CTA Red Line Extension Boondoggle

By on February 11, 2021   /   Illinois, Latest  

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Today Val Zimnicki, Taxpayers United of America’s Director of Outreach gave testimony in front of the CTA Board in regards to expanding the CTA Redline.

 “The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is proposing to extend the Red Line from the existing terminal at 95th/Dan Ryan to 130th Street,” stated Mr. Zimnicki. “This boondoggle is a part of the Red Ahead Program and is estimated to cost $2.3 billion which is the largest amount ever by the CTA to be spent for a particular project. As a quick side-note, have these projects ever come in on time let alone without waste and overspending? This proposed 5.6-mile extension would include four new stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue, and 130th Street, and each new station would include bus and parking facilities. But where is the money coming from? The CTA’s 2021 budget already has a $375 million deficit.” 

“The CTA claims it can pay for half the project and hope the rest of the money will come from the federal government. Actually, Chicago citizens should prepare for new tax line items on their real estate taxes to pay for this. That has been the unfortunate normal procedure that citizens of Chicago and Illinois have endured for virtually every over-budget, behind schedule and unnecessary program devised by legislators and bureaucrats. Their theme seems to be, If we build it, maybe they won’t come, but for sure we will tax them to pay for it.”

“The Red Line extension is unnecessary and expensive. How many people will use it? Projections are always optimistic and always seem to fall short. At a staggering $410 million a mile, will it pay for itself? Indeed, in the last 5 years general transit ridership fell by 2.8 million trips while ride-hailing grew by almost 30 million. Chicago is losing population as its citizens are moving to Indiana, Wisconsin, Florida, Texas and other states where the tax burdens are lower. Indeed, in the last 5 years, general transit ridership fell by 2.8 million trips while ride-hailing grew by almost 30 million.”

“The CTA will also need to purchase private property to make room for the Red Ahead Program. Families will be dislocated and some will not want to sell. Will the CTA enforce condemnation procedures? Will “just compensation” be enforced on individual property owners. Will renters be properly relocated?”

“The CTA wants to extend services to a dwindling population while not all the funding is as yet identified.”

“Will eminent domain take away property rights? What about the inevitable cost overruns and new taxes to pay for them? For these reasons, we oppose the Red Line extension.”

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Governor Pritzker Still Threatens Taxpayers With State Income Tax Increase

By on February 9, 2021   /   Illinois, Latest  
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“I have seen some really bad governors of Illinois since I founded Taxpayers United of America (TUA) in 1976 but—I must tell you—I have never seen an Illinois governor as incompetent and corrupt as Gov. Jay Robert ‘J. B.’ Pritzker (D),” said Jim Tobin, economist and president of TUA.

“Pritzker is a real piece of work. In addition to having zero talent for managing a state like Illinois, he is totally corrupt in a political sense. He is a tool of labor unions, and retired government employees who are living the high life with their lavish, gold-plated taxpayer-funded pensions. He is also a vindictive, mean-spirited individual who has taxpayers in his crosshairs.”

“TUA worked with local taxpayers’ groups across the state to assist them in defeating Pritzker’s income theft amendment in November 2020. Pritzker’s amendment would have converted the state income tax to a graduated income tax. The amendment would have enabled his Democrat thugs in that political cesspool called Springfield to raise income tax rates as high as they want, whenever they want.”

“The money would have gone to prop up the state pension funds for retired government employees, which are circling the drain. Two years ago, Springfield passed a $5 billion state income tax increase, and virtually every dollar was funneled into these state pension funds. The tax increase didn’t even move the needle.”

“Through one of his mouthpieces, Pritzker had threatened that if voters did not pass his income theft amendment, he would support a 20% increase in state income tax rates. He was shocked and outraged when his amendment was crushed at the polls, and, now, he is serious about making good on his threat. In other words, Illinois taxpayers have a big target on their backs.”

“A 20% increase in the state income tax would wipe out the state’s middle class and force even more taxpayers and small businesses to flee the state for states with lower taxes. Illinois taxpayers can’t afford a 20% increase in the state income tax.”

“This year, 2021, will make or break Illinois. If Pritzker’s income tax hike passes, say goodbye to the Illinois you used to know.”

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A LOOK BACK: BILL 10A TEN YEARS AGO

By on January 28, 2021   /   Latest, Wisconsin  
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Ten years ago, Taxpayers United of America (TUA) and its Wisconsin affiliates held a press conference at the capitol building in Madison supporting the Budget Repair Bill known as “2011 Wisconsin Act 10”. This bill was introduced by then governor Scott Walker which addressed the state’s $3.6 billion budget deficit. It was an attempt to reign in the many lavish privileges that government employees enjoyed at taxpayers’ expense. TUA was the first anti-tax group to support the governor.  This press conference was covered by tv and local press.

Mr. Tobin, president of TUA noted that Wisconsin had the fourth highest state and local taxes nationally, which supported the lavish pensions and run-away benefits of state employees. Many public employees become multi-millionaires at taxpayer expense which made a mockery of the term, civil servants. 

With considerable effort from Christina Tobin, TUA was the first taxpayer organization to arrive on site to support the governor and his much-needed reforms.

Seven members of TUA from Illinois and Wisconsin were admitted to the capitol building which was shut down because of the rancorous and volatile mob-like atmosphere both inside and outside the capitol building.  Intruders yelling and banging drums inside the rotunda were not asked to leave. Thousands of mostly young adle-brained protesters surrounded the capitol building and damaged property. Of course, most of the main scheme media reported the protests as peaceful. This was the time when 14 Democrat Senators in cowardly fashion fled to Illinois so that they would not have to vote on the bill. Many represented their Wisconsin constituents by staying and hiding at the upscale Drake Hotel in Chicago.

After the TUA press conference which supported the governor’s fiscal initiatives Mr. Tobin was further interviewed by various media as he was exiting the capitol building. Verbal insults and loud threats were hurled at him and at those who accompanied him.  One protester who claimed to be a government teacher bellowed a litany of 4-letter words attempting to drown out Mr. Tobin’s comments as he was addressing a reporter. Other protesters made threatening physical motions toward Mr. Tobin and those who accompanied him. Thankfully, there were lots of cameras around. 

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