If ‘fair tax’ passes, expect more seniors to leave Illinois looking to avoid retirement tax

By Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

10/09/2020

Illinois would have lost an additional 10,577 seniors from 2012 to 2018 if outmigration were as severe as in Connecticut, the last state to enact a progressive income tax.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, retirement tax

Progressive income tax would create 50.3% income tax rate for small businesses

By Bryce Hill

10/08/2020

Combined state and federal income taxes would have small businesses pay more than 50% of their top-end income in taxes.

TAGS: fair tax, JB Pritzker, small business

Official Illinois progressive tax explainer ranges from misleading to wrong

By Adam Schuster

09/18/2020

Progressive income tax proponents put factually inaccurate and misleading claims into a constitutionally required pamphlet intended to inform voters about a proposed amendment.

TAGS: constitutional amendment, fair tax, JB Pritzker, progressive tax

Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions

By Adam Schuster

09/03/2020

Illinois’ pension crisis has been a growing problem for decades, and its negative effects on state residents are well documented.1 Economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic and related government shutdown orders threaten to bring that long-running crisis closer to its breaking point. The state’s five pension systems collectively held nearly $139 billion of debt at...

Progressive income tax study guide

By Orphe Divounguy, Adam Schuster, Bryce Hill

08/27/2020

Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker calls it the “fair tax.” Opponents say it’s a “blank check” for irresponsible spending. Here’s what you need to know.

TAGS: ballot referendums, California, Connecticut, corporate income tax, fair tax, general election, graduated income tax, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, Illinois, income tax, JB Pritzker, middle class, outmigration, Springfield

Every state with a progressive tax also taxes retirement income

07/02/2020

Illinois could be the next state to tax retirement income if voters approve the progressive income tax in November.

TAGS: progressive tax, retirement tax

Illinois treasurer says ‘fair tax’ makes retirement tax more likely

By Adam Schuster

06/24/2020

Illinois Treasurer Michael Frerichs said a progressive state income tax will open the door to taxing retirement income.

TAGS: pensions, progressive income tax, retirement tax

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

06/18/2020

The contractor who revamped Illinois’ unemployment system to handle self-employed workers is being sued. One of the nearly 32,500 applicants who had private information exposed said it was used to access her bank account.

TAGS: identity theft, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker, unemployment

5 reasons why Illinois’ latest spending plan insults taxpayers

By Adam Schuster

05/29/2020

Lawmakers made no serious attempt to balance the new budget, instead counting on a federal bailout. They accepted an $1,800 raise for themselves, while only making significant cuts to education.

TAGS: budget, government spending, ILGA: Illinois General Assembly, special session

Unemployment mess leads lawmaker to push for Pritzker’s recall

05/27/2020

Citing the lack of action on the state unemployment claims system overwhelmed during the COVID-19 pandemic, a state lawmaker begins the process to remove Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker from office.

TAGS: coronavirus, COVID-19, IDES: Illinois Department of Employment Security, JB Pritzker

Social Security

If ‘fair tax’ passes, expect more seniors to leave Illinois looking to avoid retirement tax

Progressive income tax would create 50.3% income tax rate for small businesses

Official Illinois progressive tax explainer ranges from misleading to wrong

Pension apocalypse? COVID-19 exposes long-running fragility of Illinois public pensions

Progressive income tax study guide

Every state with a progressive tax also taxes retirement income

Illinois treasurer says ‘fair tax’ makes retirement tax more likely

Illinois unemployment data breach leads to ID theft, class-action lawsuit claims

5 reasons why Illinois’ latest spending plan insults taxpayers

Unemployment mess leads lawmaker to push for Pritzker’s recall

Chicago Forward 2026: A pro-growth plan to end city budget deficits

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