The governor said Illinoisans wouldn’t be interested in a toll increase to keep the Bears. Then he signaled support for what would be the largest passenger toll hike in state history.
Chicago-area sales taxes were already No. 2 in the U.S., but new taxing authority handed to the Regional Transportation Authority will raise them to No. 1.
Illinois motorists should expect another motor fuel tax increase this summer when the gas tax jumps again. Illinoisans already pay the second-highest gas taxes in the country, but state leaders are worried about not having enough to spend.
Sept. 18 marks Illinois’ first anniversary of being the first state to end cash bail. The predicted disaster was averted. Cook County saw significant improvements. Still, changes to the SAFE-T Act could improve public safety, remain fair to defendants.
A recent comprehensive analysis found the real number of government units in Illinois is 30% higher than the U.S. Census Bureau’s count. Too many government units mean too many taxes.
Illinois’ tax code stands in the way of the state’s economic competitiveness. The combination of high tax burdens and a poor tax structure contributes to the loss of jobs and investment to other states. From a place of former economic dominance, Illinois now ranks 45th in gross state product (GSP) growth over the past decade...