Civic Federation calls for tax hikes, opposes sensible reform in budget criticism

05/17/2018
The Civic Federation’s criticism of Gov. Bruce Rauner’s proposed budget is a mixed bag, with its own proposals for Illinois’ financial crisis – including nearly $3 billion in tax hikes – missing the mark.

TAGS: AFSCME: American Federation of State County and Municipal Employees, budget, Civic Federation, health insurance, income tax, Laurence Msall, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, municipal pensions, pensions, progressive income tax, taxes

Why are Illinois Democrats preparing to bail out bankers and cash-strapped local governments?

By Michael Lucci
04/03/2017
Bailout bills moving in the Illinois General Assembly would attempt to turn Illinois’ massive debt problems into guaranteed profits for banks and bondholders and a lower standard of living for other Illinoisans.

TAGS: bonds, budget, CTA: Chicago Transit Authority, general obligation bonds, grand bargain, John Cullerton, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, property taxes, RTA: Regional Transportation Authority

Illinois politicians vote to divert $300M from state coffers to fuel local spending

By Amy Korte
03/16/2017
Despite Illinois’ billions in deficit spending and skyrocketing debt, the Illinois House of Representatives passed House Bill 278, which would transfer an additional $300 million per year of state income tax funds to local governments, continuing to prop up local overspending that fuels high property taxes.

TAGS: Illinois House of Representatives, LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, property taxes

Illinois’ tax shell games means taxpayers can’t hold their governments accountable

By Craig Lesner
04/26/2016
In 2015 alone, Illinois state government redistributed more than $12 billion in income and other taxes to local governments. These financial shell games have created a needlessly complex system and make it difficult for local taxpayers to hold their governments accountable.

TAGS: LGDF: Local Government Distributive Fund, local government, PPRT: Personal Property Replacement Tax, taxes

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Unlocking Opportunity: How Occupational Licensing Reform Would Promote Equitable Empowerment in Illinois

Illinois finds itself at a crossroads: will it empower minorities and poor people to unleash their potential, or will it perpetuate an inequitable status quo? For far too many Illinoisans, opportunity is unfairly and unnecessarily out of reach. Illinois ranks in the bottom ten among all states in social mobility and last among Midwest states...

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Brandi Lentz

Process for unionizing non-state workers raises red flags

By Paul Kersey
06/19/2014

CBS Chicago: Illinois’ highest-paid superintendent receives $400K per year to oversee 1,200 students

By Ted Dabrowski
05/02/2016