Barnas

11/07/2018

Voters across seven Cook County townships strongly oppose a return of the sweetened beverage tax.

TAGS: Cook County, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

Candy crush: Illinois slaps sales tax on Snickers, but not Twix

By Travis Nix

06/25/2018

State lawmakers should reform Illinois’ overly complicated sales taxes and other anti-business taxes, which violate guiding principles of sound tax policy.

TAGS: Chicago, franchise tax, plastic bags, sales tax, soda tax, taxes

Cook County’s notorious soda tax ends today

By Chris Lentino

12/01/2017

With the repeal of the Cook County sweetened beverage tax, taxpayers remind elected officials who they represent.

TAGS: Cook County, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

Cook County’s budget problems stem from massive growth in payrolls

By Chris Lentino

10/16/2017

The average salary for Cook County workers has far outpaced that of the typical Cook County household since 2001, and that’s contributed to the county’s fiscal ills.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, property taxes, soda tax, Toni Preckwinkle

Taxpayers should flex their muscle, pick their punches

By Austin Berg

10/12/2017

If aggrieved taxpayers don’t also demand fixes to underlying spending problems, calls for additional tax hikes will return. And they’ll be stronger than ever.

TAGS: Cook County, income tax, sales tax, soda tax, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

Taxpayer victory: Cook County soda tax repealed

By Chris Lentino

10/11/2017

With the repeal of the Cook County sweetened beverage tax, taxpayers remind elected officials who they represent.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax, taxes

Sweetened beverage tax repeal passes out of committee

By Brendan Bakala

10/10/2017

The Cook County Board Finance Committee voted Oct. 10 in favor of an ordinance to repeal the unpopular sweetened beverage tax. The repeal measure now awaits a vote before the full board.

TAGS: Chicago, Cook County, soda tax, taxes, Toni Preckwinkle

Power in payments: Illinois can help unbanked residents, save money by adopting best practices in payment methods

Each year, tens of billions of dollars flow through Illinois state government.1 These flows all depend on methods of payment. In deciding on those payment methods, policymakers must consider a number of important factors, including security controls, cost effectiveness, accessibility, speed and allowance for choice. This report shows that by adopting best practices across all...

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Power in payments: Illinois can help unbanked residents, save money by adopting best practices in payment methods

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Ifeoma Nkemdi

Policy lessons from Illinois’ exodus of people and money

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