‘Let voters decide’ is a weak argument for Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment
‘Let voters decide’ is a weak argument for Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment
Polling indicates the progressive income tax is unpopular in key Illinois House districts.
By Bryce Hill
Southern Illinois voters oppose putting Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment on the ballot
Southern Illinois voters oppose putting Pritzker’s progressive income tax amendment on the ballot
Southern Illinoisans want their representative to vote “no” on Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s progressive tax constitutional amendment. This preference extends beyond GOP voters, with independents also showing strong opposition.
By Austin Berg
Pritzker says he will not engage in horse-trading to win support for tax hikes
Pritzker says he will not engage in horse-trading to win support for tax hikes
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker will not selectively hand out infrastructure projects as a way to buy support for proposals to increase taxes and fees, should he stick to his word.
By Adam Schuster
Illinois House committee passes progressive income tax rates without public notice
Illinois House committee passes progressive income tax rates without public notice
In a party-line vote that even fellow lawmakers were unaware of, Illinois House Democrats passed out of committee a progressive income tax rate structure that would take effect should Gov. J.B. Pritzker succeed in scrapping Illinois’ constitutional flat income tax protection.
By Bryce Hill, Austin Berg
Gas prices spike ahead of Memorial Day weekend, as future tax hikes loom
Gas prices spike ahead of Memorial Day weekend, as future tax hikes loom
A nationwide gas price surge reached its peak just ahead of Memorial Day weekend, with Illinois gas prices sitting above the national average.
Pritzker’s 19 different tax and fee hikes total $6.9 billion
Pritzker’s 19 different tax and fee hikes total $6.9 billion
Between the push for a graduated income tax, his budget address and newly released capital plan, Gov. J.B. Pritzker has proposed an onslaught of backdoor tax hikes on all Illinoisans.
By Adam Schuster
Land of 1,000 shrinking communities
Land of 1,000 shrinking communities
Illinois’ lost people problem spreads to more than 1,000 communities in 2018
By Bryce Hill
Pritzker’s proposed tax and fee hikes on average Illinoisans total more than those on ‘the rich’
Pritzker’s proposed tax and fee hikes on average Illinoisans total more than those on ‘the rich’
The upward march of Illinois’ core cost drivers – pensions and government worker health insurance – cannot be paid for by tax hikes on small groups. Without reform, tax hike proposals on all Illinoisans will continue flowing from the Statehouse.
By Austin Berg
Moody’s report: Illinois one of two states unprepared for next recession
Moody’s report: Illinois one of two states unprepared for next recession
Financial stress testing shows Illinois and New Jersey are the most unprepared for the next recession. Both states lack sufficient rainy day funds and struggle with large pension debt.
By Adam Schuster
Without pension reform, progressive income tax amendment guarantees tax hikes on Illinois’ middle class
Without pension reform, progressive income tax amendment guarantees tax hikes on Illinois’ middle class
The current progressive income tax proposal would fail to pay down the state's unfunded liability while damaging Illinois' economy.
By Orphe Divounguy, Bryce Hill
House committee approves Pritzker progressive tax amendment
House committee approves Pritzker progressive tax amendment
The Illinois House Revenue & Finance Committee approved a proposed constitutional amendment that would scrap taxpayers’ sole protection against endless income tax hikes.
By Vincent Caruso
The Windy City blows away your holiday travel dollars
The Windy City blows away your holiday travel dollars
Illinois stands above its peers when it comes to taxing residents. But Chicago makes it really something to behold when visitors see that famous skyline with all its tall taxes.
By Brad Weisenstein
Chicago’s new mayor inherits taxpayers facing biggest public debts of nation’s top 10 cities
Chicago’s new mayor inherits taxpayers facing biggest public debts of nation’s top 10 cities
Each Chicago taxpayer is on the hook for $119,110 worth of unfunded state, city, county and other local government debt. Many of the pensions driving those debts become Lori Lightfoot’s problem on Monday.