View as PDF Chicago – Taxpayers United of America (TUA) and Illinois’ taxpayers were victorious once again in defeating the implementation of a graduated state income tax. TUA and its membership of tens of thousands of Illinois taxpayers have helped defeat every such attempt since 1992.
Jim Tobin, TUA’s founder and president, says that Illinois’ taxpayers know better than to let the Illinois General Assembly expand its damaging taxing powers any further. “Taxpayers are absolutely tired of the legislature overspending, digging the state deeper into debt, and then coming to hardworking taxpayers for a bailout. Our members hate the state income tax with a passion because every dollar that flows into Springfield’s coffers only encourages the Illinois General Assembly’s bad fiscal behavior and enables them to continue on the same unsustainable course. Taxpayers stood up to the legislature and won.”
Rep. Christian L. Mitchell’s (D-26, Chicago) proposed graduated income tax constitutional amendment, HJRCA59, was not brought up for a vote yesterday, and as a result will not be on the November ballot. Mitchell stalled the vote earlier in the week and had stated that he would call the amendment for a vote to get legislators on the record, regardless of passage.
But as it became clear that taxpayers were enraged and the legislation would fail when put to a vote, the push to inflict a graduated state income tax on Illinois was once again stopped.
“Amending the Illinois Constitution to permit a graduated income tax would have handed the Illinois General Assembly alarming power over the state income tax rates,” said Tobin. “Illinois’ state government is in shambles, but taxes must be lowered and spending must be cut. The state cannot continue to tax its way out of the financial fiasco it has created.”
“While taxpayers should celebrate another defeat of the graduated state income tax, the legislature is still in session, and the budget impasse is in its eleventh month. Taxpayers must always remain vigilant when the Illinois General Assembly is in session.”
Taxpayers United of America’s President, Jim Tobin, was quoted by the Northwest Herald about his speech on May 11th about “Home Rule is Home Ruin”
WOODSTOCK – In response to a special census that could result in Woodstock’s recognized population growing above 25,000 and giving the city home-rule status, a taxpayer advocacy group will give a presentation about the effect home rule could have on the community.
Taxpayers United of America President Jim Tobin will present “Home Rule is Home Ruin” at 7 p.m. May 11 at the Woodstock Public Library, 414 W. Judd St. The presentation will examine what changes home rule brings and how they affect local taxpayers.
The home rule designation gives local government more control over matters ranging from taxation to licensing to regulating the protection of the public health, according to the Illinois Constitution.
Voters in Action requested Tobin’s presentation, said Joe Tirio, founder and Republican candidate for McHenry County recorder. The group has become a vocal critic of home rule based on its effect on the city’s ability to create and raise taxes.
“Given that dramatic change, we felt it was important to bring this to the residents,” Tirio said.
Woodstock city officials have responded to concerns by saying it would be irresponsible of them to not take advantage of getting the extra $151 in shared state revenue per person for the city, and that the city has a history of keeping taxes low for residents by not taking the property tax extension limitation law.
View as PDF Chicago—April 29 marks Tax Freedom Day for Illinoisans, indicating the point in 2016 when taxpayers stop laboring to fund local, state, and federal governments with their taxes and finally begin to keep their hard-earned money.
“Illinois ranks 44th for its Tax Freedom Day in 2016, one of the latest in the nation” said Jared Labell, director of operations for Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “Sadly, Illinois appears near the bottom of the list this year, but that’s unsurprising as its 7,000 taxing bodies have transformed the Prairie State into the Government State.”
“Tens of thousands of taxpayers became Ex-Illinoisans since the temporary state income tax increase in 2011. That’s no coincidence. The U.S. Census Bureau data correlates with Tax Freedom Day falling later in Illinois annually as the tax burden for Illinois residents grows exponentially,” said Labell.
For Illinois taxpayers, Tax Freedom Day has been a day of mourning in recent years, occurring on April 15 in 2011, April 23 in 2012, April 25 in 2013, April 28 in 2014, and April 30 in 2015. The fact that Illinoisans are working for the government one day less this year can be attributed to the rollback of the temporary state income tax at the start of 2015, following the election of Gov. Bruce Rauner (R), but other local tax increases across the state prevented a better ranking.
According to the Tax Foundation’s annual “Tax Freedom Day” report for all 50 states, plus Washington, D.C., nationwide Tax Freedom Day fell on April 24, representing how long Americans have to work in order to pay the nation’s tax burden. However, if annual federal borrowing is included in the calculation, therefore factoring in future taxes owed, Tax Freedom Day would be pushed back more than two weeks to May 10.
By far, taxpayers will work the longest to pay local, state, and federal individual income taxes, totaling 46 days. Americans will pay $3.34 trillion in federal taxes in 2016 and an additional $1.64 trillion in state and local taxes, for an astonishing total tax bill of $4.99 trillion, or 31 percent of national income, according to the report. Americans will send more tax dollars to the government in 2016 than they will spend on food, clothing, and housing combined.
“Illinois is facing a $10 billion budget shortfall by this summer. The state has the lowest credit ratings nationwide and by far the worst-funded government pension system. Illinois has recorded fourteen straight years of budget deficits and is about to enter its eleventh month without a state budget,” said Labell. “The real question for Illinois taxpayers is simple. Taxes are revolting, so why aren’t you?”
