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CHICAGO—Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) announced today that representatives of the taxpayer organization are going to canvas in the communities of the Riverside-Brookfield Government School District 208, to raise awareness about the organization’s lawsuit regarding illegal electioneering by the school district in 2011.
“When we challenged the electioneering activities used by the Riverside-Brookfield Government School District, we knew it wouldn’t be easy,” said Tobin. “But the actions of the school board were so blatant, we had no choice.”
Those sentiments were echoed by co-plaintiff Anthony Peraica, former Cook County Board member, and concerned taxpayer in Riverside-Brookfield.
“Teachers, janitors – all the other unions conspired with the school leadership last year to use taxpayer funds illegally to raise property taxes,” said Peraica. “And unless someone stands up to them, they’re going to get away with it like they have for decades.”
The suit charges that the government school district used taxpayer funded resources, school equipment on school grounds and inside the school building, to promote the referendum, as well as recruiting students as “volunteers” to distribute pro-referendum material. Finally, the suit charges that public resources were used to fund a pro-referendum mailing and TV campaign ad, and used phrasing on the ballot to intentionally mislead voters with a significant understatement of the actual financial impact of the referendum.
Judge Leroy K. Martin Jr. expressed his concern regarding the gravity of the alleged misuse of public funds for electioneering activities of the school board, especially the possible violation of the civil rights of those opposing the referendum.
District 208 lawyers made a motion to dismiss the lawsuit with prejudice, but Judge Martin denied the motion, allowing the suit to proceed in amended form. The hearing on the amended complaint will be held on April 5, 2012 before Judge Martin, in Cook County Circuit Court, one year to the day after voters struck down the bid to raise property taxes.
NEW YORK – Taxpayers United of America has released the top pension estimates for New York State government teachers and employees. “We are shedding light at last, on the problems with New York’s government pension system,” said Christina Tobin, Vice President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA), and founder and President of Free and Equal Elections. “Minimal reform has occurred in New York as legislators consider measures that do little to actually solve the problem. Much more pressure is needed from taxpayers,” she said.
“The broken government pension system desperately needs reform, and revealing individual names and pension amounts illustrates the problem very clearly,” said Tobin. “The current system, designed to keep the wrong people in power, is corrupt. It is a system that makes government, and those with whom government negotiates — union bosses, politicians, and administrators — wealthy on the backs of taxpayers.”
“There is no fair representation of taxpayers. This is a nationwide problem that burdens the Left and Right alike, and has fueled the financial crisis facing taxpayers and retirees. The urgency of this crisis is illustrated by the excellent press coverage that our government pension reports have received throughout New York.”
Tobin, who toured through New York state revealing top government pension estimates to the public, received coverage from Metro New York, TimesUnion.com, and Capitol Confidential. Of particular note was the following story from reporter January Keaton at ABC 10 News.
Tobin stated that while the individual pension amounts have been eye-opening in the communities that have followed the law and released the pension information requested by Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, TUA will be exploring all options to obtain the information still being withheld by the city government bureaucrats of New York City.
“I have hand delivered a letter to Gov. Cuomo and the Legislature, calling for additional pension reform that will be both fair and sustainable. Until pension plans eliminate the possibility of unfunded liabilities that crush taxpayers and threaten payments to the retirees counting on them, pension crises will continue to escalate. TUA is ready to work with legislators who want to do what’s in the best interest of the constituency and not the union bosses who fund their reelection.”
TUA will be revealing more States’ pensions across the nation, including those of Colorado and Minnesota in the coming weeks.
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CHICAGO–The president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today announced that “the organization, its members and supporters defeated the 7 tax-increase referenda yesterday.”
“It’s a great victory for Illinois taxpayers,” said Tobin. “The seven ballot measures are the largest number of tax-increase referenda we have opposed in a single election since 1982.” said Jim Tobin, TUA President. “To defeat seven out of seven is unprecedented, and shows taxpayers will stand up and fight when given honest information. Our members have defeated over 100 home rule referenda since 1980.”
“We defeated the attempt to con voters into accepting home-rule unlimited-taxing-power referenda in Clarendon Hills, Itasca, Lynwood, Merrionette Park, Princeton and Prospect Heights.”
”We also stopped an attempt to force a $48.5 million property tax increase in Evanston-Skokie School District 65. Overall, we have defeated 193 property tax increase referenda since 1977.”
“Our staff distributed over 20,000 ‘Vote No!’ fliers in four of these communities. We mailed several thousand more fliers to our members and supporters. We worked closely with local taxpayer groups to effectively cover all precincts.”
The “Vote No” fliers included the names and paid-out amounts for the salaries and pensions of the highest-paid employees and pensioners, to let voters know that 80% of their local tax dollars go to pay the salaries and benefits of their local government employees.”
“Clarendon Hills’ Fire Chief, Brian Leahy, for example, pulled in a gross salary (2010) of $199,128 a year. More than 10 police pensions are over $30,000 a year. Former Police Chief, Thomas Reasoner, receives a whopping $65,000 a year pension while at the same time getting paid for a Deputy Director position at the North East Multi-Regional Training Center.
“Nine retired government-employees in Itasca have annual pensions of over $50,000 a year.”
“Now, we need to throw all Springfield Democrats out of office in the November 6th general election, so we can kill the four-year, 67% income tax hike that they’d like to make permanent!”
View images from TUA’s canvassing efforts below, along with the fliers:
