United States Census Bureau

Even before record 67 percent tax hike, Illinois has 11th-highest tax burden nationwide

By Ted Dabrowski, John Klingner
10/23/2012
The Tax Foundation has reaffirmed Illinois’ status as a high-tax state in its newly released 2012 Annual State-Local Tax Burden Ranking. Based on the Census Bureau’s 2010 data, the report found that Illinois’ overall tax burden per resident is the 11th highest in the nation. Some highlights from the report include: At 10.2 percent, Illinois has...

Illinois’ out-migration crisis

12/20/2011
by Ted Dabrowski Illinois is bleeding people to almost every state in the nation. People are packing up and voting with their feet. Gone – goodbye. When people leave, they don’t just take their belongings. With them go their earnings, their spending power and their contribution to society. When they own companies, they even take the...

Obama: Adopting the Illinois Model

09/15/2011
by Emily Dietrich President Obama presented a $450 billion proposal to a joint session of Congress last week. He instructed lawmakers: “Pass this bill, and hundreds of thousands of disadvantaged young people will have the hope and the dignity of a summer job next year. And their parents – their parents – low-income Americans who...

Cook County, Chicago Suffer Steep Population Drops

03/25/2011
by Brian Costin Cook County and the city of Chicago both share a dubious distinction: Both are in the top 10 most populous counties and cities in the U.S., and both are the only city and county in the top 10 to drop in population, according U.S. Census numbers released Thursday. See the Chicago Tribune story....

Cutting the Home Budget to Pay for Higher Taxes

By Collin Hitt
02/02/2011
The tax increases signed into law this month by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn will cost most Illinois households $1,000 – equivalent to one or more weeks’ pay. How many families can afford to miss a paycheck? According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average family living in the Midwest earns just under $60,000 annually and consists...

Healthcare without Premiums

01/31/2011
Currently in Illinois, 90 percent of retired state employees (or their survivors) do not pay premiums for their healthcare coverage.

Illinois Poverty Level Up 24% Since 1999

09/28/2010
by Brian Costin According to the 2009 American Community Survey, “The poverty level in Illinois increased 24 percent over the past decade — to 13.3 percent in 2009, according to new data released by the U.S. Census Bureau this morning.” How could this be? While the overall economy is bad, are our policies contributing to increased poverty...

Chicago’s City Budget Up 11.6% since 2000

06/30/2010
y Amanda Griffin-Johnson Since 2000, Chicago’s city budget has increased by 11.6%, when adjusted for inflation. So what are reasons for the budget growth? According to the most recent estimate from the U.S. Census Bureau, Chicago’s population only increased by 1% between 2000 and 2008. Reasons for budget increases mentioned in the city press release for the 2010 budget...