Lawmakers using the Center for Tax and Budget Accountability to convince constituents how great a progressive tax could be for Illinois are doing a disservice. Here are the straight tax facts.

Illinoisans needed extra time to pay all their federal, state and local taxes. As long as that took, a progressive state income tax would delay your freedom even more.

“Tobacco 21” was vetoed by the former governor as a burden on stores, but the new governor just made Illinois the 11th state to tell young adults they may not buy tobacco products until they are 21.

Illinoisans face the highest average combined sales tax in the Midwest. A new bill would show consumers exactly where those dollars are going on every purchase receipt.

A bill in the Illinois House would empower voters to reform the funding priorities of their local school districts.

Pritzker’s first budget address exalted the graduated income tax as a solution to the state’s fiscal problems. Despite evidence to the contrary, the governor is urging state lawmakers to speedily advance the measure.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker has pointed admiringly to other Midwestern states’ progressive income tax structures, but taxes on the median Illinois family would go up under all of them.

Illinois already taxes 20 cents more per gallon of gasoline than Missouri. If state lawmakers add another 30 cents per gallon, expect an exodus of southwestern Illinois drivers buying gas and more in St. Louis.

The average American will spend around $800 on gifts this Christmas. But making those holiday buys in Illinois will leave many families wishing they could get more bang for their buck.