Tax Accountability Endorses Bruce Rauner in Illinois’ Gubernatorial Primary

By on January 8, 2014   /   Candidate Endorsements, Latest, News Releases, Tax Accountability  

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Chicago – Tax Accountability (TA) has announced its candidate endorsements for the March 18, 2014 primary election.

“I am proud to announce endorsements of such qualified candidates in these critical races,” said Jim Tobin, Chairman of TA.
“Illinois is at a pivotal point and without strong leadership, the very economic future of the state and every taxpayer is at risk.”
General Primary March 18, 2014
Governor, State of IL: Bruce Rauner
US Senate Representing IL: Jim Oberweis
U.S. House Representing the 3rd Congr. District of IL: Diane M. Harris
U.S. House Representing the 9th Congr. District of IL: David Earl Williams, III
U.S. House Representing the 11th Congr. District of IL: Ian Bayne
Bruce Rauner is a successful businessman and strong leader with the fiscal experience to save Illinois from its history of failed and criminal leadership. Bruce has pledged to repeal the 67% state income tax increase surcharge and to perform a complete overhaul of the State’s tax policies to simplify and eliminate the corporate welfare that burdens individuals and small businesses.
Jim Oberweis has been a strong leader in the Illinois State Senate and a successful businessman who understands that tax-and-spend policies destroy our economy and prosperity. Jim has pledged not to raise taxes or impose any new taxes, directly or indirectly.
Diane M. Harris has a solid record of achievement both personally and professionally. Diane has a lifetime of community service and commitment to restoring integrity to Illinois politics. Diane has pledged not to raise taxes or impose any new taxes because of her commitment to responsible spending and respect for taxpayers’ personal wealth.
David Earl Williams, III has established himself as a strong leader and achiever. David is a veteran of the US Navy where he managed a multi-billion dollar budget. David is committed to restoring personal and economic freedom to Illinois and the country and has pledged not to increase or add new taxes.
Ian Bayne is a self-made, successful businessman who has fought hard to achieve the American dream. His fight has highlighted the need for government reforms that restore the power to the people. Ian has also pledged to protect taxpayers from any new or increased taxes.
“Every one of these candidates exemplifies the principles of Tax Accountability by standing on a platform of personal and economic freedom and have pledged to implement policies that increase freedom and reduce taxes.”
“2014 will be a pivotal year for Illinois. Taxpayers are fed up with the corruption, cronyism, and abuse they have suffered at the hands of a long list of career politicians who see Illinois taxpayers as the source of their own personal wealth. The time is right. These candidates have what it takes to win and to lead Illinois back to a vibrant, prosperous, and free economy.”

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TA is the political action arm of TUA – TUA is one of the largest taxpayer organizations in America.

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Illinois’ Proposed Pension ‘Reform’ is a Rotten Deal for Taxpayers

By on December 3, 2013   /   Illinois, Items of Interest, Latest, News Advisory, News Releases, Pension Reform, Taxpayer Alert  

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CHICAGO—The so-called “pension reform plan” being pushed through by Ill. Sen. Pres. John J. Cullerton (D), Ill. House Speaker Michael J. Madigan (D), Senate Minority Leader Christine Rodogno (R), and House Minority Leader Jim Durkin is being kept a secret from legislators and taxpayers, but smells like a rotten deal for taxpayers, according to the President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Cullerton, Madigan, Rodogno, and Durkin are trying to cram a bad bill down the throats of taxpayers by keeping it from review by legislators and taxpayers alike,” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “Their secrecy and their new-found sense of urgency tell me that they have found a way to kowtow to the union bosses who keep them in power and pass the cost to the taxpayers before they know what hit them.”
“According to the limited details that have been released regarding the agreement between the Illinois power brokers, there is very little reform to the system that has been bankrupting the state and burdening taxpayers. This proposal shifts even more of the cost of these lavish, multi-million dollar pensions to the taxpayers and provides additional guarantees to perpetuate a system that has decimated Illinois’ budget.”
“It seems that reelection is more important to some Illinois legislators than providing real reform for lavish, gold-plated government pensions.”
“Immediate and real pension reform is long-overdue. Ending pensions for all new government hires will eventually eliminate unfunded government pensions,” said Tobin. “New government hires should plan for their own retirements by being placed in Social Security and 401(k)-style plans.”
“Furthermore, if each government employee were required to contribute an additional 10% toward his or her pension, taxpayers would save $150 billion over the next 35 years. Instead, the proposed plan shifts even more cost away from the employees to the taxpayers.”
“Finally, requiring Illinois government employees and retirees to pay for one half of their healthcare premiums would save even more – an estimated $230 billion over current projections.”
“This proposed deal stinks and is nothing more than political cover for the government bureaucrats who seek reelection.”

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Kane County Chronicle | School districts facing rules regarding principal, teacher evaluations

By on November 20, 2013   /   Illinois Press, Press  

Rae Ann McNeilly, Executive Director of Taxpayers United for America, provided commentary on teacher evaluations and academic performance for the Kane County Chronicle.
kanechronicleIn receiving a three-year contract to head Batavia School District 101, new Batavia School Superintendent Lisa Hichens’ contract is linked to student performance and academic performance within the district.
In receiving a three-year contract to head Batavia School District 101, new Batavia School Superintendent Lisa Hichens’ contract is linked to student performance and academic performance within the district.
Illinois School Code requires that multiyear administrator contracts be linked to student performance and academic performance within a district. Hichens took over as superintendent in July after the retirement of former school superintendent Jack Barshinger.
Hichens said she believes the law “in general is a good idea.”
“But we have to be careful on placing too much emphasis on test scores,” she said. “We have to make sure the information is used for the good of students.”
Batavia Education Association President Tony Malay agreed.
“Our belief is that students are more than a test score,” Malay said. “Test scores don’t accurately reflect what they are learning. We don’t create thinkers, we create test takers.”
School districts soon will have to deal with more rules in regard to student performance.
In 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn signed the Performance Evaluation Reform Act, which requires all schools in Illinois to change how teachers’ and principals’ performance is measured.
Districts already are dealing with one part of the law. Starting in September 2012, all principals had to be evaluated every year by trained and pre-qualified evaluators. And starting Sept. 1, 2016, all Illinois school districts – including those in Kane County – must begin using new teacher evaluation systems that incorporate student growth measures.
“It’s just another tool for helping schools improve,” Illinois State Board of Education spokeswoman Mary Fergus said. “For too long, we’ve seen teachers rated as exemplary without any constructive feedback. Teachers, like any other professional, need a holistic evaluation and support that will guide them toward improvement.”
The act was written with teachers, administrators, union representatives and other people at the table, Fergus said.
But Rae Ann McNeilly, executive director of the Chicago-based Taxpayers United of America and a North Aurora resident, had some concerns about PERA.
“It sounds like it is good,” McNeilly said. “What wouldn’t be good about a pay-for-performance environment? But the problem is that the unions are involved in selecting or establishing the criteria that is used in the performance evaluation.”
Under the law, district administrators must work with teachers’ union representatives to develop evaluation systems that incorporates student growth. McNeilly said that creates a conflict of interest.
“That’s just not the role of the union,” McNeilly said. “The union has no interest in the students or student outcomes. Their sole interest lies in helping teachers keep their jobs, whether they deserve to or not and helping them get high pay, so that they can then get high pensions. The unions have a vested interest in pulling in more money for these performance evaluations.”
Malay disagreed.
“We do have an interest in our profession in maintaining high standards, just like doctors and lawyers and accountants,” Malay said. “Who better to evaluate teachers than the educational professionals we are? Tell me people that would be more qualified than the people who work with children on a daily basis.”
McNeilly also was upset that performance evaluations of teachers, principals and superintendents are exempt from Freedom of Information requests.
“You have a right to know if your child’s teacher or principal have poor performance evaluations,” McNeilly said. “That’s all part of the picture.”
St. Charles School Superintendent Donald Schlomann said he is concerned that PERA is taking away local control.
“PERA was really negotiated at the state level, not at the local level,” Schlomann said. “It feels a great deal that you are starting to lose local control. Everybody has got to be the same. Whether you are teaching in an inner-city school in Chicago or if you are teaching in St. Charles, you’ve got the same expectations and same goals that you’ve got to meet.”

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