Amendment 1 could lock in $4B statewide property tax hike

By Bryce Hill

10/31/2022

Total property tax extensions are on pace to total more than $40 billion by 2026, $4 billion more than at present. Amendment 1’s expansion of government union power would likely accelerate that increase.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property taxes, workers rights

Amendment 1 could lock in $2B residential property tax hike

By Bryce Hill

10/31/2022

Statewide residential property tax extensions are on pace to total more than $24 billion by 2026, which is $2 billion more than the current total. Amendment 1’s expansion of government union power would likely accelerate that $2 billion increase.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property taxes, workers rights

Top 3 myths told by Amendment 1 proponents

By Mailee Smith

10/10/2022

Proponents of Amendment 1 claim it applies to all workers, mimics other state constitutions and would help the economy. Wrong. Wrong. And wrong.

TAGS: Amendment 1, workers rights

5 ways Amendment 1 is a property tax hike

By Bryce Hill

09/07/2022

Amendment 1 would likely result in a $2,100 tax hike for the typical Illinois homeowner, thanks to increased government union power to demand more.

TAGS: Amendment 1, workers rights

Illinois court blocks petition to remove Amendment 1 from Nov. 8 ballot

By Dylan Sharkey

08/31/2022

An Illinois appellate court cleared the way for Amendment 1 to stay on the Nov. 8 ballot. Regardless of whether the change to the state constitution might violate the U.S. Constitution, the process for putting it on the ballot was valid, justices ruled.

TAGS: Amendment 1, workers rights

‘Workers’ Rights Amendment’ website ignores tax hike

By Patrick Andriesen

08/11/2022

The government union-backed website claims Amendment 1 would put more money in the pockets of working Illinoisans, but the change could only benefit the 7% who are government employees. All families would pay $2,149 more in property taxes.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property tax, unions, workers rights

Fact check: No other state constitution has a provision similar to Amendment 1

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

Proponents of Amendment 1 claim other state constitutions include similar language, but that is just wrong. Amendment 1 would cement into the Illinois Constitution government union powers that no other state sees as smart.

TAGS: Amendment 1, property taxes, unions, workers rights

Misleading new ad claims Amendment 1 protects Illinois nurses

By Mailee Smith

08/10/2022

Despite proponents’ claims, Amendment 1 would give union rights only to state and local government workers. Yet a new ad by proponents implies it will help nurses in all sectors care for their patients.

TAGS: Amendment 1, constitutional amendment, property taxes, taxes, unions, workers rights

What Illinois businesses need to know about Amendment 1

By Dylan Sharkey

06/10/2022

Amendment 1 would enshrine permanent power for public unions in the state constitution which could mean higher taxes, higher costs, and potentially costly litigation for business owners.

TAGS: Amendment 1, Illinois, unions, workers rights

Unions backed doubling gas tax, now push disguised tax hike amendment

By Hannah Max

06/02/2022

The same unions that supported doubling the gas tax in 2019 donated $15 million to politicians who voted for Amendment 1, a proposed tax hike sold as a “workers’ rights” amendment.

TAGS: Amendment 1, gas tax, government unions, JB Pritzker, taxes, workers rights

Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

Illinois is home to one of the worst pension crises in the country.1 At 39% funded, according to the nonpartisan Pew Charitable Trusts, Illinois has the worst pension funding ratio of any state.2 By contrast, neighboring Wisconsin’s pension system is 103% funded.3 In fiscal year 2022, Illinois’ total general funds pension costs, including pension bond...

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Fixing Illinois pension crisis by amending nation’s most-restrictive pension law is legal, effective

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Susie Warden

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

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