TAXPAYERS SAY NO TO ANY INCREASE IN THE ILLINOIS GASOLINE TAX

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CHICAGO—The president of Illinois’ largest taxpayer organization today condemned the huge proposed increase in the state tax on gasoline put forth by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, calling the proposed increase unconscionable and obscene.

The outgoing mayor of Chicago and the mayors of Park Forest, Hazel Crest, Oswego, Fox River Grove, Joliet, Batavia, Broadview and Ford Heights called for the current 19 cent Illinois state gas tax to be raised to anywhere between an additional 20 cents to 30 cents. In other words these mayors are asking for a 105% to 157% gas tax increase for what has been described as “infrastructure” projects. The possible gas tax increase could be higher than the one passed by the 86th general assembly. The 86th general assembly presided over the great Tax Massacre of ‘89 where the gas tax was raised by 46%.

Mayor Emanuel was quoted as saying, “Our state can’t wait any longer” for the gas tax increase. According to Rahm Emanuel, “Over the last four years, we’ve been stuck in neutral and the states in the surrounding area — Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Iowa just to name a few — have passed transportation bills with gas tax increases.” What Emanuel failed to mention was Illinois already pays higher gas taxes than most of its neighbors. If the 157% gas tax increase is passed, based on Tax Foundation research Illinois could rank in the top five U.S. states for highest gas taxes surpassing all of its neighbors.

“Rahm Emanuel, who presides over the most corrupt city in the country, located in the most corrupt state in the country, has the gall to propose a 20 to 30 cent per gallon increase in the state’s gas tax,” said Jim Tobin, president of Taxpayers United of America (TUA). “The city is technically bankrupt, and the state also is bankrupt, but he expects taxpayers to accept this back-breaking gasoline tax increase because they should trust him to spend the money on transportation projects.”

“80 percent of spending by local governments is for salaries and benefits of employees. To saddle Illinois taxpayers with more taxes is totally unacceptable.”

“At least 19,481 retired government-employee pensioners are receiving $100,000 or more in annual pension payments. That level of payout has increased about 15% over the 2017 pension payments. At this rate of increase, the number of pensions over $100,000 will far exceed 21,000 in 2019.”

“So many billions of dollars of state resources have been poured into these failing state pension funds, to no avail, that there is not very much left for other areas. Passing this harsh, regressive gasoline state tax increase only would encourage state politicians to continue their incompetent management of precious state resources.”

5 NEW HOME RULE VICTORIES AND NEW CHALLENGES

Last night was a series of mixed blessings for taxpayers.

Yesterday taxpayers resoundingly turned down home rule from entering their communities. Beach Park, Lemont, Winthrop Harbor, Prospect Heights, and Zion all voted “No” on adopting Home Rule. By rejecting Home Rule, taxpayers have refused to give local politicians unlimited taxing power.

“I am happy for all of our local advocates,” said Taxpayers United of America (TUA) President, Jim Tobin, upon hearing of the victories. “TUA has warned for years that Home Rule means home ruin. This shows we are being heard loud and clear. I am hopeful this overwhelming victory discourages other power hungry local politicians, but governmental greed knows no limit. We have defeated 431 local tax increase referenda since 1977.”

However, the battle for the Illinois statewide government ended on a less rosy tone.

J. B. Pritzker ran over incumbent Bruce Rauner for Illinois Governor in an unsurprising victory. Rauner, who refused to sign a Tax Accountability taxpayer protection pledge, ran an ugly Republican primary campaign against Jeanne Ives. Representative Ives had scored a perfect 100% while Rauner only scored a 92% in our TUA Tax Survey of the 99th Illinois General Assembly. Representative Ives had also signed a taxpayer protection pledge.

Rauner’s attack on a committed taxpayer advocate combined with the tens of millions in funds for the Pritzker propaganda machine sealed the fate of the Republican governor.

Now with a committed tax raiser back in the governor’s seat and a Democrat majority, it falls to taxpayers to resist the Income Tax Increase Amendment, a graduated income tax increase for middle class taxpayers.

Gov. Pension Burdens Crush Rock Island County Taxpayers

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Rock Island, IL – Taxpayers United of America (TUA) today released its updated study on Rock Island County, Illinois government employee pensions, publishing the top 200 pensions for Rock Island County Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (IMRF), the top 200 pensions of the Teachers’ Retirement Fund (TRS), and the top 200 pensions of State University Retirement System (SURS). Taxpayers United of America (TUA) issued the following statement based on the TEF pension study.

“Rock Island County local governments are ripping taxpayers out of their homes,” stated Jim Tobin, president of TUA.

“As property taxes increase in the area, more people are forced out of their homes through foreclosure. The quad cities still rank in the top 20 metropolitan areas in the country for foreclosures. Rock Island homeowners pay crushing property taxes in comparison to other cities in the country.”

“Property taxes in the city of Rock Island increased 9% in 2018. The city of Moline has a 2019 budget that increases property taxes 2.5%. Foreclosure rates can’t improve when the government sucks up so much of our hard-earned cash.”

“IMRF pensions are funded by property taxes but government bureaucrats are more concerned about fulfilling promises made to union bosses in order to maintain and enhance government pensions than they are about their constituents.”

“But J. B. Pritzker and House Speaker, Democrat Michael Madigan have plans to increase state income taxes if Pritzker wins the gubernatorial election next week,” added Tobin.

“Priztker advocates for an immediate income tax increase and also supports the Income Tax Increase Amendment, which would change the current flat-rate state income tax to a graduated state income tax. He and his buddy Madigan plan on placing the amendment on the November 2020 statewide ballot.”

“If the amendment passes, you can expect the state’s middle class to be decimated. Here’s why: House Bill 3522, filed by state Rep. Robert Martwick, D-Chicago, would tax incomes between $7,500 and $15,000 at 5.84 percent. For incomes between $15,000 and $225,000, the rate would be 6.27 percent. And for incomes over $225,000, the rate would be 7.65 percent.”

“Illinois taxpayers would be crushed. Some politicians are whispering about a maximum rate as high as 9.85 percent,” added Tobin.

“The pension data speaks for itself. The average Rock Island County taxpayer’s Social Security pension is about $17,000 and is funded completely with private money from taxpayers and their employers.”

“These IMRF pensioners collect Social Security on top of their very generous pensions so taxpayers are forced to shell out an additional 15% of the local government employee salaries.”

“SURS pensioner Dorothy Beck enjoys a cozy $123,824 annual pension. With a 3% annual compounded cost of living adjustment, that will accumulate to a really cozy $2.8 million.”

“Calvin D. Lee retired from Moline USD 40 and currently gets $216,170 in annual pension payments. Over a normal lifetime, he will accumulate $7,288,962 in pension payments. Poor old Calvin retired at the age of 58!.”

“ Marshall E. Douglas retired from Rock Island County government with an annual pension of $152,390. Those annual pension payments will accumulate to about $2,725,025. Mr. Marshall likely gets about $28,000 more per year from Social Security.”

“If Pritzker gets elected, he and Illinois tyrant Madigan will see to it that these pensions are protected. The pension promises bring in the thousands of union and government employee votes. Taxes will increase at a devastating rate and more and more Illinoisans will leave the state, driving up the tax burden for those of us who stay.”

“It is just unreasonable to allow people to retire in their 50’s and early 60’s and expect taxpayers to foot the bill, but if Madigan gets his way and Pritzker wins the governor’s race, government pension reform won’t occur anytime soon,” concluded Tobin.

Click to View Top Rock Island IMRF Pensions

Click to View Top Rock Island SURS Pensions

Click to View Top Rock Island TRS Pensions