Judge To Rule On Illegal Toll Tax Increase Defended By AG Lisa Madigan On Tuesday

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CHICAGO–On December 20, 2011, Judge Rita Novak of the Cook County Circuit Court will hear arguments by Taxpayers United of Illinois (TUA) and other plaintiffs aimed at stopping the impending January 1, 2012 toll tax increase.
TUA President Jim Tobin has filed suit to stop the increase, order the Tollway Authority to comply with state law that requires it to convert toll roads into freeways, and then dissolve itself.
“Its outrageous that Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan is going to oppose us in court and is supporting the back-breaking, illegal 90% increase in tolls paid by cash users of the tollway system,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. Madigan’s office is representing the Tollway. “She has asked the court to throw out our case in its entirety when she should be protecting taxpayers from this illegal bureaucracy and its crony-driven expansion plans,” Tobin added.  “Who will protect taxpayers from the attorney general?”
Lisa Madigan is the daughter of Chicago machine boss and Illinois House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D-22, Chicago).
“Lisa apparently got marching orders from daddy Michael to oppose tollway users on behalf of politically-connected contractors and highly-paid tollway bureaucrats,” said Tobin.
The suit challenges the near doubling of tolls for cash users, and seeks permission to proceed as a class action on behalf of all tollway users. The December 20th hearing will decide whether the Circuit Court of Cook County will permit the Tollway Authority to virtually double these tolls and to convert the Elgin-O’Hare Freeway into a toll highway.
“We are prepared to file an appeal if Madigan convinces the judge to throw out the case,” said Tobin. “The law is clear and we will continue to fight for millions of taxpayers affected by this blatant disregard for the law.”
The hearing will be held at 10:30 a.m. in Room 2402 of the Richard J. Daley Center, 50 West Washington Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602.
For more information visit TaxpayersUnited.org. For press inquiries, please contact Jim Tobin (773) 354-2076 or (312) 427-5128.