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Illinois Senator Richard J. “Dick” Durbin has been a “disaster” for Illinois, according to Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA).
“Since Durbin came on the scene in 1997, this ultra-left-wing senator has ravaged taxpayers year-after-year,” said Tobin. “The National Taxpayers Union (NTU) in Washington, DC, rates every senator and congressional representative, and Durbin has received an ‘F’ for every congress. He has consistently voted against the interests of taxpayers without a bit of remorse.”
“But the bad news doesn’t stop there,” said Tobin. “His overall score is worse than the Democrat average for the Senate, and it has been for every term since he has been in the US Senate.”
“The last congress rated by NTU was the 112th Congress (2012). Out of a perfect pro-taxpayer score of 100, the Republican Senate average was a decent 72%. The Democrat Senate average was a dismal 11%. Dick Durbin’s score was a pitiable 10%. Durbin voted against the interests of Illinois taxpayers 90% of the time.”
“In the 109th Congress (2005), Durbin’s taxpayer score was an incredible 4%, voting against the interests of Illinois taxpayers 96% of the time, against the Democrat Senate score of 12%.”
“In the 106th Congress (1999), Durbin’s taxpayer score was a mind-boggling 3%, voting against the interests of Illinois taxpayers 97% of the time. The Democrat Senate average was 9%.”
“How such a left-wing politician like Durbin has remained in office all these years is a puzzle, but what isn’t a puzzling is the need to throw him and other pro-tax politicians out of office. Durbin is up for reelection this November 4, and Illinois is going down the drain. Unless pro-tax, pro-spending machine politicians like Durbin are removed from office, Illinois’ economic future will be hard to salvage.”
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Taxpayers United of America (TUA) recognizes outstanding journalists who shed light on the ongoing, difficult process of true reform in the government pension and compensation systems.
“Reform isn’t a one step process, and in order to keep the government bureaucrats moving in the right direction, it takes strong leadership, profound activism, and responsible journalists to keep the pressure on,” said Jim Tobin, president of TUA.
“Please view the excellent report from Diane Moca of CBS 58 in Milwaukee on the convenient loopholes in the government pension double dipping ‘reforms’ that features interview excerpts of me and our executive director, Rae Ann McNeilly.”
“In his article with Rae Ann’s comments, Wisconsin Reporter, Ryan Ekvall, investigates the empire-building of state-level government bureaucrats siphoning hard-earned tax dollars from local control to enrich a bloated team of cronies, whose role or accountabilities are generally unknown.”
“We must never let up on the pressure. Your support of our work and the journalists who continue to take our work to taxpayers are key to continued success.”
“Please attend the May 15th meeting of the Brown County Taxpayers Association where I will be speaking on the ongoing need for reforms in Wisconsin.”
Thursday, May 15, 2014
12 noon to 1:30 PM
Titletown Brewery
200 Dousman Street, Green Bay, WI
This is on the west side of the river and right across the street from the Neville museum, in the old Northwestern Railroad Station. Map is available HERE.
Jim Tobin
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The non-partisan Tax Foundation in Washington, DC, just released its annual calculations for its Tax Freedom Day (TFD), and the news is not good.
Tax Freedom Day is the day when US taxpayers have earned enough money to pay their total tax bill for the year. After that day, the money is the taxpayers’ to keep. Taxes at all levels of government are included, whether levied by the federal government or state and local governments.
Tax Freedom Day for US taxpayers this year is April 21, three days later than last year. Taxpayers have three fewer days of their money to keep. According to the foundation, “In 2014, Americans will pay $3.0 trillion in federal taxes and $1.5 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of $4.5 trillion, or 30.2 percent of income.” In 1900, Americans paid only 5.9 percent of their income in taxes.
Total tax burdens vary from state to state due to different state and local taxes. Illinois’ total tax burden clearly shows it is a high-tax state. The Illinois Tax Freedom Day is April 28, making it the 7th highest total tax burden in the nation. Connecticut is tied with New Jersey for number 1, the highest total tax burden, and California is number 4.
Illinois’ high tax rates place it at a distinct disadvantage with respect to adjacent states. Of the states surrounding Illinois, every state has a lower tax burden.
Wisconsin is 13th highest, with a Tax Freedom Day of April 22. Iowa is 32nd highest, with a TFD of April 13. Indiana is 24th highest, with a TFD of April 16. Missouri is 36th highest, with a TFD of April 11. Kentucky is 44th, with a TFD of April 8.
“This November, the election for Illinois Governor and members of the Illinois General Assembly will determine whether the state economy thrives or withers away,” said Jim Tobin, President of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “Taxpayers and small businesses are fleeing to states with lower taxes, such as Texas (32nd highest) and Florida (25th highest). Unless the state personal income tax of 5 percent and the state corporate income tax of 9.5 percent in Illinois are reduced, Illinois will become an economic wasteland.”
