Opinions

Shut up and pay your taxes, Illinoisans

By The Cook County Record |
“The state must pare back its portfolio so that it can better fulfill its basic obligations to its citizens,” opined Nicole Kurokawa in the 2010 Illinois Piglet Book, a joint project of the Illinois Policy Institute and Citizens Against Government Waste that identified more than $350 million in wasteful spending.

Survey: Illinois state, local taxes are highest in nation

By Ann Miller, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois households pay nearly $9,500 on average in state and local taxes, which at 15% of their income is the nation’s highest. WalletHub finds gasoline taxes pushed Illinois to No. 1.

Moody's report: Illinois pension debt reaches record high $317 billion

By Adam Schuster, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois worst-in-the-nation public pension debt grew 19% year over year. It will continue hurting the state economy and job growth, driving more people out of Illinois, unless there are reforms.

Gov. Pritzker turns his back on law and order

By Illinois Opportunity Project |
Mike Madigan is officially out as Speaker of the House, State Representative for the 22nd District in Chicago, and after nominating his handpicked successor over the weekend, he stepped down as the powerful Chairman of the State Democratic Party.

Let’s not let this crisis go to waste

By The Cook County Record |
If anything good can be said about the COVID crisis, it may be that it has forced many of us to consider alternatives to the way we were living our lives, most especially with regard to how we do our jobs and how we educate our children.

Illinois lawmakers hand Pritzker another tax loss, pass Chicago pension hike

By Joe Barnas, Illinois Policy Institute |
Lame duck session was busy even when House Democrats weren’t focused on replacing Mike Madigan as speaker. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s small business tax hike died as 23 bills were passed, including one making Chicago’s pension woes worse.

Illinois taxpayers again threatened with huge tax increase

By The Cook County Record |
Illinois taxpayers should brace themselves one more time as Springfield Democrats plot to raise the state income tax.

ITLA president: ATRA's 'Hellhole' report cruelly seizes on deadly pandemic as opportunity to shield funders from accountability for wrongdoing

By Larry R. Rogers, Illinois Trial Lawyers Association |
Even as the number of Illinoisans sickened by the coronavirus rises, and the state’s hospitals and ICUs fill with COVID-19 patients, a corporate front group is trying to capitalize on the crisis by disseminating misinformation intended to help its benefactors evade legal accountability for harm done to innocent people.

Should pharmacies be held liable for the opioid epidemic?

By Jennifer C. Braceras, Independent Women's Forum |
Faced with conflicting legal obligations, Walmart files suit against D.O.J.

Man who recorded Madigan, led Burke charges, pleads guilty

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
A Chinatown developer made the recording in 2014, which is still a piece to a lengthy federal investigation.

Madigan spent millions to elect, retain Illinois Supreme Court Justice Kilbride

By Joe Tabor, Illinois Policy Institute |
Committees controlled by the speaker of the Illinois House funded more than half of Illinois Supreme Court Justice Thomas Kilbride’s campaign contributions in 2010. Kilbride is up for retention again this year.

Sen. Terry Link latest 'Fair Tax' supporter to resign amid corruption charge

By Ben Szalinski, Illinois Policy Institute |
Five key supporters of the progressive tax in the Illinois General Assembly are facing corruption probes. Four have been charged. Three have resigned.

Illinois’ extreme outlier status on debts, taxes and out-migration highlights the need for pension reform, new study finds

By Ted Dabrowski, Wirepoints |
Wirepoints’ 50-state survey shows pension costs contribute to making Illinois the nation’s extreme outlier.

Seven facts that tell us Illinoisans can and must get back to work

By Ted Dabrowski, Wirepoints |
On March 20, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed an executive order requiring residents to stay at home in response to COVID-19.

What next for Illinois?

By Ted Dabrowski, Wirepoints |
What’s happening today is unprecedented. The coronavirus is impacting Illinoisans' lives in more ways than can be counted. We wish our readers the best and hope you all remain healthy.

Governor Pritzker must do more for taxpayers now!

By Jim Tobin, Taxpayers United of America |
Governor Pritzker is killing the Illinois economy. On March 25, Pritzker announced he was considering extending the statewide lockdown, and the continued closure of all businesses he deemed non-essential.

With voters set to decide on progressive income tax, Illinois wealth flight among worst in the nation

By Orphe Divounguy and Bryce Hill, Illinois Policy Institute |
New data shows Illinois since 2010 lost up to $32 billion in income from people moving out. Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s graduated income tax plan would hike rates on those most likely to leave.

Pritzker contract gives AFSCME unfettered access to workers' private information

By Mailee Smith, Illinois Policy Institute |
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker agreed to a deal with AFSCME Council 31 that threatens the privacy of state workers and violates workers’ rights.

Pritzker promises over $10 billion in new spending on $3.4 billion progressive tax hike

By Tivas Gupta and Adam Schuster, Illinois Policy Institute |
Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s “fair tax” plan falls far short of the revenue needed to pay for his spending promises – feeding fears of future tax hikes on middle-class families.

Illinois home values down 21%, property taxes up 9% since 2007

By Orphe Divounguy and Bryce Hill, Illinois Policy Institute |
Without serious property tax relief – including pension reform – it is likely fewer will demand planting roots in Illinois.

Most Popular
1
SAFE-T Act pretrial jailing appeals drop 88% after court rule changes; 'Found a sweet spot,' says task force chair
2
Constitution doesn't block Indiana's ban on gender transition procedures for kids: Appeals court
3
Glock: IL law underpinning Chicago's gun violence lawsuit violates Second Amendment, is unconstitutional
4
Judge: Arbitration clause can potentially end strippers' class action vs club
5
Plaintiff Alleges Negligence by Saint Xavier University Following Data Breach