Court To Rule On Giant Toll Tax Increase December 20th!

By on December 13, 2011   /   IL Toll Tax, Latest, News Releases  

Click to view a PDF of the lawsuit

December 20, 2011: Judge Rita Novak, of the Cook County Circuit Court, will hear arguments to stop the impending January 1st toll tax increase.
Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America, (“TUA”), has filed suit to: 1) stop the increase 2) order the Tollway Authority to comply with the law that requires it to convert toll highways into freeways and 3) dissolve the Tollway Authority itself.
The suit also challenges the 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 tolls and to convert the Elgin-O’Hare Freeway into a toll highway.
Attorney General Lisa Madigan’s office is representing the Tollway. She has asked the court to throw out Tobin’s case in its entirety. (Read more…) →

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Gov. Daniels: Release Indiana's Public Pension Numbers!

By on December 7, 2011   /   Indiana, Latest, News Releases, Pension Reform  

CHICAGO – Taxpayers United of America Vice President, Christina Tobin, called on Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels to set the standard for transparency by leading his state to release its government pension data.
“I have written a letter to Gov. Daniels, urging him to change the culture of secrecy surrounding government employee pension benefit amounts. He can champion enforcement of Indiana’s existing freedom of information law: IC 5-14-3-1, regarding access to public records, viz, : “…all persons are entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government…”
Please click below to view the letter:
“Indiana has refused to release the names and pension amounts for its retired employees at every level of government. There is a culture of resistance and secrecy around the salaries of current employees as well. Indiana State and local government officials have been more resistant in providing salary data than any other state in which we have researched the government pensions”, said Tobin.
“In states like Indiana that refuse to disclose individual pensions, we estimate pensions for current employees using their current salaries and the specific pension rules for the fund in which they participate. While this provides a reasonable estimate, the people have a right to know actual pension amounts.” (Read more…) →

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Note to Michigan: Top Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County Pensions Exposed!

By on December 7, 2011   /   Latest, Michigan, News Releases, Pension Reform  

ANN ARBOR–A report released today by Taxpayers United of America (TUA) reveals that retired Ann Arbor government employees are not only receiving lavish, gold-plated pensions, but that their estimated pension payments in many cases are larger than some salaries in the private sector. Furthermore, over a normal lifetime, many of these government employees, when they retire, become pension millionaires.
“While Ann Arbor stagnates with 8% unemployment, a median home value of $223,000 and an average annual wage of $52,000, retired Ann Arbor government employees are enjoying lavish, gold-plated pensions that have made some of them pension millionaires,” said Christina Tobin, TUA Vice President.
Click below to view:

“Ann Arbor retired government employees are doing much better than the average Ann Arbor worker in the private sector. Thomas Schmid receives an annual pension of $126,224 — $10,519 a month. Schmid’s estimated lifetime pension payout is $3,930,617.”
“Retired from the city of Ann Arbor, William Wheeler receives an annual pension of $121,861 — $10,155 a month. Wheeler’s estimated lifetime pension payout is $4,321,177.” (Read more…) →

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